2 June 2007….

Within the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership Process, Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Ambassador Fatma El-Zahraa Etman, conducted a European tour which included Germany and Greece during the period from 27 May till 2 June 2007, during which she participated in the Senior Officials' Meetings of the Barcelona Process and the Euro-Mediterranean Committee, which were held in Berlin on the 29^th and the 30^th of May 2007.

The meetings tackled issues of common interest in the region, especially the peace process, where the European side renewed its total support for the Arab Peace Initiative and commended the Arab accord in this collective movement. They also called upon the Israeli side to take measures to build confidence, particularly by halting settlement policies and improving the economic conditions of the Palestinian People.

Moreover, the meetings discussed the preparations for the Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministries of Higher Education and Scientific Research which is scheduled to be held on 18 June 2007, and which is regarded as the first of its kind after launching the Barcelona Process. The meetings also tackled means of developing the Barcelona Process mechanisms, particularly those related to the current situation of the Anna Lind Foundation for dialogue between cultures.

Ambassador Fatma El-Zahraa Etman participated in the Senior Officials' Meetings of the Mediterranean Forum which was held in Crete, Greek on the 1^st of June 2007, within the framework of the preparation for the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the forum which is scheduled to be held in Crete on 2 June 2007. The preparatory meeting tackled the statement which is expected to be issued by the Ministerial Meeting of the Mediterranean Forum which deals with a number of regional issues of common concern, including the peace process in the Middle East and means of pushing forward the Arab/Israeli dialogue, in addition to issues of energy, immigration and combating poverty.