Baltic States – CIS, Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation

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Rinkevics also expressed his confidence that Latvia will continue supporting the reform process implemented by the Ukrainian government. The government of Ukraine must go ahead with reforms with a special focus on the fight against corruption and the practical implementation of legislation and regulations, the Latvian minister said. He added that Latvia believes in a continued strengthening and active use of the EU's current support instruments and special support for Ukraine to put the legislative amendments into practice.

"It is vital that work be continued on the implementation of the Minsk agreement, which includes seeking solutions to introduction of amendments to the Constitution. We believe that in parallel to the fight against the emerging challenges, the EU should remain focused on the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, since this is a central issue for the entire European security infrastructure," Rinkevics said.

The Latvian minister also said that Ukraine should continue putting effort into progress with the implementation of the Association Agreement, while the EU is going ahead with its assistance so as to ensure that the process is effective. This includes considering, if need arises, additional support for Ukraine in response to economic restrictions imposed by Russia following the Association Agreement's entry into force.

Monday's meeting of European Union foreign ministers focused on the situation in Syria and its vicinity as well as on how to support Ukraine with its reforms.

When discussing the situation in Ukraine and mainly how the EU should continue supporting Ukraine with its reform processes, the ministers found that the coordination of member states providing aid as well as the visibility of the EU's actions in Ukraine can be improved, spokespeople for the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

According to Estonian Foreign Minister Marina Kaljurand the political situation in which developments are taking place has to be paid attention to. "In the past couple of years Ukraine has made big efforts by continuing to actively carry out reforms in spite of Russia's continued aggression and the unlawful annexation of Crimea," Kaljurand said.

The reform process in Ukraine has been quite successful in the fields of economy, banking and energy as well as the police reform, but there are still fields in which reforms have to be carried out faster, Kaljurand said. EU ministers found that it is important to help along the implementation of the association and free trade agreement between the EU and Ukraine. "We have to encourage Ukraine as our strategic partner with its reforms and support the country in cooperation any way we can," Kaljurand.

According to Kaljurand, Estonia continues to support the development of Ukraine by sharing its own reform experience bilaterally as well as in the framework of multilateral programs.

When discussing the armed conflict in Syria, the ministers expressed concern regarding the continued violence in Syria as well as the deteriorating humanitarian situation. According to the ministers it is important that the planned peace talks in Geneva start at the determined time and that it would result in a political solution. According to Kaljurand it is important that the UN resolution adopted in December which determined next steps for ending the Syrian crisis would be implemented.

The ministers expressed hope that all the sides in the Syrian conflict would help along the process and refrain from escalating the situation. According to Kaljurand it is important that the activity of Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy tasked with seeking a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Syria, is supported. De Mistura has set a goal of launching the peace talks on Jan. 25.