"The European Union is following with great interest all the efforts made to reduce tensions in the Korean peninsula" and therefore "it supports any initiative that may lead to the promotion of peace, stability and cooperation" in that region of the Far East. The current presidency of the EU Council sends a message on the occasion of the summit, which is taking place from today to October 4th in Pyongyang, between president Roh Moo-hyun (South Korea) and the secretary general Kim Jong-il (North Korea). The EU "repeats that it supports inter-Korean dialogue" and sees the summit as an opportunity to "strengthen the rising climate of confidence in the peninsula, which would also boost the efforts made in the sphere of six-side talks, a process which is fully supported by the EU, in order to pursue the full denuclearisation of the peninsula". Brussels’ diplomacy gathered several countries around this position, including the two applicant countries, Turkey and Croatia, as well as Serbia, Norway, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan. The UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon expressed the hope that the summit may deliver "great results: peace and security in the peninsula and eventually a reunification".
