"Let me first of all welcome very much this moment.
I believe that this Agreement we are about to sign today is, in itself, something extremely important because it testifies to a good friendship and close partnership.
Maybe there are not two places in the world that are further away from each other, but in terms of friendship and partnership we are very close. We work together on so many issues that, with this signature, I think we not only recognise our attitude to work together closely but also we move the relationship to a further step, to a further level. And this will be opening opportunities for us to work more in many different fields that would be very beneficial for both Europeans and for New Zealand.
Let me also say that I believe it is not by chance that we sign this agreement at the margins of the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, because indeed the content of our excellent cooperation goes far beyond the bilateral issues.
We work so well with New Zealand when it comes to the Pacific, when it comes some of our Asian work, including on Afghanistan. We work extremely well with you and we have worked very well with you now that you are in the UN Security Council, on so many different issues, from Syria to the Middle East. We count on this cooperation to continue in a more demonstrable manner.
I am really pleased that this signature takes place and that our relationship can grow in the way that it deserves and our citizens deserve.
So, Minister [Murray McCully, Foreign Minister of New Zealand] thank you very much for coming here and having the signature taking place at the margins of such an important conference; but this event in itself is the result of the good work we have done together, so thank you very much", said High Representative Federica Mogherini.
