Brussels, 25/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - "Women build bridges for peace and security in the Middle East" was the theme of the public hearing organised on 17 March by the EP Committee on Women's Rights. A press statement indicates that, during the debates, an Israeli participant, former Knesset Vice-President Naomi Chazan, floated (but did not develop) the idea of creating an international organisation composed of Israeli and Palestinian women in order to institutionalise their contribution to resolving the conflict. Ms Chazan is already working in collaboration with Aroub Suayter, member of the Palestinian community in Greece, "Friends of Alkarara".
Greek Foreign Minister Georges Papandreou, speaking on behalf of the Greek Presidency, welcomed the proposal saying that "an advisory body would already be a major step forward". Furthermore, he undertook to have the question of gender equality and the role of women in international policy raised in the near future at the level of EU foreign ministers.