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EU, U.S. officials to discuss Mideast, Kosovo
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European Union (EU) and United States ministers will meet in Washington on Monday to discuss a wide range of issues, primarily the Middle East, Iraq, Iran and Kosovo, said the European Commission on Friday.

The EU will be represented by its foreign policy chief Javier Solana, EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The three represent the decision-making Council, the executive Commission and the EU presidency respectively.

The meeting will also make preparations for the April 30 EU-U.S. summit in Washington.

Relations with Russia, the conflict in the Sudanese region of Darfur and Afghanistan will also be discussed at the ministerial meeting.

"The strategic partnership between the EU and the U.S. continues to deepen. None of the great challenges of our day can be solved without the active engagement of both Europe and America, " said Ferrero-Waldner in a statement on Friday.

"The building of a safer world -- a peaceful Iraq, a nuclear- weapons free Iran, and a two-state solution to the Israel- Palestine conflict -- requires us to work together not only for our own good, but for the good of the wider international community."

She also highlighted energy and climate change. "The EU and the U.S. are the world's major consumers of energy: together we make up 38 percent of world energy consumption -- and we are responsible for 39 percent of the world's CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions," she noted.

Ferrero-Waldner said the two sides need to work together on energy efficiency, renewables, clean technologies, and nuclear safety and to advance principles of good practice in global energy markets.

EU, U.S. officials to discuss Mideast, Kosovo (http://english.people.com.cn/200703/17/eng20070317_358492.html)