Tampere, 28/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - The EuroMed area ministerial conference, which opened on Monday evening with a dinner for the 35 foreign ministers from the EU and the countries of the Mediterranean rim and senior European figures (Mr Solana and Ms Ferrero-Waldner), ended on a hopeful note because of the ceasefire announced by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. EU Council President Erkki Tuomioje of Finland said that this was a particularly important moment to assess the situation in the Middle East, with the recent ceasefire fuelling hope for a return to the peace process. Some of his colleagues, including French minister Douste-Blazy expressed similar sentiments. He felt that the recent “positive developments” could “re-create a dynamic for peace” and that, if that happened and all parties showed responsibility, the EU should support a Palestinian government of national unity and resume sending aid, although he felt that, in reality, Europe had not stopped its financial support of the Palestinian people. According to various sources, Tzipi Livni, the Israeli foreign minister, has not given a detailed timetable for the application of all that her head of government announced. The main thing, said the European side, was that a spirit of openness had been shown and that the ceasefire had already lasted two days. For the Arab side, Abdelouajab Derbal Arab League Head of Mission to the EU, said that Ms Livni had above all sought to capitalise on the good will felt for her country, but her words did not reflect the statements of openness expressed by Ehud Olmert. (fb)