Brussels, 21/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The French Presidency made, on behalf of the European Union, the following declaration:
"The EU welcomes the willingness shown by the new Mexican Government to work to create the right conditions for the peace dialogue to be resumed, so as to reach a negotiated final solution to the conflict in Chiapas. The EU also welcomes the intention expressed by the new government of the State of Chiapas to facilitate the renewal and establishment of such dialogue. The EU also welcomes the intention expressed by the Zapatista National Liberation Army to respond favourable to the Mexican Government's initiative, which it sees as an approach in the desired direction of appeasement. The EU expressed the hope that the opening up of the Mexican economy will contribute towards the economic and social development of Chiapas and declares its willingness to support this process, in particular, by continuing and, if possible, intensifying its efforts in this region.
The Central and Eastern European Countries associated with the European Union, the associate countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration".