Today's Date:

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IRAQ

The Foreign Ministers of the “five-plus-five” dialogue member States met on 9 and 10 April 2003 in Sainte-Maxime. (...) For France, the host country, the conclusions of this ministerial meeting are as follows: This third session of the “five-plus-five” dialogue, relaunched in its present form by the Lisbon ministerial meeting of 25 and 26 January 2001, then the Tripoli ministerial meeting of 29 and 30 May 2002, confirmed the value of a specific framework for political dialogue between the Maghreb and Southern Europe. It allows informal and constructive discussions, which demonstrate the solidarity between them and the special nature of the partnership uniting the ten Western Mediterranean States. The ministers welcomed the Libyan presidency’s results of the “five-plus-five” dialogue.

IRAQ

The ministers began by talking about the situation in Iraq and the impact of this conflict on the region, and in particular on the Western Mediterranean. They expressed their concern regarding the humanitarian situation of the Iraqi people. While under international law the prime responsibility here falls to the belligerents, they stressed the role the international community has to play in addressing this humanitarian crisis. Committed to Iraq's unity and territorial integrity, they placed on record their view that the Iraqis must as quickly as possible regain full sovereignty over their country. The United Nations will have to play a central role in the process of Iraq's political, administrative, economic and social reconstruction.

MIDDLE EAST

The ministers also stressed their commitment to maintaining the stability of the whole region. In particular, every effort must be made to achieve a swift resumption of the peace process in the Middle East. To this end, the ministers, taking account of the pertinent United Nations resolutions and the Beirut Arab summit initiative, call for the publication and immediate implementation of the roadmap adopted by the Quartet which provides for the creation of a Palestinian State by 2005. They also stress the importance of convening an international conference which has to take place as soon as possible.
Southern Europe and the Maghreb form a bridge between the two shores of the Mediterranean. Only through a trustful dialogue and model cooperation will we be able together to build our common future. (...)./.