Marseilles, 15/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - A certain confusion reigned in Marseilles a few hours before the opening of the works of the 4th Euro-Mediterranean conference on organisational conditions for the opening session, due to the absence, confirmed Wednesday afternoon by Damascus, of the Syrian Minister. However Syria is the spokesperson for the Arab group and normally should have spoken immediately after the EU Council President Mr Hubert Védrine. The atmosphere was also of surprise as Libya, which had initially declined the European invitation (as an observer) finally delegated to Marseilles the equivalent of its Minister for Foreign Affairs. All the other Mediterranean partner countries are present as well as thirteen European Ministers for Foreign Affairs (the Finnish is replaced by his trade colleague and the Dutch sent their Deputy Minister). While awaiting the opening in the evening of the Ministerial session, the high ranking civil servants took part, all of Wednesday, in the final preparations. The works should start after 18: 30pm with a Round Table on the events between Israelis and Palestinians.