Brussels, 21/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - “The United States must prevent Israelis from blocking the peace process, by guaranteeing their security”, says Hubert Vedrine, former French foreign minister who is currently consultant and specialist lecturer on Euro-Mediterranean relations. This question is raised at a time when, according to the various declarations made by the Netanyahu government, the peace negotiation process between Israel and Palestine is being brought into question. According to Mr Vedrine, there is a risk that the EuroMed process could be compromised. “The vast area of cooperation” that Europeans wish to launch (in the Mediterranean) “remains closely linked to the peace process” and its future depends on it, Mr Vedrine said during a conference at Lille university, reported by the regional daily, La Voix du Nord. He pointed out that “when the project of a Mediterranean Union was born as part of the Barcelona Process, the context was favourable” - before the assassination of the Israeli prime minister, Itzhak Rabin, in 1995 destroyed all hope of peace, the daily points out. On the subject of EuroMed dialogue itself, Mr Vedrine said one should beware of “portmanteau words”, adding: “The Mediterranean is an area, it is not a player or an organisation. There is rivalry between its peoples”. (F.B./transl.jl)