28 June, 2007… Within the framework of the periodical meetings held by the Assistant Foreign Ministers with the Ambassadors of the different geographical groups, Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Ambassador Fatma El-Zahraa Etman, held a meeting with the Ambassadors of the European Union countries accredited to Cairo on 27 June, 2007.  The meeting tackled several regional issues of common interest, especially the situation in the Palestinian territories and the developments in Gaza, the outcomes of Sharm El Sheikh Summit, the recent Quartet meeting in occupied Jerusalem, the Egyptian diplomatic efforts to restore peace and stability in the Palestinian territories and to promote  reconciliation and dialogue among the Palestinian rivals. During the meeting they also reviewed the efforts exerted to resume the peace process on the Palestinian-Israeli track in light of the Arab Peace Initiative, and the meeting scheduled to be held next July between the International Quartet and the Arab contact group to discuss means of activating the Arab Peace Initiative. And within the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, the meeting tackled the outcomes of the meeting held by the Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Cairo on 18 June 2007, which was the first of its kind since the Barcelona Process was initiated. The ministers' meeting resulted in adopting "The Cairo Declaration" which significantly complements the cultural and social component of the Euro Mediterranean cooperation. The meeting also reviewed the results of the ministerial meeting for the Mediterranean Forum countries, which was held in Crete on the 1st June, as well as the joint statement issued by the meeting. The joint testament included a positive approach for handling the Middle East issues, a call for an Arab/European institutional dialogue, immigration and energy issues, in addition to setting the general principles governing the work of the Mediterranean Forum as a key mechanism for activating the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. Counsellor Ezz El-Din Shoukry, who is responsible for handling the peace process file in the Foreign Minister's cabinet, also participated in the meeting.