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Plassnik to round off EU Presidency in Moscow and Belgrade

Attending the G8 on Thursday in Moscow and meetings in Belgrade on Friday

Foreign Minister and Council President Ursula Plassnik will take part in the meeting of G8 foreign ministers in Moscow on Thursday, 29 June. “The meeting of foreign ministers will prepare for the G8 summit in St Petersburg on 12 July. Since the summit will take place during the Finnish Presidency, I have of course included the Finnish Political Director in my delegation in Moscow – in the tradition of excellent cooperation with our Finnish colleagues and in the team spirit that we have especially promoted as Presidency,” said Foreign Minister Plassnik.

The foreign ministers will discuss the whole range of current foreign policy topics at their meeting, including North Korea, Afghanistan, Africa and Haiti. The Middle East – not least in view of the sad events on the ground – will be discussed extensively, as will Iraq.

The Iranian nuclear programme will also be a major topic. “The G8 partners and the EU-3 support the package of incentives for Iran jointly worked out by the EU-3 together with the US, Russia and China. This broad level of international support lends additional legitimacy to the offer presented by EU High Representative Javier Solana in Teheran,” declared Plassnik.

“In my capacity as Austrian Presidency of the EU, I am of course concerned that the Western Balkans should receive adequate time for discussion. We intend to continue the commitment we have shown over recent months up to the last minute of our Presidency,” said the Foreign Minister.

As a further sign of particular interest in developments in the region, Foreign Minister Plassnik will be visiting Belgrade on Friday. Among others, she will be meeting the Serbian President, Boris Tadic, the Serbian Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica and her Serbian colleague, Vuk Draskovic. “We want a Serbia that feels committed to European values and remains on course for Europe. That includes total cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague. Serbia has to fulfil certain obligations if it wants to stay on course towards the EU. The EU wants to give Serbia the best possible support,” said Plassnik.