Serbia as the focus of attention at meeting of EU foreign ministers

On 28 January in Brussels Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins participated in a EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting, where the focus of attention were the western Balkans, and in particular Serbia, in the run-up to the deciding round of the presidential elections which are to take place on 3 February.

In order to speed up the process of integration of Serbia, the EU invited Serbia to conclude on 7 February a provisional political agreement on an enhanced EU and Serbian political dialogue. The agreement will provide a framework not only for a dialogue, but also for free trade, a liberalisation of the visa regime and broader co-operation in the sphere of education. In this context the European Commission has announced the commencement of talks with Serbia on 30 January of this year on the issue of visa liberalisation.

At the meeting the EU Council was pleased to note that as of 1 January 2008 agreements with Bosnia and Hercegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia and Albania on visa facilitation and the readmission of illegal immigrants had entered into force. The foreign ministers  greeted with approval European Commission plans to launch a visa dialogue with all of the countries in the region.

With regard to Africa, the EU Council decided to begin a wide-ranging military operation in Chad and the Central African Republic. The aim of the operation is to ensure the safety of approximately 400,000 internally displaced persons and asylum seekers, to relieve the work of  international humanitarian organisations and to assist with creating conditions where the refugees could voluntarily return. Latvia supports this EU mission politically and together with the other EU member states is contributing financially toward the total  costs.

With reference to the Near East, the EU Council expressed its concern about the flare-up of violence in the Gaza and in southern Israel. Whilst acknowledging Israel's rights to self defence, the Council called for an end to all violence. The Council expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for the continuous provision of  food, fuel and electricity  to the civilian population. The EU foreign ministers welcomed the negotiations which have been started up between Israel and Palestinian officials, the aim of which, in accordance with the agreement of the Annapolis Conference held late last year, would resolve the issue of Palestinian self-determination and to conclude a peace agreement by the end of 2008.

Foreign ministers exchanged views about the tension in Lebanon, where a president is yet to be elected. Ministers expressed support for the plan proposed by the Arab League of States, which calls for urgent presidential elections, the formation of a national unity government and the adoption of a new electoral law.

EU ministers at the meeting also expressed concern about the violence and political crisis in Kenya. They discussed current issues relating to Iran's nuclear programme, as well as the situation in Pakistan and stressed their expectations that the general elections scheduled to be held on 18 February would be free and democratic.

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