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League of Arab States allowed to participate in all meetings of Union for Mediterranean

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-05 11:24

MARSEILLE, France -- European Union foreign ministers and their counterparts from the members of the Barcelona Process Union for the Mediterranean decided here on Tuesday to allow the League of Arab States to participate in all meetings of the Union for the Mediterranean.

After a two-day meeting, ministers proposed in a final declaration that the League of Arab States shall participate in all meetings at all levels of the union "therefore contributing positively to the objectives of the process, namely the achievement of peace, prosperity and stability in the Mediterranean region."

The League of Arab States was given an observer's status in the union's predecessor the Barcelona Process ministerial meetings, but the organization asked for full participation, which was opposed by Israel.

They decided as from Marseille the "Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean" should be called "Union for the Mediterranean."  

Ministers reaffirm their commitment to achieve a just, comprehensive, and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, consistent with the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference and its principles, including land for peace, and based on the relevant UNSC resolutions and the Road Map.

They also stress the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative and underline their support for efforts to promote progress on all tracks of the Middle East Peace Process.

The ministers decided that the secretariat of the 43-nation union would be established in Barcelona, Spain to "allow the partners of both shores of the Mediterranean to work better together to face common challenges."  

The Union for the Mediterranean, which was initiated by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and launched on July 13 in Paris, was aimed at deepening cooperation between the EU and its southern neighbors.

But months later, it is still stalled because of disputes over where to base its headquarters, who should attend meetings and who should get the top jobs.

This ministerial meeting served as a crucial test of the credibility of plans for Europe to cooperate with southern nations on issues of immigration, energy, environment protection and transport.