EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner meets with DPRK Deputy Foreign Minister Tae Bok Choe

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy, met the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Tae Bok Choe, on Sunday 18th September in New York in the margins of the UN General Assembly.

After the meeting, the Commissioner commented:

"This meeting was an opportunity to underline that the EU strongly supports the Six Party Talks. Though not a participant, the EU follows this process closely, and a solution to the nuclear issue would open the door to closer relations between North Korea and Europe.

I stressed that finding agreement through the talks would help the DPRK return to prosperity and play its full role in the international community.

In our bilateral relations, I am concerned at recent official statements announcing restrictions on humanitarian operations in the country. The European Commission is an important donor of humanitarian aid to the country (€340 million since 1995) supporting health, nutrition, agricultural rehabilitation, provision of clean water and sanitation, and I expressed my hope that these important activities can continue for the benefit of the population".

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