Tánaiste Simon Coveney attends Foreign Affairs Council
Press release
19 November 2018
Tánaiste attends EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels to discuss Central Asia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Yemen and Security and Defence
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney, T.D., is in Brussels today, Monday 19 November, to attend a meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers. Ministers will discuss Central Asia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Yemen and Security and Defence.
Speaking in advance of the meeting, the Tánaiste said:
“Ministers will have an exchange of views on Central Asia, ahead of the EU-Central Asia Ministerial meeting taking place on 23 November. Central Asia is a region of growing importance and my colleagues and I will examine new opportunities for taking forward our partnership with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
We will have a discussion on the situation in the Bosnia and Herzegovina, following recent elections there. Ireland is strongly supportive of the perspective of EU membership as an agent for the promotion of reform and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider Balkan region.
My EU colleagues and I will also discuss recent events in Ukraine. Ireland continues to firmly support the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
We will then have an opportunity to discuss what the EU can do about the appalling situation in Yemen. Ireland strongly supports the work of the UN Special Envoy, Martin Griffiths, to re-start peace talks, and continues to call on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and to ensure unrestricted humanitarian access and the free flow of commercial goods.
Finally, we will address security and defence, in the context of the EU Global Strategy and review progress towards strengthening the Union’s capacity to act as an international peace provider in support of the United Nations. We will also adopt Council Conclusions on the Civilian CSDP Compact, which aims to make civilian CSDP more capable, flexible and responsive in promoting the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights.”
ENDS
Press Office
19 November 2018
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