Western Mediterranean: Ministerial meeting of the 5 +5 forum in Cordoba

The forum for informal dialogue 5 +5 between ten countries in the western part of the Mediterranean will meet Tuesday in Cordoba (southern Spain), especially for dealing with the revitalization of the Union for the Mediterranean (UMP ), according to participants.

•     This meeting of foreign ministers in a forum gathers Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia, will be concluded in early afternoon.
  
      The French minister of Foreign Affairs, Bernard Kouchner is not present, France is represented by the Secretary General of the Quai d'Orsay Pierre Sellal.
  
      Similarly, the Italian Minister Franco Frattini was absent, being represented by the Secretary of State Craxi Stefania.
  
      During a working dinner held Monday evening, the ministers discussed the theme of the Near East and the revival of the UPM, Craxi said.
  
      An informal meeting is scheduled Thursday in Brussels at the initiative of Javier Solana, chief diplomat of the EU to try to revive this project frozen since the war in Ghaza, said Monday a European in Cairo.
  
      Meanwhile, ministers of the 5 +5 Forum should discuss the question of Western Sahara.
  
      Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs with Spain co-chairs the meeting of Cordoba, said the Arab press: “We as the Arab Maghreb support of France and Spain to help bring positions to reach a solution on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara.”
  
      “Everyone knows that these two countries are sympathetic with the Moroccan proposal for autonomy for Western Sahara,” said Taieb Fassi-Fihri.
  
      The head of the UN, Ban Ki-moon has estimated mid-April that the conditions for a resumption of talks between Morocco and the Polisario Front on the future of Western Sahara were not met because their positions are far apart.
  
      Morocco proposes a wide autonomy under its sovereignty, rejecting any independence while the Polisario backed by Algeria calls for a referendum on self-determination under United Nations auspices.
  
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.