Importance of UN, European cooperation tops Ban’s talks with senior EU official – UN news item (excerpts)

Importance of UN, European cooperation tops Ban’s talks with senior EU official

20 October 2010 – The importance of the cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union on a range of issues, including on the Middle East, topped Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s talks today with a senior EU official in France.

Before departing Strasbourg for New York, Mr. Ban met this morning with Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

They conferred on the status of the direct talks under way between Israelis and Palestinians, with Mr. Ban emphasizing the importance of negotiations and reaffirming the readiness of the diplomatic quartet – comprising the UN, the EU, Russia and the United States – to support them.

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