FM to brief EU counterparts on Geneva meeting

Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides will inform his EU counterparts about the discussions and the outcome of the informal meeting on Cyprus which was convened by the UN Secretary General in Geneva at the end of April during the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday.

Under the current affairs item on the agenda, member states’ foreign ministers will be briefed by EU High Representative Josep Borrell, among other matters, on recent developments in Afghanistan, on EU-Russia relations, on the situation in Lebanon, on the postponement of the Palestinian elections, on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran (JCPOA), and on the latest developments in Belarus.

Under the same item, Christodoulides will have the opportunity to inform his counterparts about the discussions and outcome of the Informal Meeting on Cyprus that was convened by the UN Secretary General, which took place in Geneva, on 27-29 April.

Later, the foreign ministers will discuss the situation in the Western Balkans, with an emphasis on EU cooperation with the countries of the region, as well the latter’s progress towards completion of their European perspective.

Furthermore, the ministers will review transatlantic relations, especially in view of the EU-US Summit in June, while in the same context the strengthening of cooperation with the USA on a number of regional and international issues will be considered.

In the afternoon, the foreign ministers will hold an exchange of views, via teleconference, with the US President’s Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry, during which they will discuss ways to expand EU – US cooperation and take joint action in this area.

On the sidelines of the Council, Christodoulides will hold a number of bilateral meetings and contacts with counterparts, in which developments in relation to the Cyprus problem and issues of common interest are expected to be discussed.