Brussels, 02/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - Following the EU/Mexico Joint Council and the visit by the new Mexican Foreign Minister to Brussels (see EUROPE of 28 February, p.10), the Swedish Presidency made the following declaration on behalf of the EU:
"The EU welcomes the newly appointed Government of Mexico's initiative to re-open the dialogue with the EZLN. Furthermore, the EU recognizes the efforts made by the Government to facilitate the preparations for the realization of the EZLN march from Chiapas to Mexico City. The EU urges the EZLN not to let the efforts of the Mexican Government remain unanswered in order to restart the dialogue. The EU believes that a possible dialogue between the parties could be an important contribution to a final resolution of the situation in Chiapas. The EU supports the process for change in Chiapas which the EU will follow closely.
The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the EU, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries, members of the EEA align themselves with this declaration."