15 November General Affairs Council/Defence ministers

Date: 18/11/1999

EU FOREIGN ministers took a decisive step towards the creation of an independent Union military force by appointing foreign policy chief Javier Solana to head the Western European Union (WEU), the European security organisation. This effectively set the seal on a decision to merge all of the WEU's operational and planning capacities into the EU, giving the Union its first real option for military action in its history.

MINISTERS stepped up the pressure on Russia over its military campaign in Chechnya, amid growing concern that Moscow's struggle for control over the breakaway republic is causing enormous suffering to civilians. More than 200,000 people have fled Chechnya and 150,000 have been driven from their homes since Russia relaunched its attacks on rebel forces in the province. Ministers condemned Moscow's “indiscriminate” use of force and urged Russia to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches refugees forced to leave their homes because of the fighting. They also called on Moscow to open a dialogue on a peace agreement.

“THE EU condemns all disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force in Chechnya which has given rise to severe hardship for the civilian population and internally displaced persons,” ministers said in a statement. They called on Russia to observe commitments under international humanitarian law to avoid civilian casualties and to keep the Chechen-Ingush border open to allow refugees to flee hostilities.

IN A debate on the situation in Pakistan, ministers called on the military regime to make firm commitments to return to democracy after the recent coup over the former government, but stopped short of threatening sanctions despite warning last month that they would suspend aid to Pakistan if General Pervez Musharraf's regime did not restore democratic rule within four weeks. Foreign ministers agreed that Pakistan should hold new elections quickly and respect basic human and civil rights, including press freedom and allowing political parties to campaign freely.

IN DISCUSSIONS on the EU's policy in the western Balkans, ministers decided not to lift sanctions on Serbia despite calls from opposition groups for an end to restrictions on fuel supplies. But they agreed to re-examine the issue at a later stage, after EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has presented a report on the Serbian opposition movement.

MINISTERS conceded that they could not conclude an agreement on wines and spirits with South Africa yet, but pledged to ensure that the lack of a deal in this sector would not affect the broader free-trade pact agreed in December last year. EU officials said efforts to broker a deal on wines and spirits had foundered over the use of particular trade names and technical terms. Philip Lowe, the Union's chief negotiator in talks with South Africa, said he was confident that the Union would be able to implement the main agreement with Pretoria on 1 January, 2000.