News

On 22 March in Brussels, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis took part in the meetings of the European Union’s General Affairs Council and Foreign Affairs Council. Aid to Haiti, situation in Chile and EU’s Eastern neighbourhood countries, the Middle East Peace Process, and further EU’s actions in Afghanistan were discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting. The General Affairs Council meeting focused on the preparation for the European Council on 25-26 March, and the creation of the European External Action Service.

Foreign ministers discussed ways to involve more actively the EU member states in solving problems in Afghanistan and underlined the importance of close everyday cooperation among the EU, NATO and the UN, as well as the coordination of activities of the EU member states’ delegations in Afghanistan. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister called for the strengthening of the European Union Police Mission (EUPOL) in Afghanistan.

Minister A.Ažubalis supported the goal of the Government of Afghanistan to take over the responsibility for Afghanistan’s security from the international forces in accordance with a prearranged plan. The plan would provide the conditions, criteria and tools that would be necessary for the transfer of responsibility for country’s security.

“We think that, first of all, Afghanistan’s forces could take over the responsibility for security in relatively most secure and stable provinces. Lithuania is ready to start drafting the plan of the transfer of responsibility for security jointly with representatives from the authorities of the Ghor Province,” Minister A.Ažubalis said.

When discussing issues of the EU’s Eastern neighbourhood, Minister A.Ažubalis highlighted that it was very important to promote the progress in the implementation of Ukraine’s reforms, to advance the negotiations on Association Agreement and to give clear guidelines to Ukraine for a visa-free regime with the EU. The Minister stressed that it was the right decision for the EU to work actively with the new President of Ukraine.

Minister A.Ažubalis drew attention to the upcoming municipal elections in Belarus and noted that the EU had to send a clear signal to Minsk regarding the need to ensure the importance of the democratic election process, if this country really intended to develop mutual relations in the spirit of the Eastern Partnership.

During the joint session of the Foreign Affairs Council and the General Affairs Council, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton presented the progress in preparations for the creation of the European External Action Service.

Minister A.Ažubalis emphasized that it was very important to include the EU member states into the activities of the European External Action Service that is being created and to ensure striking a geographical balance. The Minister stressed that the EU delegations had to share information with the EU member states and to start providing consular assistance to the EU’s citizens, which is especially important to such countries as Lithuania with the diplomatic network that is not widespread.