Press Releases

Plassnik: Oman – important partner in the Middle East dialogue

Foreign Minister Plassnik meets Omani Foreign Minister in Vienna

Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, President in office of the Council, had a meeting today with her Omani counterpart, Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah. Their discussions centred on EU relations with the Gulf region and the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Middle East peace process, Iran’s nuclear policy and the dialogue of cultures and religions.

Plassnik said great progress had been made in the negotiations on a free trade agreement between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council in the last few months, and expressed the hope that the issues still outstanding would be settled and the agreement concluded soon.

“An important component of our relations is also the intensive political dialogue we conduct with our partners in the region. Their expertise is helpful and contributes greatly to our understanding of the problems in the region”, she said.

“With regard to Iraq we agreed that the formation of a government of national unity will be an important milestone in overcoming divisions and in bringing peace to that country. I explained the EU position on the Hamas government in the Palestinian Territories; it is not our aim to bring about the collapse of the government, but we want to see observance of the three principles defined by the Middle East Quartet: renunciation of violence, recognition of Israel and of the agreements concluded hitherto”, she added.

In the Iran conflict, the EU continued to stand by a diplomatic solution according to Plassnik: "If Iran takes confidence-building measures, the doors remain open for negotiations. However, the latest report by General Director El Baradei of the IAEA is yet again anything but an encouraging signal in this direction."

"The conflicts surrounding the Mohammed cartoons showed us the importance of maintaining a constant dialogue among religions and cultures; this is the only way to ensure mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence. Oman is an important dialogue partner for us in this respect", Plassnik concluded.