| |
 |
| |
| 18:05:17 |
| STATEMENT (in ENGLISH) by Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC, saying that the development and stability of Pakistan holds great importance for the European Union, in particular from a trade viewpoint. After the floods which devastated the country, the European Union and its Member States have decided to increase bilateral and multilateral humanitarian aid. To this effect, the European Council has decided to empower the ministers so that they are able to accept a trainload of short, medium and long-term measures as quickly as possible which will support Pakistan in its recovery and future development. These measures should include significantly strengthened humanitarian and development aid and ambitious trade measures, which are essential for the country's economic recovery and growth. In this regard, the European Council has highlighted its unwavering will to provide Pakistan with exclusive increased access to the market of the EU by immediately, and for a limited period, reducing duties on key imports from Pakistan whilst respecting the rules of the WTO, a measure which will be implemented as quickly as possible. The Commission is invited to examine the possible options with its partners in the WTO and to put forward its final proposal in October 2010, whilst taking into account industrial sensitivities within the EU. |
|
| 18:08:29 |
| STATEMENT (in ENGLISH) by Catherine Ashton, saying that the European Union is extremely pleased to learn about the opening of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority, as announced in Washington on 2 September 2010, and praises the Israelis, the Palestinians and the United States, as well as the Quartet and its Arab partners, for their efforts. The decision the parties have taken to engage in basic talks constitutes a major step along the path to establishing a fair, lasting and global peace in the region. Recalling the conclusions of the Council of December 2009 on the Middle-Eastern peace process, the European Union highlighted the fact that these negotiations, which are related to the array of questions concerning the region's definitive status, should result in a basic solution concerning the coexistence of two states, with the State of Israel and an adjoining viable, independent and democratic Palestinian state, coexisting in peace and security. |
|
| 18:08:59 |
|
| |
| |
| |
