Brussels, 10/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Heads of State and Government adopted during their Sea Island Summit, the US draft, "Partnership for Progress and a Common Future with the Region of the Broader Middle East and North Africa", which was mentioned for the first time in November 2003 and which has raised controversy in the countries concerned as well as in the EU (which is expected to adopt its own strategy on the region at the European Council on 17-18 June: EUROPE 26 March p 6 on the subject of the interim report presented by Javier Solana to the European Council last March). While recognising their particular responsibility in regard to "democratic, social and economic reforms" in the region, the summit participants highlighted the need for these initiatives to be taken by the countries concerned themselves. The declaration adopted by the summit also underlined the importance of these reforms for progress in the regions in solving long running conflicts, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It did, however, acknowledge that these regional conflicts should not be used as an obstacle to reform. The declaration also mentioned the Barcelona Process launched by the EU with Mediterranean third countries.
The declaration adopted after a meeting with leaders from Turkey, Afghanistan, Algeria, Jordan, Yemen, Bahrain and also with the new Iranian president Ghazi Al-Yaouar. During a press conference in Savannah, Turkish prime minister Erdogan confirmed his reservations about the initiative, exclaiming that "changes should not be imposed from without".
Similar ideas were expressed by President Chirac, who warned that "reform cannot be decreed…Middle East and North African countries do not need missionaries for democracy".