Tánaiste attends Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, will attend a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, today (Monday 23 October). EU Foreign Ministers will discuss the situation in Israel and in the region, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as well as developments in Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Speaking ahead of the visit, the Tánaiste said:
"The rising toll of civilian casualties and suffering in Israel and in the occupied Palestinian territory is horrifying. I echo the UN Secretary General’s call for humanitarian pause to allow aid to reach those now in desperate need in Gaza.
"It is essential that the EU maintains assistance for the Palestinian people at this time and I will be making this clear during the Foreign Affairs Council. The EU must give voice to support a humanitarian ceasefire in order for the delivery of vital supplies and humanitarian assistance to be facilitated for those in need.
"We will also discuss how the EU can use its diplomatic engagement in order to support regional de-escalation in what is now a very dangerous situation. There have been a number of important high-level meetings in recent days and it crucial now that the EU meaningfully and substantially plays a role in efforts to de-escalate.”
On Ukraine the Tánaiste said:
"Our meeting in Kyiv at the start of October sent an important message to Ukraine. The EU’s support is substantive and it is enduring. Today we are considering how we continue to transfer that political will into meaningful and tangible action.
"These decisions are of paramount significance to the EU and I am confident that we will ensure that our support to Ukraine will continue to be relevant, flexible and fit for purpose.”