Addressing European Union foreign ministers, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela stated that the EU’s Strategy on Syria, adopted in March 2017, must continue underpinning the search for a sustainable resolution of the conflict that has been afflicting Syria for the past seven years. The strategy aims at ending the war through a political transition process negotiated by the parties to the conflict, with the support of the UN Special Envoy for Syria as well as key international and regional actors.
Minister Abela was addressing an informal meeting of the Council of the EU’s Foreign Affairs configuration (Gymnich), which was hosted by the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU and chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. The meeting took place on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th February 2018 at the National Palace of Culture in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia.
Expressing Malta’s concern at the deterioration of the situation on the ground in Syria, Minister Abela stressed that there is no military solution for the civil war in that country. All parties should commit to a political solution under UN mediation, which is the only way to ensure sustainable peace as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria.
Minister Abela stated that, “In the absence of progress on a political solution, violence and its humanitarian repercussions persist, and thus the EU and the international community must also stay focused on alleviating the suffering of the Syrians in and outside Syria. The EU should also keep supporting the promotion of accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other violations of international humanitarian law, since there can be no reconciliation in Syria without accountability.” He continued by saying that, in the immediate term, humanitarian aid must remain at the forefront of the EU and the international community’s endeavours in Syria as well as in its neighbouring countries which are hosting refugees.
The discussion on Syria on the first day of the two-day meeting was followed by talks on the Western Balkans and on the EU’s policy towards North Korea. Minister Abela expressed Malta’s support for the EU Strategy for the Western Balkans, describing it as relevant and timely, and presenting a good opportunity for discussion to take place in different formats. The EU has to continue to adopt a responsive approach vis-à-vis the Western Balkans and, once the bloc shows its commitment towards its European aspirations, then the Western Balkans will undoubtedly reciprocate.
On the second day, the foreign affairs ministers of the five EU candidate countries (Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM), Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey) joined High Representative Federica Mogherini and the 28 EU ministers to discuss security and defence.