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Mogherini focuses on defence issues and fight against extremism

20.02.2015
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The fight against violent extremism dominated a week which saw EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini visit Spain and Portugal, chair the informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Riga, and speak at the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism.

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Mogherini paid a visit to Spain and Portugal on Monday and Tuesday, where she met with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, King of Spain, Felipe VI, and Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Coelho among others. The threat of the disintegration of Libya, the crisis in Eastern Ukraine, and cooperation with Latin American countries were the main themes discussed during the visit. "Libya faced a double threat: of a country breaking apart and where Da'esh is taking power," she said.  Commenting on the crisis in Ukraine, Mogherini assured that the EU "is providing to the OSCE support in concrete terms, technical and financial support."  

The HR/VP then headed to Riga to chair an informal EU Defence Ministers meeting. "It is not only about military issues, we will discuss also today the ways in which the European Union is already providing support for the implementation of the Minsk agreements," she stressed in her remarks to the press prior to the meeting. The Ministers agreed that it is important to ensure that the Heads of State and Government debate the strategic security challenges and discuss the EU response toward them, with the objective of reviewing the European Security Strategy. They also discussed the positive results of the ongoing EU military missions and operations, as well as the enhancement of the EU rapid response capabilities.

Mogherini addressed threat of violent extremism at the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism. On the side-lines, she met the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and the Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to discuss the situation in ‪Libya. In her speech at the Summit Mogherini said "We will not let extremism exploit our diversities against us: diversity is our strength, diversity is who we are. Diversity is what scares them."

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