Brussels, 06/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Belgian EU Council Presidency diffused on 5 December a Statement in which it welcomes the Bonn agreement on Afghanistan, and affirms that the EU "will do its utmost to support the new Afghan government and to help it accomplish the rebuilding of the country". The statement goes on to say: "The EU calls on all groups to respect the Bonn agreement. It also calls on the new Afghan Authority to pay attention to the rights of Afghan women, who have been terribly oppressed by the Taliban regime and to make sure that they will be present at senior levels within the new administration. (…) The EU finally calls on the international community to give the new Afghan government all necessary support, in order to make sure that democracy and the respect for human rights can be firmly established in Afghanistan. In line with its previously expressed commitment the European Union will engage its best efforts in order to contribute to the rehabilitation and the reconstruction of Afghanistan. This EU effort will be made in close cooperation with the Afghan people themselves as well as donor countries and international organisations, and the UN in particular".