WorldIn Brussels, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister discusses Eastern Partnership, migration2015-11-17, 12:57On 16 November in Brussels, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius participated in the EU's Foreign Affairs Council meeting, which dedicated a lot of attention to the Eastern Partnership. Foreign Ministers discussed the situation in Libya, Syria and the challenges of migration. We are all shocked by the attacks in Paris, so excuse me if I repeat some messages but I want to be clear. This cannot be just another summit. The European Union is deeply shocked and in mourning after the terrorist attacks in Paris. It is an attack against us all. We will face this threat together with all necessary means and ruthless determination. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania strongly condemns the terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13. These barbaric acts against civilians is a callous and cruel attack against humanity and civilisation. We express our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims and wish a speed recovery to the wounded. The organizers and perpetrators of these terrorist acts must be identified and brought to justice. Lithuania expresses solidarity with all the people of France. Lithuania will remain a staunch and reliable ally of France and all international community in the fight against terrorism. President Dalia Grybauskaitė is attending the EU-Africa Summit held in Malta within the context of previous EU decisions to bring the migration crisis under control. The summit aims to reach an agreement, together with African leaders, on joint measures to manage the flows of refugees to Europe. Parliament urged member states to fulfil their pledges and pay for the EU migration actions that have been agreed by EU leaders. In Wednesday's debate, MEPs proposed to use an unexpected windfall of €2.3 billion from EU fines and customs duties to finance some of the measures. The Commission earlier said the new trust funds set up for Syria and Africa were short of €2.22 billion in national contributions. Martin Schulz called for a comprehensive and long-term migration policy in cooperation with African countries in order to tackle the refugee crisis. The EP President made the plea on 10 November at the Maltese Parliament ahead of the Valletta summit on migration taking place today and tomorrow. Schulz said: "As long as war continues, people will continue to flee and won't be able to return home." On 5-6 November in Poland, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius attended the Warsaw Security Forum 2015 and delivered a speech at a session, which was dedicated to the 2016 NATO summit in Warsaw. The session focused on the Alliance's response to threats both to the east and the south. Dalia Grybauskaitė extended condolences on the passing of Israel’s former president2015-11-09, 10:39President Dalia Grybauskaitė expressed her heartfelt condolences and those of the Lithuanian people to President Reuven Rivlin of the State of Israel on the passing of former President Yitzhak Navon. Turkey is the gateway to Europe for hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war zones and as such an essential partner for the EU to help tackle the refugee crisis. Following Sunday's elections in Turkey, we talked to Greek EPP member Manolis Kefalogiannis, chair of the delegation to the EU-Turkey joint parliamentary committee, about the need for an agreement on migration between the EU and Turkey, the country's human rights situation as well as its progress towards joining the EU. |
|
© 2013 All rights reserved to the public enterprise ‘L24plius’. |