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Last update - 08:51 09/07/2008 Olmert, Assad to sit together at Med summit, handshake or not By Yoav Stern and Barak Ravid Tags: Livni, Mediterranean Union  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni were set to leave Saturday night for Paris to take part in the inauguration Sunday of the Mediterranean Union summit, in which Olmert will sit across from Syrian President Bashar Assad. Leaders from 40 countries are expected to attend the conference, an initiative of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, among them 10 from Arab countries, including Syria. As of now no meeting is expected between Olmert and Assad and no handshake has been predicted. Sarkozy established the forum as an umbrella organization of technical and professional cooperation among the citizens of all the countries involved. Advertisement One proposal is to establish a highway linking all the countries along the Mediterranean. Israeli government officials said the intent was for the highway to begin in Egypt and continue through North Africa. Only later would it be extended to Israel. But due to opposition by countries in the region to cooperation with Israel on this matter, it can be assumed that the project as now envisioned will not be initiated in the near future. Also on the agenda... In addition to collaboration on transportation, the French are proposing stronger regional cooperation for search-and-rescue operations, for example after natural disasters. Alternative energy and advanced technologies will also be discussed. The summit will open Sunday morning with a preliminary meeting of foreign ministers, followed by the opening session at Paris' Grand Palais, attended by the heads of state. Delegates from other Arab countries expected at the conference include Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Moroccan King Mohammed VI and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who will also serve as the co-chairman of the conference along with Sarkozy. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will attend, along with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Jordanian Prime Minister Nader al-Dahabi. To avoid embarrassment, especially regarding unscheduled meetings between Olmert and some of the Arab leaders, seating will be alphabetic. Olmert will be flanked by Italian President Silvio Berlusconi and Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen. Assad is expected to be seated on the other side of the table, more or less opposite Olmert. After the opening session, Sarkozy will host the heads of the delegations at a banquet. On Monday, the French president will host the leaders for the Bastille Day celebrations, which will feature a large military parade on the Champs Elysees. A dais has been built for the leaders to watch the parade, after which Sarkozy will host a luncheon. Olmert will hold a working meeting during the conference with Abbas. At the beginning of the meeting Sarkozy will greet the two leaders at the Elysees Palace, remain with them for the first few minutes and then leave. Olmert's and Abbas' working teams will also be present for part of the meeting, expected to last about two hours. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Photoshopped launch Did Iran doctor an image of its provocative missile test launch? 'Hitler was a good boss' Nazi bodyguard describes the fuhrer's last moments in a Berlin bunker.   1.   Never Turn Your Back On Assad 04:27  |  Yosemite 09/07/08   2.   Even if Assad is sincere... 07:29  |  Jean Van Daem 09/07/08   3.   Olmert this is your chance 07:40  |  shuki 09/07/08   4.   May the best plan win 08:33  |  Natallie Durson 09/07/08   5.   # 1 to yosemite re: assad`s lingerie 09:14  |  eric 09/07/08   6.   OLMERT should not be Representative of Israel 09:20  |  Dagma 09/07/08   7.   To # 2 shuki - Olmert`s Chance for `Peace` 09:43  |  Natasha 09/07/08   8.   Olmert has to be `grounded` 09:53  |  charlie 09/07/08   9.   Natallie Durson # 4 - Olmert may not be around any more 09:55  |  Dolly 09/07/08   10.   END THE OCCUPATION, HANSHAKE WILL FOLLOW 11:43  |  indrajaya 09/07/08   11.   Falling into the Trap 14:16  |  Brod 09/07/08   12.   INDRAJAYA AND OCCUPATION 15:09  |  Brant 09/07/08   13.   The GOLAN - Handshake or not is historically Jewish 16:10  |  Dagma 09/07/08   14.   ONE DAY OR THE OTHER SHE WILL GIVE THE HANDSHAKE ON BEHALF OF .. 17:39  |  glenna 09/07/08   15.   HE OR LIVNI GIVING THE HANDSHAKE WHAT`S THE DIFFERENCE;IT`S LIKE 17:41  |  glenna 09/07/08   16.   WHY is it? 18:18  |  Gil 09/07/08   17.   WHY is it? 18:19  |  Gil 09/07/08   18.   Confused about occupation! 18:19  |  utagawa 09/07/08   19.   THERE SHOULD BE NO HANDSHAKE AT ALL UNTIL ISHMAEL`S/ESAU`S SEED 20:41  |  glenna 11/07/08

Read & React Did Iran doctor an image of its missile test launch? Responses: 111 Hitler's bodyguard: The Fuhrer was a good boss Responses: 98 PM suspected of asking various bodies to fund same foreign trips Responses: 26 Ari Shavit: The real problem is America Responses: 65 H.A. Hellyer: Who speaks for Europe's Muslims? Responses: 36 Rosner's Domain Did Mossad chief Meir Dagan pay a visit to the White House? (WTR) Is the Arab love affair with Obama over? (WTR) On Iraq, Obama draws to the ground of reality Poll: The more religious the Jewish voter, the more pro-McCain More Headlines 20:25 Olmert suspected of defrauding state, charities to fund trips abroad 19:08 NRP Chairman: In a civilized country, Olmert would have resigned long ago 20:15 Olmert, Zaken, and Rishon Tours: A case of deja vu 20:25 Ron Arad's daughter: You can't declare him dead with no information 13:15 4 Israelis arrested for allegedly selling weapons to Palestinians 20:53 Arab state tells Israel it would not oppose Iran strike 21:19 American Jewish soldiers in Iraq enlist as laymen for their comrades 14:06 Senior Iranian Ayatollah: Our missiles neither threat nor fake 12:53 Six people killed in separate car accidents overnight 21:34 Lebanon forms unity gov't which gives Hezbollah veto power 21:16 IDF raids undermine my administration, Palestinian PM tells U.S. 20:57 Israel denies reports of IAF training in U.S.-controlled Iraq 12:03 Israeli wedding halls install credit card facilities for guests' gifts 18:55 Barak, IDF chief to discuss Iran with U.S. officials in Washington Previous Editions Select Day 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul 01 jul 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun

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