Brussels, 14/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - Reacting in the wake of Javier Solana (see EUROPE of 11 January, p.5) to the announcement by North Korea of its withdrawal from the Non Proliferation Treaty (NTP), the Greek Presidency made the following declaration on Saturday on behalf of the EU:
"The EUdeeply regrets the official announcement by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea concerning its intention to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. It is an issue of utmost concern to the whole international community as it sets up a most regrettable precedent which undermines the efforts towards the universalisation of the NPT, the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. The EU Member states express their grave concern on this unilateral step taken by the DPRK and maintain their hope that North Korea will reverse to a more positive attitude which would defuse the present situation of crisis and would safeguard peace and security on the Korean peninsula. In this regard, the European Union reiterates its call on North Korea to fully comply with its international commitments concerning the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in a visible and verifiable manner. The EU reiterates its commitment to make a contribution towards working out a lasting peaceful solution."