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Neris Germanas, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, took part in a traditional meeting of Nordic Baltic Foreign Ministers on 2–3 September 2015 in Copenhagen where topical matters of regional security, relations with Russia, situation in Ukraine, the Eastern Partnership, strategic communication and other topics on the international and the EU agenda were discussed.

Germanas noted that greater security challenges in the region require even closer cohesion and cooperation of the Nordic and Baltic countries especially as regards security, energy and strategic communication.

“It is important to continue to strengthen the EU Eastern Partnership Neighbourhood Policy, coordinate actions to support Ukraine’s, Georgia’s and Moldova’s reforms needed for their convergence with the EU. We have to pursue unanimous policy in respect of Russia, to continue with sanctions and denial of annexation of Crimea”, the Vice-Minister said.

The Ministers adopted a joint statement on regional safety stating that Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and its actions in the region such as concentration of military force is a challenge to the European security and the Nordic Baltic region. The statement condemned the abduction, illegal imprisonment and sentencing of Estonian officer Eston Kohver. These actions is a clear violation of the international law.

The Ministers also referred to other legal proceedings and convictions made in Russia which are against the international law, including sentencing of the Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov and activist Alexander Kolchenko. The Ministers agreed that the trial of Nadia Savchenko, Ukrainian pilot and a Member of the Verkhovna Rada, should be closely observed and demands for a legitimate and fair trial should be made.

The Ministers also adopted a separate statement on funding of climate change in preparation for the climate change summit in Paris later this year.

Eight countries including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden are part of the cooperation initiative among the Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8). This year the work of NB8 is coordinated by Denmark.