Brussels, 13/04/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Portuguese Presidency has made the following declaration on behalf of the EU:
"The European Union welcomes the simultaneous announcement of a Summit meeting between President Kim Dae-Jung and National Defence Committee Chairman Kim Jong II.
As a long-standing advocate of direct dialogue between the two Koreas, the EU considers that such a Summit would be an significant and historic event with considerable potential for easing tensions on the Peninsula. The EU reaffirms its support for the engagement policy and for the proposals relating to peace and reunification in the Korean Peninsula, made in Berlin on 9 March by President Kim Dae-Jung. The EU hopes that the Summit will become a milestone in the process towards a lasting reconciliation on the Peninsula as well as towards enhancing regional stability.
The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration."