Brussels, 15/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - An EMPA (Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly) delegation headed by Tokia Saïfi (EPP-ED, France), Chair of the Euromed Assembly's Political Committee, will be in Lebanon from 17 to 22 September for an assessment mission that will also comprise chairpersons of two other EMPA commissions (Hashem Dabbas, member of the Jordanian parliament for the economic commission, and Tana De Zuleta, of the Italian parliament, for the culture and quality of life commission). Seven other EMPA members will make up the delegation, of which, at the end of the day, the vice-chairman of the political committee, Israeli deputy Magali Whbee, will not attend despite her formal request to participate. Ms Saïfi put her request to the Lebanese government in a letter to the ambassador but has so far not received an official response, which leaves one to suspect a refusal. Ms Saïfi told EUROPE that, in her view, Mr Whbee's participation would certainly bring added value to the delegation but that it is not up to the political committee and its chairperson to say whether or not the Israeli deputy should go to Lebanon.