Brussels, 09/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - The two co-presidencies of the UfM (Union for the Mediterranean), France and Egypt, plan to meet in Paris on Thursday. The meeting will be attended by their former Spanish colleague, Miguel Angel Moratinos, specifically designated by his government to prevent the summit from being a letdown.
Just two weeks from the day scheduled for this unlikely summit - given the tension still reigning in the Middle East which could be heightened by Israel's decision this weekend to reactivate settlement building in the Arab part of Jerusalem - the three main players within the UfM are seeking to find a modus operandi allowing for the summit to be unaffected by the unfavourable diplomatic climate in the region.
Several approaches will be studied, including one which, resulting from a decision also reached this weekend in Cairo by the Arab consultation committee is to obtain a prior joint statement reminding Israel of its duties and its non-compliance with international law. The Egyptian minister, Abul Gheit, who is to be in Paris on Thursday, has intimated that the odds were still even. Cited by press agencies, Gheit said in Cairo: “Discussions underway are focusing on whether or not the summit will now be held. Are we to set a date or not?” According to the official Egyptian press agency, the minister stated he would put the position reached in Cairo to Bernard Kouchner and Miguel Angel Moratinos, showing that “the situation of Palestine-Israel talks and the current conditions in the Middle East do not guarantee the Barcelona summit will be a success”. He made a clear reference to the difficulties surrounding the final communiqué for the summit. Nonetheless, he went on to say, one ought to give dialogue between Egypt, France and Spain a chance before coming to a final decision on whether to hold the summit or not.
Senior UfM officials plan to meet in Brussels on 12 November to pursue preparations for the summit albeit more on the technical side and the setting in place of a joint general secretariat structure than on the political aspects. Paris and Madrid will be in charge of the work, apparently without direct involvement from European diplomatic circles. Debates between senior officials will mainly focus on the question of the general secretariat's budget (there is now talk of €6 million instead of the €14.5 million initially requested). Current resources became unavailable after 4 November (in accordance with European financial procedure rules) but this has been extended by a few weeks following a European Commission decision. Without a formal decision on the budget by December, however, it is generally agreed that the project for a UfM general secretariat will come to nothing. (F.B./transl.jl)