This Friday, the Prime Minister supported the proposal of his Spanish counterpart to organize a conference for peace in the Middle East and considered it unnecessary to achieve unanimity in positions on this issue among 27 countries.
“We think this is a good thing and that is why it is included in the conclusions of the Prime Minister’s proposal. [Pedro] Sánchez, to facilitate the holding of a peace conference within six months,” António Costa said at a press conference following a two-day meeting of the European Council in Brussels.
On Thursday, 27 countries agreed to a joint position calling for a “humanitarian pause” to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population. However, some member states wanted to go further, for example by calling for a ceasefire between the Israeli army and the Islamist movement Hamas.
“We all come from very different historical positions regarding Israel. This greatly influences how different countries position themselves in this context. There were countries that not only defended the ceasefire, but also understood that the blockade [a Gaza]Cutting off electricity and water is a violation of international law. Others understand that Israel’s right to defend itself should not be subject to any “buts,” said Antonio Costa.
Despite the differences, the Prime Minister advocated that “Europe 27 is a pluralistic Europe”, so he emphasized “common efforts” to ensure that there is a common position of the social bloc.
The same thing happened with Ukraine, added Antonio Costa, there are different positions, but 27 managed after February 24, 2022 and until this Friday to reach consensus on positions and speak with one voice, in statements and in concrete support. country occupied by Russia.
“The European Union is well aware that this war [no Médio Oriente] did not put an end to the previous one and that Russia’s violation of international law continues, and that Ukraine’s right to defend itself and our responsibility to support it in its defense is what remains and is expressed in the conclusions,” he added.
“Sensitivity to Ukraine varies,” says the Prime Minister, because some member states “have excessive closeness, others because, despite closeness, it does not always give rise to great friendship.”
One of these countries is Slovakia. Prime Minister Robert Fico, who came to power after forming a coalition with the far right, has a position on Ukraine, accompanied, albeit with its own nuances, by Hungary as a reserve for sanctions against Russia.
Fico has been accused of being close to the Kremlin and favoring Moscow’s version of events, and he has already threatened that the country could stop supporting Kyiv economically, financially and militarily.
“He expressed his own position regarding Ukraine, arising from his experience of the neighborhood with Ukraine, within the framework of bilateral relations between Slovakia and Ukraine”; commented António Costa.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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