BNS: Lithuanian foreign minister to discuss prospects for EU-Russia relations with colleagues in Luxembourg
Updated 2008-10-13
VILNIUS, Oct 13, BNS - Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas will discuss with European Union (EU) colleagues, in a session of the European Union (EU) General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Luxembourg on Monday, prospects for further development of EU-Russia relations.
Lithuania will aim for the EU to urge Russia's complete fulfillment of retreat agreements, i.e. removal of its forces from Georgia and their return to status quo ante, as prior to the Aug. 8 Moscow-Tbilisi military conflict, the Foreign Ministry said.
Implementation of retreat agreements is a condition for renewed EU-Russia talks, as decided in the Sept. 1 European Council, the release says.
Up to 8,000 Russian soldiers are currently deployed in Georgia's separatist regions, a figure far exceeding the agreed number of 3,500 Russian peacekeepers to be deployed in the regions.
Heads of EU's diplomatic departments will discuss in the external relations session the situation in Georgia and prospects for further aid to this country. The session will cover topical issues concerning the EU observer mission in Georgia, implementation of EU-Russia agreements as assumed on Aug. 12 and Sept. 8 and restoration of dwelling quarters for runaways and people, who have lost their homes.
Parliamentary elections in Belarus and whether they correspond to international standards are also on the session agenda. The meeting will also address EU's potential reaction to decisions issued by the Belarus government over the recent months, i.e. the release of all political prisoners, cooperation with the election monitoring mission under the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), non-recognition of Georgia's separatist regions as independent states.
EU foreign ministers will also exchange opinions on EU-Moldova cooperation, discuss the agenda for next week's European Council. The said agenda includes the situation in financial markets, the Lisbon Treaty, the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum as well as issues concerning energy, climate change, energy security and instability in food and oil prices.
