Brussels, 05/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 4 October, the American assistant secretary of state for public affairs, Mike Hammer, said during a chat with journalists, that the United States works “very well” with the European Union and, in particular, with its high representative, Catherine Ashton. “We have a very rich relationship with our European partners”, Hammer said, adding that “there is probably not a problem in the world where we are not working with our European partners, whether it's the situation in Burma, concerns on human rights in a particular region of the world, a question of partnership or development”. Hammer went on that the EU and USA are “very in sync” on the Syrian issue. “We are working in partnership with our European friends - the EU, the EEAS - to progress on common objectives”, he said. He also spoke about the role of Ashton's chief negotiator on the Iranian nuclear programme.
Hammer added that on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, European foreign affairs ministers, NATO and Americans had met to discuss issues which are of great interest to Europe, and the way in which these groups can work together to push forward on common objectives. He also spoke of their cooperation on encouraging Ukraine to free and transparent elections.
In addition, Hammer said that resolving the name problem between the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece is “important for the future of Europe”. (CG/transl.fl)