Accra, Jan.6, GNA - Mr Hans Van Mierlo, Minister of State for The Netherlands would represent the European Union (EU) at the inauguration of President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday.

Mr Van Mierlo, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands would also represent the Kingdom of the Netherlands on behalf of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

A statement issued by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Accra on Thursday said the Netherlands had assumed the Presidency of the EU. It congratulated President Kufuor on his re-election and welcomed the democratic and transparent manner in which Election 2004 was conducted.