
Borrell: We continue to do three things: support Ukraine, put pressure on Russia, and address the repercussions of the war that affect the whole world.
- Europe and Arabs
- Wednesday , 31 August 2022 16:59 PM GMT
He said that Gorbachev stopped the Cold War and began an era of cooperation with the West
Brussels: Europe and Arabs
On the sidelines of meetings of the foreign ministers of the European Union countries in Prague, the capital of the current rotating presidency of the Union held by Bulgaria, Josep Borrell, the European Union foreign policy coordinator, made statements to journalists in which he said: Tonight we learned that Mikhail Gorbachev has passed away. I was a member of the Spanish government when the Iron [curtain] fell and when the coup [happened] in Moscow - I remember well those historic days. Mikhail Gorbachev sent the winds of freedom to Russian society. He tried to change the communist system from within - which became impossible. He began an era of cooperation with the West, and stopped the Cold War. Unfortunately, hopes have faded and this brings me to the current situation where [Foreign Affairs] Ministers will continue to discuss our relationship with Russia over [all] the Ukraine War. We have to keep doing all three: support Ukraine, put pressure on Russia, and address the broader fallout of this war that affects the entire world. Therefore, we will continue to work in these three directions. We will have to discuss the visa for Russian citizens. It is the most important [and] tangible topic on the table. It has been widely discussed this week. You know that there are different situations between different member states. I will work for unity, for a unified position, for a common position. We cannot seem detached about such an important thing as the relations between two peoples, between Russian society and European peoples. We will have to study the consequences of this war not only on us. Yesterday, we discussed the consequences for Africa. This war is bringing to the world a systemic energy crisis and a food and energy crisis. It affects European society every day, more and more, but other peoples, other countries, especially in Africa but also in Southeast Asia and Latin America, are suffering from the effects of this war. We have to think about the future relationship with Russia: how do we deal with Russia in the future after what is happening today in Ukraine. So we have a wide agenda, and a very important meeting - an informal meeting [so] just discussions and no decisions. But certainly, on the issue of visas, we must come to an agreement on a political decision. Asked about his comfort with inspectors entering the nuclear power plant [Zaporizhzhia] in Ukraine, Borrell said It is part of this systemic crisis. They [the Russians] are playing. They are gambling with nuclear security. Currently, the task of the International Atomic Energy Agency is to go to Zaporizhzhya. We are very supportive of Mr. Grossi [Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency] and his team. Let's see what the result of this task is. We have been demanding the immediate disarmament of the vicinity of this atomic center - the largest atomic power plant in all of Europe. We cannot play war games in the vicinity of a location like this. So, I hope that the [International Atomic Energy Agency] can restore the situation. Certainly, we must continue to press for the complete demilitarization of this part of the Ukrainian territory. And about selective participation, which is one of the five principles that were defined after the annexation of Crimea by Russia. Can this remain EU policy? Borrell replied, "At the moment, there is no participation, as you can fully understand, but we have to think about the future. The future, the relationship with Putin's Russia will be very difficult after what happens. There is a French-German newspaper, there is also a Czech newspaper - we have a lot of ideas." This informal meeting is a good occasion to examine how our relationship with Russia is to be addressed. But I want to stress the importance of the wider world. Not only Russians and Europeans. This crisis affects millions of people. Millions of people in the Horn of Africa - who have nothing to do with Ukraine - are starving as a result of this war. The gas market around the world is completely connected with this, look at gas prices. It has a lot to do with this, not only in Europe, but also in Africa. Not just energy, but certainly at this moment, energy is at the core of our relationship with the African people. We need them; they produce gas [and] they need us. This is the time to strengthen our partnership with Africa. Africa is a collateral victim of this war."
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