Trade in agricultural products, the debate on the EU agriculture strategy and the proposal for a Regulation establishing the monitoring framework for resilient European forests were on the agenda of the AGRIFISH council which convened Tuesday in Brussels.
Cyprus was represented by Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Maria Panagiotou.
An announced says that the Ministers discussed the future development of the EU’s trade relations as well as EU trade with Ukraine.
Cyprus Minister advocated for ensuring a continuous, fair and rules-based food trade that promotes the EU’s goals for food security, tackling climate crisis and sustainable development.
Panagiotou also stated that due to the current geopolitical situation, efforts to strengthen the sustainability of food systems should be intensified. She reiterated Cyprus’ solidarity with Ukraine and supported the EU’s efforts for unhindered food transport to areas in need.
In relation to the dialogue on the strategy for the future of Eur
opean agriculture, the Cypriot Minister stressed the importance of security and stability, strengthening competitiveness and uninterrupted food production, indicating that strengthening support for farmers and rural areas must be reflected in all EU policies, taking into account the specificities of some member states.
With reference to the proposed regulation for the establishment of the monitoring framework for resilient European forests, Panagiotou noted that the system will contribute to strengthening the resilience of forests and to a better response to the ever-increasing pressures.
She supported Portugal’s initiative to strengthen the resilience of water resources and water availability, considering that this will help to address the effects of climate change.
In a joint document, Austria, France and Italy raised the need to preserve primary food production, listing their concerns in relation to the artificial production of meat in labs.
Panagiotou supported the document and called on the European
Commission to take these concerns seriously, with a view to protecting the environment and agricultural production in the EU, consumer health and ensuring food quality and safety.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
WASHINGTON: Ankara is ‘strictly’ following the provisions of the 1936 Montreux Convention that gives Trkiye the authority to restrict the passage of naval vessels through the Turkish Straits during times of war, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday.
“As for the Pentagon statement, as far as I understood it from your words, I haven’t read it, but they said that they will try to get Trkiye to change the strait regime right now.
“If they want to achieve that, then our Turkish colleagues have told us multiple times that as protectors of the Montreux Convention, they will strictly follow its provisions,” Lavrov told Anadolu at a news conference at UN headquarters in New York when he was asked about the Pentagon’s indication of willingness to work with Trkiye “to move away from the state of conflict,” referring to Trkiye invoking the Convention, which has been widely understood “as a desire to repeal the convention.”
“Well, (US defense chief) Llyod Austin is back to work, right? That’s why they’
re so active now. Well, I don’t think that they will succeed,” said Lavrov.
Assistant defense chief for international security affairs, Celeste Wallander, welcomed Tuesday cooperation between Bulgaria, Romania and Trkiye on a Black Sea de-mining operation, and said it is “really important” not just for Ukraine but for commercial shipping and shipping in general in the Black Sea.
“So, we want to work with the littoral countries of the Black Sea, including Turkey, on conditions under which we can move away from the state of conflict in which Turkey decided to — and as the, kind of, guardian of the Montreux Convention, invoked that provision of the Montreux Convention,” Wallander was quoted as in a statement.
Regarding the question of a possible visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Trkiye, Lavrov said Putin received an invitation from the leaders of Trkiye, North Korea and other foreign partners.
“This schedule is shaped by the Kremlin and his administration,” he said.
Source: Anadolu Agency