Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides discussed today the Cyprus issue with High Representative F.Mogherini and his British, French and German counterparts,Sir Alan Duncan, Jean-Marc Ayrault and Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Minister Kasoulides participated in these successive meetings in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council, convening in Brussels, to discuss EU – Africa relations, Syria and the migration issue.
Speaking during the debate on EU-Africa relations, the Foreign Minister said that although Africa faces many challenges, it is still a continent with limitless potential. Noting that there are positive examples of countries where the rule of law and functioning democracy, Minister Kasoulides stressed that the African peoples have demonstrated, as we saw recently in the case of Gambia, resistance against dictatorships.
In this context, the Foreign Minister particularly emphasized the rule of law and the importance of support of judicial independence, factors, he said, are intrinsically linked to achieving the goal of economic development. Referring to the various areas where the EU could develop further cooperation with African countries, Minister Kasoulides noted that the scope of cooperation should cover more than just the areas of direct EU interest, such as security and migration .
The Minister called upon the EU to engage in a frank dialog with the partners in Africa, focusing on key areas such as education, health, support youth and women`s rights. In conclusion, the Foreign Minister said that the EU-Africa partnership should be a relationship of equals that fully leverages regional actors such as the African Union.
Ahead of the planned meeting, the Foreign Minister signed on behalf of Cyprus, an Agreement on Political Dialog and Cooperation between the EU and Cuba, which aims to strengthening the relations with that country. After the completion of the works of the Council, the Foreign Minister also signed the Agreement on the EU Trust Fund for Colombia, in the presence of the country`s President himself, Mr. Juan Manuel santos Calderón.
