By Xinhua,
Cairo : Some ten Arab foreign ministers began their meeting here on Saturday to coordinate stances on a “Union for the Mediterranean” initiative proposed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the state Egyptian MENA news agency reported.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit is leading the Egyptian team to the meeting, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki was quoted as saying.
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, foreign ministers and senior officials from Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania,Jordan, the Palestinian territories, Syria and Lebanon attended the meeting, the spokesman said.
The Arab stance on the Mediterranean union will be considered by the European side as France will host a summit on July 13 for launching the initiative.
Last month, European Union (EU) leaders agreed to a limited form of union involving a regular summit between EU and Mediterranean leaders with a joint presidency and a small secretariat.
On Tuesday, the European Commission adopted proposals for enhancing relations with its Mediterranean partners through the new union with the Mediterranean region.
Sarkozy put forward the idea of setting up such a union last May and the principle was approved by the EU’s spring summit in March.
The proposals are to be presented at the inaugural summit of the new union on July 13.
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