Foreign Minister Stavros Dimas represented Greece at the EU Foreign Affairs Council Meeting in Brussels on Friday, 23 March 2012.
The main issues discussed were the recent developments in Syria, the situation in Belarus, and the EU strategy for the Sahel countries in light of the coup in Mali. The Council meeting was followed by a working luncheon – to which the Turkish Foreign Minister was invited – where there was a discussion of the developments in the Middle East. On Thursday, 22 March, a dinner for EU Foreign Ministers and their counterparts from accession-candidate countries looked at developments in Afghanistan and relations with Southern Neighbourhood countries.
In his statement on Syria, Mr. Dimas stressed Greece’s support for the efforts of the UN Secretary General’s Envoy, Kofi Annan, and expressed Greece’s satisfaction at the adoption, with the support of all the members of the Security Council, of a relevant statement. He also underscored the urgent need for the immediate provision of humanitarian aid and a ceasefire, as well as the international community’s obligation to assist in the search for a peaceful solution to the crisis; a solution that will allow the Syrian people to decide on their future, and that respects the national sovereignty of their country. In this context, Mr. Dimas stressed the importance of understanding among the opposition forces in Syria. Finally, ahead of the upcoming Istanbul meeting of the Friends of the Syrian People, Mr. Dimas underscored that he considers it self-evident that the member states of the EU should be invited.
Mr. Dimas met on the margins of the Council with the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer, who briefed the Greek side on the recent developments in the Cyprus issue and the negotiations, as well as on his thoughts ahead of the submission to the Secretary General of a report on the course of the talks. Mr. Dimas expressed Greece’s disappointment at the lack of progress, which is due to the intransigent stance maintained by the Turkish Cypriot side. He also expressed Greece’s irritation at Turkey’s constant statements regarding a “plan B”, which have reached the point of talking about annexation of occupied Cyprus. Foreign Minister Dimas reiterated Greece’s dedication to the negotiation process under the UN, underscoring that Greece will not accept artificial timeframes, which are aimed solely at undermining the process.
On the margins of the dinner for EU Foreign Ministers and their candidate-country counterparts, Mr. Dimas met with the Foreign Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Nikola Poposki.
Mr. Dimas will represent Greece at the EU General Affairs Council on Monday, 26 March.
March 23, 2012