Summary: Joint Press Briefing: EUHR Solana and UNSG Ban (24 January 2007: Brussels)
Summary of remarks to the press by Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the CFSP, at a joint press briefing with UN Secretary-General BAN KI-MOON, Brussels
Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), met Mr BAN KI-MOON, UN Secretary-General, today. At their meeting, which took place at the start of the Secretary-General's visit to Europe, on his first international trip since he took office, Mr SOLANA and the Mr BAN KI-MOON discussed the most pressing international issues, including the Balkans, the Middle-Eastern peace process and Africa, as well as horizontal matters such as human rights,
non-proliferation and terrorism.
The following is an edited summary of remarks by Mr SOLANA and Mr BAN KI-MOON at their joint press briefing following their meeting:
Mr Solana: "I am very pleased to receive the Secretary-General of the United Nations here in the European Union. It is the first trip he has made outside the United States, so we appreciate very much that his first trip is here, to the European Union.
I would like to say that I was talked to him already on 9 January. The first visit I made to anyone in the international community at the beginning of 2007 was to him.
The European Union, as you know, is an organisation that believes in multilateralism and therefore we believe in the United Nations and we are supporters of the United Nations as one of the most important priorities. The centre of gravity, the heart of the multilateral system, is here, represented by the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Without any doubt, we will continue to support and cooperate with the UN, as we did in the past.
Today we have talked about the most urgent issues, in the Balkans, the Middle East and Africa, though we did not have time to discuss them in very much detail.
We want to continue having a solid discussion also on horizontal issues: human rights, nonproliferation, counter-terrorism, all the issues that will continue to be on the agenda and part of the discussion between the UN Secretary-General and the European Union.
Mr Secretary-General, thank you very much, we are going to keep on working to make the world a better place under your leadership."
Mr Ban Ki-moon: "Thank you very much for your warm welcome and hospitality. I am very pleased to visit the European Union on my first visit outside the United Nations as Secretary-General of the United Nations.
As I have been closely following the leadership and integration of the European Union and the role the European Union plays in the international community I have always had deep admiration and appreciation of what the European Union has been doing in terms of peace and prosperity, as well as the protection and enhancement of human rights, climate change and the fight against terrorism.
The United Nations and the European Union have been maintaining a special partnership and as Secretary-General of the UN I very much appreciate all that the EU has been contributing to all the activities of the United Nations. This is not only for the United Nations but for all the common good of the international community. Where and when we are experiencing a lot of regional conflicts and poverty issues and abuses of human rights we need to cooperate fully towards future prosperity and
peace.
This morning we covered a wide range of issues, starting from the situation in the Balkans, and situations in Africa, particularly the crisis in Darfur and Somalia, and Côte d'Ivoire. Also, as the High Representative said, we talked about horizontal issues like climate change and all human rights issues.
Basically, our positions are on same lines and I am very pleased to work very closely with the High Representative, as well as the leadership of the European Union, as the Secretary-General of the United Nations. I hope that my visit this time will contribute to the further strengthening of the partnership between the European Union and the United Nations."
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