Heads of EU Foreign Ministries to Discuss Relations with Belarus :: Charter'97 :: News

An informal meeting of foreign ministers of the European Union which is to take place on March 30-31 in the city of Bremen (Germany) under the chairmanship of the head of German Foreign Ministry Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the most vital issues of the EU and world politics are to be considered, including relations of the EU with Belarus.

As RIA Novosti was informed by German Foreign Ministry, “the agenda of traditional “Gymnich meetings” of EU foreign ministers (named after Gymnich palace near Bonn, where such a meeting took place for the first time in 1974) is usually limited to a little number of high priority issues, so that there was enough time for giving them deeper and comprehensive consideration”.

“As no formal decisions are passed at these ministerial forums, the discussion has an open and informal character. Thus, on the first day on the meeting it is planned to touch upon the situation in the region of Western Balkans, primarily in Kosovo. Then ministers are to transit to issues of European neighbourhood policy and building of relations between the EU and Belarus in the future is to be discussed there,” a representative said.

“The second day is to be dedicated mostly to the Middle East and Iran, but issues of continuous armed hostilities in Darfur could be discussed, as well as possible measures against further deterioration of political, economic and social situation in Zimbabwe,” the diplomat said.

He has also said that the meeting is to end traditionally by a common working dinner where ministers of the countries candidates to the EU are invited. Thus, Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Croatia and Macedonia are expected in Bremen.

The interlocutor of the agency reminded that on Saturday, when ministers are to discuss problems of the Middle East, Angela Merkel, a Chancellor of Germany which is presiding in the EU, is to visit that region.

As said by him, in this context the discussion is to be carried out with consideration of the most up to date information on the situation”, including the results of the League of Arab States’ summit, prior to a regular meeting of the “Middle East quartet” (the EU, UN, Russia and the US) which is expected to be held in that region this time.