Highlights of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Venizelos’ remarks on the Syrian and Middle East issues at the informal Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, with the participation of U.S. Secretary of State Kerry (Vilnius, 7 September 2013)

Highlights of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Venizelos’ remarks on the Syrian and Middle East issues at the informal Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, with the participation of U.S. Secretary of State Kerry (Vilnius, 7 September 2013)The informal Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers continued in Vilnius today – with the participation of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry – with the discussion focusing on the Middle East peace process and he situation in Syria.

In his remarks, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos supported the need to formulate a single European position on Syria.

He also emphasized the need to safeguard as best as possible not only the Geneva II process, but also the substantial content of a comprehensive and viable political solution that is inclusive and will extricate Syria from its tragic civil war without strengthening extremist and fundamentalist voices.

Referring to Mr. Kerry’s mediation effort in the Middle East, which is based on detailed attention to all parameters, Mr. Venizelos stressed that the international community needs to carry out a similar process for Syria with the aim of the stabilization not just of Syria, but also of the wider region.

September 8, 2013