Brussels, 11/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, President Prodi received Tunisian Foreign Minister Habib Ben Yahia. They discussed not only bilateral relations (Romano Prod's visit to Tunis on 31 March and 1 April and the Association Council session with Turkey in July) but also Euro-Mediterranean dialogue. According to the Commission spokesperson, discussions also covered the risk of war in Iraq. Tunisia has been designated as a member of the contact group formed by the recent Charm-El-Sheikh Arab "summit". After New York and Washington, it is to go to Baghdad. Consultation with the EU also gave rise to an exchange of views with Javier Solana. The minister informed the EU's High Representative of his country's point of view, which is to make a peaceful solution in the settlement of the Iraqi issue prevail. Mr Prod's spokesperson pointed out that the Tunisian minister drew attention to the consequences that a war would have on the economy of his country. Mr Ben Yaya was also to meet Pascal Lamy and met Chris Patten at the end of the day. According to the Commissioner's spokesperson, Chris Patten was presented with a request for support to the Tunisian economy, which is suffering from the global economic slowdown and runs the risk of feeling a head-on effect of a war with Iraq, especially in its tourist sector. According to his spokesperson, Mr Patten expressed the concern that this country should be helped albeit, naturally, within the constraints of EU possibilities.