Following today's (Thurs - 4/10) signing of a Joint Declaration by the leaders of North and South Korea calling for a permanent peace deal on the Korean Peninsula, the Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament, Joseph Daul, commented: "North Korea has made key moves towards de-nuclearisation and towards establishing permanent peace. Europe can play its part in ensuring that these hopes of today become reality. The EU should assist the United States, China, Japan and Russia in the Six Party Talks with North and South Korea. The message from our once-divided European continent is that divisions can and must be overcome."
Turning to China, Mr Daul praised the active role played by the Chinese in brokering yesterday's nuclear announcement in Beijing: "The commitment by North Korea to complete the disablement of its three key nuclear facilities at Yongbyon is welcome. But Europe's long-term goal must remain the removal of all nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula."Mr Daul concluded: "In addition to helping to resolve the North Korean situation, I urge China to use its influence to secure peace in Darfur and Burma. The world is watching to see how China deals with the genocide in Darfur and the tragic crushing of protests in Burma. Wealth and power bring responsibility that China can no longer avoid."
For further information:
Joseph Daul MEP, EPP-ED Group Chairman, Tel: +32-284-5525
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