Brussels, 29/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The French Presidency adopted the following statement on 27 December on behalf of the EU (unofficial translation): "Laos signed on 7 December last in New York, at United Nations headquarters, the international pact on civil and political rights, as well as the international pact on economic, social and cultural rights. The EU welcomes the decision by Laos to sign these pacts and strongly encourages it to proceed with their ratification and early...