26/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - Catherine Ashton regrets postponement of conference on a Middle East without weapons of mass destruction. On 24 November, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton noted “with regret” the postponement of the Helsinki Conference on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction - including nuclear weapons - which was planned for 2012, Ashton's spokesperson said. He stated that Ashton hopes that this conference will be “convened as soon as possible” because its objective of promoting the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction is an objective which is part of the Barcelona Declaration of 1995. The EU supports the ongoing preparations “for a successful conference with the participation of all states of the region” and supports the efforts of the facilitator, Ambassador Jaakko Laajava, and his team, the spokesperson said. The announcement of the conference cancellation - which was planned for December in Finland - was made on 23 November by the United States “due to the current situation in the Middle East”. (CG/transl.fl)