30/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - On 22 December, the Danish Presidency released the following statement on behalf of the EU: "The EU welcomes the signing of the Kabul Declaration of Good Neighbourly Relations by Afghanistan and the governments of China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, on the occasion of the anniversary of the swearing-in of the Afghan Interim Administration. The Declaration is a major step towards ensuring regional peace and stability, which is an essential prerequisite for the continued implementation of the Bonn Agreement in Afghanistan. The EU encourages all signatories to promote the spirit of the Declaration in a broader regional context and to do their utmost to promote peace and stability in the region." On 21 December, European Commissioner Chris Patten expressed regret over the suicide attack near the ISAF military hospital in Kabul, which killed an Afghan member of the French media NGO, AINA. At the Commission, "we will continue to support AINA's impressive work in fostering a free and open press in Afghanistan," said the Commissioner for External Relations.