Brussels, 12/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The new special representative of the EU in Central Asia, Patricia Flor, announced on Wednesday 11 July the launch of a high level dialogue in the autumn on security with the countries of Central Asia. She said that with the developments in Afghanistan, the whole region is going to be even more in focus, and if positive and sustainable development of security and stability is to be achieved, Central Asia and Afghanistan must work with a regional approach. Another diplomat said that the countries of Central Asia are concerned about the consequences on the region of what is going to happen after 2014 and the departure of NATO troops from Afghanistan. He went on that the high level dialogue will not only focus on questions of security but also on human security, climate change and environmental disasters. Border security is also to be discussed.
Flor reminded her listeners that the EU can offer help in the transformation of these countries, in terms of the rule of law, regional cooperation and civil society, and also from an economic point of view helping them communicate with each other. She also said that energy security in the region is important. She spoke in addition of the importance of pipelines and said that the EU wants to cooperate in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy and the conservation of energy.
The new special representative will start her first trip in the region on Monday 16 July. (CG/transl.fl)