05/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - Egypt may co-chair the future Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), says French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. The UfM, which is to be launched in Paris on 13 July, will very probably have two presidencies, one for the northern countries and the other for those of the southern rim. “Egypt has a major role to play for the southern countries”, Kouchner said on Deutschlandfunk radio on 4 May. Hosni Moubarak is a “possible leader for the UfM, alongside a representative of the northern countries who could be French, but there will be rotation”, he explained. On 28 April, during the EU/Egypt Association Council, Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit had told the press that his country would seek to coordinate the views of the Arab and southern Mediterranean countries in order to be able to speak, if possible, with a single voice with EU countries. (H.B.)