Brussels, 23/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - In addition to Syria, which will be the main item on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 27 February, member states might also adopt further measures against Belarus, even though this is not scheduled for discussion at the meeting. A high-ranking official has revealed that fresh sanctions against Belarusian economic bodies were “still under discussion” on Thursday 23 February and would be debated by the COREPER “with a view to definitive adoption at the Council on Monday”.
Ministers will also discuss the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo of 22-23 February. “No decision will be taken” on whether Serbia will be granted candidate status. This will come at the General Affairs Council the following day, said a highly placed official. “However, it will give ministers the opportunity to discuss what is being done on political dialogue and to see if the conditions set by December's European Council have been met. (…) Ministers are very clear in their own minds and will not hesitate to prepare a decision”, he added. At the last Foreign Affairs Council at the end of January, member states were unable to come to agreement on granting candidate status. “There was a very strong feeling among some that progress had to be made on candidate status, that this was a key moment for a solution to be found. Others were not of that opinion”, the official said.
Egypt, South Caucasus and Middle East. The Council will also discuss events in Egypt and is expected to express its support for Egypt's transition process. Ministers will also highlight “the importance of a complete transfer of power to civilian rule as soon as possible” and express their concerns over the restrictions imposed on civil society organisations.
Ministers will also discuss the situation in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. They will state that intensification of cooperation with the EU will depend on the pace of reform in these countries of the South Caucasus. The Council will stress the importance of reaching peaceful resolution of the disputes in the region.
Over lunch, ministers will discuss the latest developments in the Middle East peace process, in particular following the “Doha declaration” of 6 February on Palestinian reconciliation.
The Council is likely, too, to adopt conclusions on Yemen, reacting to the presidential elections on 21 February and the swearing in of the new president, which is planned for 27 February.
After not attending the January meeting, the Turkish foreign minister was again invited to the Council lunch but once more has declined the invitation, citing important meetings he has to attend in Turkey.
The Council will be followed by an EU-Tajikistan Cooperation Council. (CG/transl.rt)