22 April,2007……

Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Ambassador Fatma El Zahraa Etman headed the Egyptian delegation in the recent Senior official's meeting of the Barcelona Process member states, and the Euro–Mediterranean Committee, which were held in Brussels.

The Middle East Developments topped the discussions, where the Head of the Egyptian delegation made an intervention on behalf of the Arab group where she outlined the outcome of the Riyadh Summit, shedding the light on the political circumstances in which the Summit was held, particularly the Mecca agreement and the formation of a Palestinian Unity Government, the success of the Arab Summit in creating a new momentum for the 2002 Arab Peace initiative by charting a dynamism to move the initiative forward, through the creation of a workgroups by the committee responsible for the Peace Initiative within the framework of the Arab League . These workgroups shall undertake contacts with all the relevant parties, including Israel, and calling upon Israel to accept the initiative, and hence return to the negotiation table in order to explore the possibilities of the practical implementation of the initiative.

The European sides’ remarks were strongly supportive of the results of the Riyadh Summit, considering it a strong message to firmly establish the basis of Peace in the region, and praised the Arab stance which holds on to the peace strategy.

The conclusions of the Riyadh Summit, which called for launching the Arab /European dialogue were also welcomed.

The Head of the Egyptian delegation also reviewed the preparations for hosting the first Euro Mediterranean Conference of Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Cairo 18 June 2007). In this context, Ambassador Etman referred to the consultations due to be held with the German coordinator for the Barcelona Process and the accompanying European delegation, to prepare for the Ministerial Conference, and to reach a unified Arab/European position regarding the declaration due to be issued by the Conference.

The meeting also discussed the paper which was prepared by Egypt on behalf of the Arab group, including topics that should be the focus of discussions in the first meeting of the investment work group due to be held in Brussels on 23 April 2007, which is the meeting that comes in response to the Arab group’s request.