Athens, 31/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - The EU, Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), and the countries associated to Mercosur (Chile and Bolivia) agreed to hold a meeting at the level of senior officials before the next session of the United Nations General Assembly, states a joint press release adopted after the ministerial meeting in Athens last week. Ministers reaffirm "the central role of the United Nations for resolving conflicts".
Ministers, moreover, stress that the fight against poverty is their "common objective". They recall that the Monterrey Conference on development financing made access to the markets of industrialised countries an essential factor in the eradication of poverty and in debt reimbursement. They also stress that it is necessary to increase public aid to development and other resources so that developing countries may achieve the objectives defined at international level.
The EU and Mercosur welcome the progress made so far in the context of negotiation of an association and free trade agreement. They undertake to conclude these negotiations "as soon as possible".