Elections in Libya should take place as planned if the country’s transition process were to go ahead, Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg told the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council.

The council, chaired by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, met in Luxembourg on Monday.

It discussed international issues and regional crises of concern to the EU and its interests, particularly in the Middle East region.

Ministers spoke of the positive developments in Burma/Myanmar following the by-elections on April 1 and agreed to suspend sanctions – with the exception of an arms embargo – and to keep them under constant review to encourage further reforms.

They also discussed the situation in Afghanistan underlining their commitment to support the Afghan population beyond 2014.

A large part of the discussion was devoted to the most recent crises in Africa, ongoing tensions between Sudan and South Sudan and latest developments in Syria.

Baroness Ashton debriefed ministers on the talks held with Iran on its nuclear programme. The talks were described as “constructive and useful”, with the next round of negotiations expected to take place on May 23 in Baghdad.

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