Brussels, 20/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - In its conclusions, the European Union stresses that the Mediterranean region is of “vital strategic importance” to the European Union in political as well as economic and social terms. “The Barcelona Process has been the central instrument for Euro-Mediterranean relations since 1995 and has allowed the strong promotion of multilateral and bilateral cooperation. Building on and reinforcing previous successes, the 'Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean' will inject further momentum into the Union's relations with the Mediterranean. It will complement ongoing bilateral relations which will continue within existing policy frameworks”, the text reads. The European Council welcomes the Commission's communication. On this basis, the EU will conduct the necessary consultation with all Euro-Mediterranean partners with a view to developing a joint declaration to be adopted at the Paris Summit for the Mediterranean on 13 July 2008.
“The European Council has given the official nod to the Paris summit for the Mediterranean (…). It is now up to President Moubarak and myself to organise it”, commented French President Nicolas Sarkozy. “The Union for the Mediterranean also means the presence of Israel in Paris on 13 July among the Arab states”, he was pleased to state, evoking the possibility of “direct discussions with the Syrian president”.
Syrian President Bachar al Assad hopes, however, to note further progress in indirect contacts with Israel under the aegis of Turkey before agreeing to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. “It will not be a tea party”, he replied in Indian to a journalist who asked him whether such a meeting were possible on the sidelines of the Paris summit. “The meeting between myself and the Israeli prime minister will not have any meaning if the basis of this meeting is not established with precision”, the Syrian president added, cited by Reuters. He went on to say that Turkish mediation gave a “glimmer of hope” but stressed that the Israeli government should do more to make a meeting between himself and Olmert possible. Israel and Syria, that completed a session of indirect talks in Ankara on Monday, agreed to continue their talks next month, again in Turkey. (O.J./transl.jl)