Berlin, 13 May 2022 (TDI): The Canadian Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, joins meetings of foreign ministers of G7 in Berlin. The meetings of G7 Foreign Ministers are taking place in Germany from 12 to 15 May.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also joined the meetings. Melanie Joly met with her counterparts to discuss the war in Ukraine and ways to support it. Furthermore, they also discussed strategies and measures to further counter Russia.
Kicking off the G7 with Minister Hayashi from Japan.
As we are developing our Indo-pacific strategy, the 🇨🇦 – 🇯🇵 relationship is crucial. We also talked about Ukraine, the state of the world’s security and how we can collaborate to make the world a safer place for all. pic.twitter.com/ck4Q7T5aNX
— Mélanie Joly (@melaniejoly) May 12, 2022
Moreover, they also discussed pertinent international issues. These issues include the global consequences of the Russian invasion, the ongoing peace and security situation in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, support to end the COVID-19 pandemic, and the fight against climate change.
In addition, the Canadian Minister will meet with her NATO counterparts to address collaboration efforts to support Ukraine’s independence and integrity.
Likewise, the allies will also meet with the representatives of Finland and Sweden. They will exchange views on the priorities of the upcoming NATO Leaders’ Summit.
The upcoming NATO summit will take place in Madrid, Spain in June. These priorities include NATO’s Strategic Concept and other transatlantic security challenges.
Joint Statement on Women in Afghanistan
Additionally, G7 ministers issued a joint statement addressing the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.
Joined my G7 colleagues in deploring the increasing restrictions imposed on women and girls in Afghanistan by the Taliban. Severely limiting half the population's ability to fully, equally and meaningfully participate in society will not advance peace, stability or development.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 13, 2022
The statement expressed condemnation and opposition to the Taliban regime’s recent decisions restricting women from exercising their internationally-sanctioned human rights.
The statement read, “We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, express our strongest opposition and deplore the increasing restrictions imposed on the rights and freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan by the Taliban.”
Moreover, they called on the Taliban to lift restrictions on women and girls, respect their human rights, and “meet the expectations of Afghans and the world to permit their full, equal and meaningful participation in work, education and public life, as well as freedom of movement and freedom of speech, which is crucial for long-term peace, stability and development of the country.”
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