LOC17:13
14:13 GMT
PARIS, Dec 10 (KUNA) -- The Middle East region, Iran, Sudan and Somalia are
all to figure prominently at the next meeting of European Union Foreign
Ministers scheduled for Brussels on December 13-14, French officials said
Friday.
The EU gathering is aimed at preparing the European Council Summit meeting
later in December and a number of topical and even crisis issues are to be
prepared for the leaders of the 27-nation group.
High on the agenda on Monday and Tuesday is the referendum on
self-determination in south Sudan, where a vote is due in early January.
Secondly, the French Foreign Ministry said, the Middle East peace process,
which is now completely stalled, will be up for discussion by the Foreign
Ministers.
The EU earlier this week blasted Israels settlement policy, saying it was
"an obstacle to peace" and remarking that it violated international law and
the decisions agreed by all parties in the Quartet. France also remarked that
Israel was violating the 4th Geneva Convention through its actions to build
settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as through
its forced expulsion of Arab residents and the destruction of their homes.
The conflicts in Somalia and Afghanistan are also on the agenda as is the
ongoing problem of Irans nuclear programme and the controversial "sensitive"
activities issue, namely uranium enrichment and heavy water production by
Iran. (End)
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KUNA 101713 Dec 10NNNN