On 2 and 3 September, Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets attended the informal meeting of foreign affairs ministers of the European Union (Gymnich) in Kranj in Slovenia, mainly focusing on the situation in Afghanistan but also touching upon the European Union’s relations with China and the actions of Belarus on the EU’s external border. The minister also met with the Minister of External Affairs of India Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
“Estonia, just like all countries that value human rights, considers it crucial for Afghanistan’s social development and people’s welfare for women to meaningfully participate in society and girls to continue their education, and as well as the rights of minority groups to be ensured,“ Foreign Minister Liimets said. “Avoiding violence, ensuring the safety of all people and allowing unhindered humanitarian assistance to reach those in need are of utmost importance.”
Estonia and Norway are the penholders for Afghanistan at the UN Security Council this year and are heading negotiations on the topic, which are essential for the continuation of the UN’s activities and the future developments of Afghanistan. Cooperation with the government of Afghanistan that is being formed will be strictly conditional and mostly depends on whether the Taliban is prepared to uphold the human rights and safe living environment of all inhabitants. At the same time, practical communication to ensure humanitarian access remains vital. At the meeting, the ministers emphasised that it was important to support neighbouring countries in receiving and housing Afghan refugees.
Touching on relations with China, Minister Liimets emphasised the importance of the unity of the European Union and cooperation with like-minded partners. “China is an important partner in fighting climate change, however, it is certainly difficult to overlook China’s controversial practices when it comes to human rights – this must be constantly highlighted in line with the principles and values of the European Union,” the foreign minister said.
The ministers noted the solidarity and mutual support of European Union member states on the issue of Belarus. “The politically motivated hybrid attack and irregular migration organised by the Lukashenko regime on the external border of the European Union and NATO are a clear security threat for all of Europe. It is not merely a problem of Lithuania or Latvia, which is why it is important for the European Union to jointly stand up to the attempts by the Lukashenko regime to undermine our security, while also remembering the political prisoners in Belarus and the broader support of the European Union to the civil society of Belarus.
At the meeting with Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the foreign minister expressed support for a common European Union strategy for the Indo-Pacific region and a global connectivity strategy based on the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council. India is an important partner for the European Union in creating a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The Gymnich meeting held on 2 and 3 September in Kranj, Slovenia is an informal meeting of the foreign affairs ministers of the European Union, held twice a year in the country holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union. Slovenia currently holds the presidency, the next meeting will be organised by France in the first half of 2022.
The official photos of the meeting can be found in the photo gallery.
Additional information:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Communication Department
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