Press release
Tánaiste travels to Brussels for EU Foreign Affairs Council
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
The Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin will travel to Brussels today to take part in a meeting of EU, Arab and OIC partners on implementation of the two-State solution, and the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday.
Sunday evening’s meeting is being convened by Norway and Saudi Arabia and will include more than 40 participants. Discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council will focus on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and on Georgia and will include further discussions with Arab Foreign Ministers and the Foreign Minister of Ukraine.
Speaking ahead of the meetings, the Tánaiste said:
“These international discussions are a timely and important follow up to Ireland’s decision, with Spain and Norway, to recognise the State of Palestine. They provide an opportunity to coordinate our efforts and I am looking forward to discussing the Arab Peace Vision with the states who have been working on its design. Last Friday’s order of the International Court of Justice for Israel to halt its military operation in Rafah is extremely significant and underlines the gravity of the situation in Gaza. It is unconscionable and unacceptable that the operation in Rafah continues - it must cease immediately."
On Ukraine, the Tánaiste said:
“At the Foreign Affairs Council, we will continue to discuss EU support for Ukraine. The situation in Ukraine remains of grave concern. It is extremely important that we continue to deliver decisions. The upcoming Summit on Peace in Ukraine in Switzerland is an important event and will be an opportunity for the global community to come together to discuss how we can support a future peace process for Ukraine. We have been actively involved in encouraging broad high-level participation and my meetings today and tomorrow provide another important opportunity to do this."