merrion street

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Simon Coveney T.D., today attended a meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers. 

Speaking from Brussels the Tánaiste said:

"EU Foreign Ministers today discussed developments in Ukraine, Syria, Iran and North Korea. On Ukraine, where we have just marked the fourth anniversary of the illegal annexation of Crimea, Ministers commended the progress the country has made to date on reforms, and urged that these continue. 

UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura briefed Ministers on the latest developments on the ground in Syria. Ministers expressed their deep concern at the continuing violence, and called for immediate humanitarian access and a political resolution to the conflict. 

Over lunch we discussed developments on the Korean Peninsula with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, King Kyung. The EU expressed its support for the reduction of tensions and the de-nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. 

Ministers later had a discussion on Iran, reiterating their support for the Iran nuclear deal. EU Ministers also strongly condemned the attack that took place in Salisbury, UK on 4 March this year, noting the use of chemical weapons is completely unacceptable. The EU takes extremely seriously the UK government's assessment that the Russian Federation is highly likely to be responsible. Ireland and other EU countries expressed solidarity with the UK at this time."