23 July, 2007…..

Upon the directives of Foreign Minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Ambassador Fatma El-Zahraa Etman, held a consultations session with the coordinator of the Portuguese presidency for the Barcelona Process, Ribeiro de Menezes, and his accompanying delegation from the European Commission and the European Council Secretariat, in the Foreign Ministry on 19 July 2007. This session is part of the delegation's tour in the region since Portugal took over the periodic presidency of the European Union as of the first of July 2007.

The Portuguese Coordinator reviewed the ministerial activities and conferences proposed to be held within the Euro/Mediterranean framework during the upcoming six months under the Portuguese presidency (Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, Commerce, Economy and Finance, and Energy). The Assistant Minister affirmed the importance of preparing well and jointly for these conferences to achieve all the interests of the member countries north and south of the Mediterranean.

Ambassador Etman also asserted the importance directed by the Arab group towards promoting "political dialogue", which has became a permanent item on the agenda of the senior officials' meetings in response to the request made by the group. The Ambassador also pointed out the importance of this dialogue, which allows for exchanging views objectively among countries regarding all political issues of common concern, particularly the developments in the Middle East, as well as the possible aids to be offered by the Barcelona Process to push forward the international efforts aiming at reaching a comprehensive and fair settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict in order to propagate stability and security in the Mediterranean region. This was welcomed by the Portuguese coordinator.

On the other hand, Ambassador Etman highlighted Egypt's stance which welcomes all ideas and initiatives aiming at enriching the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation and promoting its effectiveness, even though the centralization of the Barcelona Process with its political, security, economic, cultural, as well as humanitarian tracks should be preserved, and its Mediterranean identity should be deepened.