Catherine Ashton, the High Representative made the following statement

EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 18 August 2010
Statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton
following her call with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and
Vice-President of the Commission made the following statement:

"Today, I spoke by telephone with United Nations' Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon ahead of Thursday's special General Assembly meeting in New York on Pakistan and expressed the EU's readiness to support UN efforts in the wake of the recent floods there. I informed Mr Ban that Belgian Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere will deliver a message of support on behalf of the EU at the UNGA on Thursday, expressing our solidarity with and our sincere condolences to the Government and the people of Pakistan following the tragic loss of life in the monsoon floods.

I told Mr Ban that I would have represented the European Union myself in this meeting but for the fact that the appropriate speaking rights are not yet in place and expressed my wish that this hurdle can be overcome as soon as possible.

I highlighted the EU's role so far in the global response to this crisis and I was delighted to inform him of EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Georgieva's initiative today to increase our humanitarian assistance to Pakistan by EUR 30 million, to reach 105 EUR million, or the equivalent of USD 135 million.