Luxembourg, 13/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - In the conclusions adopted on Monday without debate, the EU Council welcomed the initiatives taken during recent months by the Union and by the Eritrean government to re-establish "a climate of regular communications" and underlined the need to develop a "politically significant dialogue between the two partners". The Council pointed out that the strategy document for Eritrea signed in Asmara in November 2002 in the framework of the Cotonou Agreement, reaffirmed the Union's commitment to sustainable development, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, eradication of poverty, the establishment of democratic institutions and a State of Law in the country, as well as peace, stability and cooperation in the Horn of Africa.
The Council, by welcoming the reciprocal commitment to re-establish political dialogue between the Union and Asmara, is calling on Member States and the European Commission to try their best to make this dialogue operational. The Council notes that the cooperation of the EU to the development of Eritrea is neither blocked or frozen and that political dialogue should facilitate development of the partnership between the Union and Asmara.