09/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - After their discussion on the world economic situation, participants at the G8 summit in Sea Island enlarged their circle to Turkey, Afghanistan, Algeria, Jordan, Bahrain and Yemen to discuss the US initiative on the Greater Middle East aimed at accompanying an ambitious programme for political and economic reform in the region. (See EUROPE of 25 May, p.8, on the subject of the Arab League Summit in Tunis, and of 26 March, p.6, on the EU interim report for strategic partnership with the region, a report that was presented to the European Council in March this year, in Brussels). Tunisia (which presides the Arab League), Egypt and Saudi Arabia declined the US invitation to take part in the Sea Island discussions.