Secretary-General welcomes treaty establishing constitution for Europe,

 

says ‘major milestone’ in construction of European Union

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the signature in Rome today, by heads of State and government of the European Union, of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.

The Secretary-General believes this is a major milestone in the construction of the European Union, 47 years after the signature of the Treaties of Rome.  This important and positive step opens new horizons for the European Union in the twenty-first century and provides a unique opportunity to preserve and strengthen democracy, peace and prosperity.

The Secretary-General expresses the wish that the European Constitution will also offer new opportunities to strengthen the important cooperation established between the United Nations and the European Union in the furtherance of the goals and principles of the United Nations Charter.

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