Brussels, 06/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - Egypt has suggested that the group of Arab countries engaged in the EuroMed Dialogue, of which it is the coordinating country, should suspend all activities within this framework until the current crisis caused by the Israeli army's invasion of Gaza has come to an end.
The countries belonging to this group have not yet given their opinion but a number of their representatives, answering questions put by EUROPE, consider it will be difficult to refuse the proposal given the sensitive nature of the matter for their public opinions. Egypt appears to have made the proposal to meet this concern. Egypt is highly criticised in the Arab world for its passivity not only in fact but also on the ground, while others consider that Egypt is seeking to camouflage this passivity by adopting extreme positions in collateral areas such as EuroMed.
Arab diplomats in Brussels believe support should be given to a different policy - namely that of activating joint Euro-Mediterranean structures to heighten European awareness of the seriousness of the situation and of its consequences.
What is more, it is a fact that the calendar of activities for EuroMed Dialogue is very light at the beginning of this new year. The first meeting planned - at senior officials' level - is scheduled for 22 January, probably in Prague. The meeting, as well as a technical meeting on 15 and 16 January in Barcelona for defining the legal status of the secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), could be affected by the Egyptian proposal. (F.B./transl.jl)