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On 2-3 September at the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers (Gymnich), in Sopot, Poland, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs A.Ažubalis focused on the issues of the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative, the situation in Ukraine and Belarus.

“The situation in Ukraine after the arrest of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is a test that will indicate the human rights situation in the country and will have an impact on Ukraine’s European aspirations. In turn, the EU may influence Ukraine by providing it with a clear perspective for integration,” A.Ažubalis said at the meeting of the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats).
According to the Minister, the prerequisite for the dialogue on the revival of Belarus is the liberation and rehabilitation of all political prisoners.

At the meeting, ministers also discussed the preparation for the Eastern Partnership Summit that will be held in Warsaw on 29-30 September.

According to A.Ažubalis, Lithuania wants the declaration of the forthcoming meeting to express support of European integration aspirations of the EU neighbors in the East, to reiterate the EU’s political commitment to facilitate travelling to the EU for citizens of neighboring countries and to give a new impetus to the negotiations on free trade with countries in the region.

The informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers (Gymnich) focused on the situation in the Middle East and Libya. A.Ažubalis welcomed the EU’s planned means of support for the new Libya. When discussing the Middle East Peace Process, the Minister stressed that the international community had to make every effort to reach a unanimous position, encouraging the parties to the conflict - Israel and Palestine – to resume peace talks. According to the Minister, it is important to maintain a unanimous and well-balanced EU position.

Foreign ministers also continued their discussions on the EU’s strategic partners, and, this time, on relations with Brazil, India and the Republic of South Africa. During the Polish EU Presidency, the EU will hold summits with South Africa and Brazil. A.Ažubalis stressed that only real political weight was not enough for a country to be held an EU strategic partner. The country has to share common values. Otherwise, one or another country is referred to just as a very important one, but is not called a strategic EU partner.