Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., June 17, 2008 Sivan 14, 5768 | | Israel Time: 20:20 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. (Reuters) Last update - 20:17 17/06/2008 Mubarak stays away from Med union summit to shun Assad By News Agencies Tags: Israel, EU, Arab states  Cairo officials say Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will stay away from an Arab mini-summit in Libya to avoid an encounter with Syria's president. Leaders from Arab Mediterranean states were to meet in Tripoli on Tuesday to discuss their "worries" about entering alongside Israel a proposed union of Mediterranean countries due to be launched next month, officials from the involved nations said. Advertisement The mini-summit in Tripoli on Tuesday was initiated by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to work out an Arab response to a French proposal to set up a European, Middle Eastern and North African strategic bloc. Arab states also fear joining the union might imply a normalization of their relations with Israel. The officials say Mubarak has dodged the summit to avoid a reconciliation with Sryia's Bashar Assad. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to speak to the media. Relations between Egypt and Syrian have been strained since the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. "They will forge a common stand on participation," an Arab diplomat said. "The only worry is the idea that Israel might join without needing to make any tangible concessions in peace talks with the Palestinians and Syrians." The union was originally proposed by France as a way of boosting ties with the European Union's southern neighbors and improving trade and security cooperation. "The most serious aspect (in the proposed union) is that it establishes a union with Israel before we Arabs unite," Libyan official Ahmed Qaddaf al-Dam told the London-based daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat." Algeria said last week clarification was still needed on the union's institutions, financing and decision making, as well as Israel's role. Any normalization of ties with Israel should be based on the 2002 Arab peace initiative calling for Israel to withdraw from territories it occupied in 1967, said Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci. France's staunch ally Morocco has shown the most willingness to take part in the union and French President Nicolas Sarkozy chose the Moroccan port city of Tangier for his speech last year in which he appealed for a Mediterranean Union. Officials in Tripoli said Morocco's king would not be attending Tuesday's gathering and the country would be represented by lower-level officials. Some foreign dignitaries were due to start arriving later on Monday, they said. The plan on the table is a scaled-back version of France's original proposal which would have grouped only states with a Mediterranean coastline and involved nine new agencies and a bank. The latest proposal would see a regular summit of EU and Mediterranean countries with a presidency and a small secretariat. The project is due to be unveiled in Paris on July 13. Related articles: Arab states leery of Israel's entry into Mediterranean Union Sarkozy's Mediterranean grandeur At state dinner with Sarkozy, Peres sees 'unparalleled' French-Israel relationship Bookmark to del.icio.us   Nazi hunted Nazi sheltered by Austria seen enjoying Euro 2008 games. Battle of the attitude An 'Israeli au pair' seems to be the ultimate oxymoron.   1.   "before the Arabs unite"? can take a while 14:09  |  Ehud 10/06/08   2.   I don`t see Israel working alongside arabs for a looon time 14:37  |  Joey 10/06/08   3.   Democracy in the Arab countries. 15:53  |  Jean Van Daem 10/06/08   4.   Mubarak,the prima donna! 17:11  |  lakshmi 10/06/08   5.   Why can`t the arab states create a union independently? 18:35  |  Euro 10/06/08   6.   Euro Pooro, Arabs already have their own Union - Arab League 18:52  |  Genuine Tosefta 10/06/08   7.   Ehud 19:01  |  Genuine Tosefta 10/06/08   8.   nobody want Israel - no friends after Bush 19:50  |  einsteigen 10/06/08   9.   Lakshmi Sings: I Love Attention 19:57  |  Tex 10/06/08   10.   Mubarak the lame duck 20:27  |  Med guy 10/06/08   11.   Arabs United? HaHa Remember the United Arab Republic? 22:12  |  Arik Silverman 10/06/08   12.   Med Union 22:48  |  P. J. Casey 10/06/08   13.   why are arab states so fearful of normal relations with israel? 22:56  |  scallywag 10/06/08   14.   lakshmi 22:57  |  scallywag 10/06/08   15.   THE GUILT OF MUBARAK, traitors can`t show their face 12:24  |  VIPER 11/06/08

Read & React UN envoy: Israel has given Syria a 'huge gift' for free Responses: 109 Nazi sheltered by Austria as too ill for trial, seen enjoying Euro 2008 Responses: 89 Israeli sources: Hezbollah deal possible next week Responses: 56 UN official who compared Israel to Nazis turns spotlight on Palestinians Responses: 46 IAF kills 6 in Gaza strikes, including gunmen linked to Shalit kidnap Responses: 58 Rosner's Domain To Republicans Iran?s a threat, to Democrats not so much (WTR) Guests: How to engage young single American Jews Dovish Jewish lobby endorses seven candidates Poll: Cease fire in Gaza is an achievement for... Obama, McCain aides agree: Israel, U.S. must discuss strike on Iran More Headlines 18:47 IAF kills 6 in Gaza strikes, including gunmen linked to Shalit kidnap 18:47 Egypt confirms Israel-Hamas truce to begin Thursday morning 19:46 Israeli Arab jailed for 17 years for driving suicide bomber 19:09 Right-wing activist pours boiling water on Meretz MKs in Hebron 16:09 Report: U.S. urges Israeli pullout from disputed Golan area 20:17 Rosner's Domain / Will next Congress break the record-number of Jewish lawmakers? 19:34 Sex and the Old City / Star of hit TV show Kristin Davis makes first visit to Jerusalem 20:01 WJC president urges Poland to compensate Holocaust victims 14:43 Turkish FM: Israel, Syria 'very satisfied' with latest talks 12:54 Bowing to religious pressure, Tel Aviv supermarket chain agrees gradual Shabbat closure 13:06 Israel Police arrest settlers for assault on Palestinian farmers 17:18 Tourism to Israel breaks all-time record in May 17:04 Arab League: Construction in E. Jerusalem 'destroys' Israel-PA talks Previous Editions Select Day 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun

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