News

On 20 April Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė  participated in the 21st Ministerial Meeting of the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. The Vice-Minister took part in discussions about the EU and the Gulf States cooperation, settling of issues important for both regions.

The Meeting was attended by representatives from Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia as well as from 27 EU countries.

The meeting focused on strengthening of the EU and the Gulf States cooperation under the Joint Action Programme adopted in 2010, particularly in areas such as environment, innovation, renewable energy, education.

The participants of the meeting drew attention to the importance of developing economic ties between Europe and the Gulf States and underlined that the EU and the Gulf States Free Trade Agreement would promote economic cooperation.

The EU representatives expressed support to the Gulf States’ initiative to mediate in finding a peaceful solution to a situation in Yemen, to encourage dialogue between the conflicting sides.

The EU and the Gulf States ministers noted the necessity of coordinated international community efforts in order to implement the UN Security Council Resolutions on Libya.

The participants of the meeting urged Israel and the Palestinians to resume the negotiations on the Middle East Peace Process with a view to arriving at a solution  of two peacefully coexisting states by September 2011, as it was set out at the Middle East Quartet meeting in Moscow on 19 March, 2010.

Representatives of the Gulf States stressed the threats of the Iran’s nuclear programme and expressed concern over Iran’s intention to interfere in the internal affairs of the region’s states.

During the event in Abu-Dhabi Lithuanian Vice-Minister  met the  Deputy Prime Minister of Kuwait Mohammad Al-Sabah, Qatari Foreign Minister Hamad Al-Thani, Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Abdullah, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates Abdallah Al-Nahyan. At the meetings current bilateral political, economic issues were discussed, it was agreed to intensify and expand bilateral cooperation.

EU-Gulf Cooperation Council meetings at foreign ministers level are held once a year on rotation basis. The last meeting was held on 14 June, 2010 in Luxembourg.