05.09.2013

Press statement by Elmar Brok on the occasion of the 3rd Interparliamentary Conference on CFSP, in Vilnius (5-6 September 2013)

On the occasion of the conference, gathering representatives from all EU Member States and Members of the European Parliament, in the historic chamber where Lithuanian independence was declared Mr Brok was reminded of the courage needed to pursue freedom and spoke of the need to continue this work today in the face of the shocking situation in Syria which asks us to make difficult judgements with limited information and without the guidance of a functioning UN Security Council. „Those who recur to chemical, biological or atomic weapons have to be held responsible“.

He also regretted the negative developments in the Eastern Partnership. „If Armenia and Azerbaijan had found a political solution to their problems Armenia would have been able to resist current Russian pressure“. According to Mr Brok the behaviour of Russia is not acceptable and is in violation of basic international law. The EU must be vocal about this.

Mr Brok confirmed also that the countries of the Eastern Partnership have a European perspective „but this is conditional on the fulfilment of certain requirements“ which in the case of Ukraine are the reform of the judiciary, to put an end to selective justice (and a solution for the Yulia Tymoschenko case) and the electoral reform. „In the coming weeks we must encourage our partners to pursue their reforms“ said Mr Brok. „I have the feeling that Ukraine is moving in the right direction“. According to Mr Brok the Vilnius Summit should become a success. „The citizens of our eastern neighbours know that their future lies in their European perspective“.

Für weitere Informationen:
Elmar Brok MdEP, Tel. +32 2 284 7323