By Eric Ojo
European Union (EU) foreign ministers will converge in Belgium next week, to discuss the current situation in Sahel and the coastal countries of West Africa.
This was disclosed in a statement made available to the media on Friday by the Finnish Government. The statement said its Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pekka Haavisto will represent Finland at the meeting.
Finland, according to the statement, welcomes the EU’s efforts to stabilise the countries in the Sahel region and to help them return to the democratic process and to support the coastal countries to prevent the spread of instability in the region.
“To find a solution to the situation in the Sahel and the coastal countries of West Africa, we need intensive dialogue with the region and we need to support it both regionally and bilaterally”, the statement said.
The EU foreign ministers will continue their discussion on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The topics they will cover include continued support to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility, energy resilience, accountability, Ukraine’s peace proposal, and preparations for the EU–Ukraine Summit on 3 February.
Haavisto said: “When the Foreign Affairs Council meets in Brussels, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has lasted almost one year. Support to Ukraine is the most important topic on the agenda. Finland, and the whole of the EU, must continue their support to Ukraine as Russia keeps attacking Ukraine and its energy infrastructure”.
Other topical matters on the Council agenda will be the situations in Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Montenegro, Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Ethiopia.
The EU foreign minister will have an informal lunch with Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority Mohammad Shtayyeh.
They will also discuss the situations in Ukraine and Iran with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi over an informal breakfast.
