Interview given by M. Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, to the “Midi Libre” newspaper (excerpts)
Paris, 2 October 2008
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UNION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN
Q. – 13 July was a success for French diplomacy… Where are things today with the Union for the Mediterranean?
THE MINISTER – It’s true, the Paris summit was a great success, not just for France but the whole Mediterranean. Lebanon and Syria are soon to restore diplomatic relations. 43 States are together going to embark on a process of cooperation and development unique in their history. Member States’ foreign ministers are going to meet on 3 November to choose the organization’s future headquarters and ensure the general coordination of the projects. France has no intention of taking decisions in place of peoples and countries or pushing them into taking decisions. We want to initiate proposals, be inventive and above all realistic.
Q. – Can the Union for the Mediterranean become the instrument of peace in the region? And to what extent will the European Union play a role in it?
THE MINISTER – The European Union Member States are all part of the Union for the Mediterranean. The Union for the Mediterranean has set itself priorities: education, energy and also the environment, which we know will be a potential source of major future tension. In committing ourselves to ensuring cooperation and economic development, we’ve taken a first step, an important step towards the stability and towards opening up the societies. Let’s not forget that in Paris we saw Israeli Ehud Olmert and Syrian Bashar al-Assad sitting at the same table. Of course, the European Union will have a role to play in this process, but we’re also expecting a great deal from the negotiations which will take place between the countries concerned./.