Vella expresses full support for Syria talks

Addressing a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels yesterday, foreign minister George Vella expressed Malta's strong support for international efforts to seek a diplomatic end to the violence which has plagued Syria for over two years.

During the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, the Minister looked forward to the convening of the long-awaited 'Geneva II' conference on 22 January 2014 as a first step towards the durable cessation of all violence culminating in the establishment of a Transitional Governing Body.

Vella said that despite the animosity between the players in the conflict, Malta hoped that all participants would put aside their differences and work constructively "with a view to reach a durable political solution to the conflict and in the process put an end to the hardship endured by the Syrian people."

He expressed full support for the OPCW-UN Joint Mission for the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons as well as the establishment of the 'Syria Trust Fund for the Destruction of Chemical weapons', to which Malta has provided for a financial contribution of €15,000. Malta also pledged €25,000 at the second Kuwait donors' conference on humanitarian assistance in Syria.

Turning to the EU's engagement with Egypt, particularly in light of recent political developments, Malta supported other Member States in calling for the EU to provide for support towards maintaining the ongoing transition in the country.

Referring to the Constitutional referendum held in Egypt over the weekend, Minister Vella noted that this has positive implications for Egypt, but at the same time expressed concern at the environment in which the referendum was held with restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression.

Vella referred to the designation Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, saying that trials of its officials had to be fair and objective. "The process and outcome will have a direct effect on both the political and security situation in Egypt."

Ministers also discussed developments with regard to the Middle East Peace Process. Malta expressed its full support for the tireless efforts of the Secretary of State John Kerry towards bringing the Palestinians and Israelis to agree on a framework proposal with the aim of achieving a final peace settlement.

"The continued settlement activity in East Jerusalem and the West Bank is threatening to derail the ongoing efforts and called for its cessation."

He also highlighted the precarious situation in Gaza, stating that a humanitarian crisis is looming due to an acute lack of even basic supplies in the territory. In this regard, Malta calls for Gaza to be factored in to any breakthrough in the current peace efforts.

Vella underlined the need for Hamas to be part of the future solution, a point which was referred to by High Representative Ashton in her winding up of this debate.

The meeting also focused on developments within the EU's Eastern Partnership, particularly with Ukraine, and adopted Council Conclusions which express deep concern for recent legislative developments in the country which "significantly restrict the Ukrainian citizens' fundamental rights of association, media and the press, and seriously curtail the activities of civil society organization."

Malta joined other Member States in unanimously expressing concern at these and other recent developments in the Ukraine.

Over lunch, ministers discussed the upcoming EU-Russia Summit which will be held next week. 

Ministers also discussed the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR), for which Malta has pledged €25,000 at the EU-UN High-level Humanitarian Conference for humanitarian assistance in the CAR.