So close, So neutral” “

A summit of foreign ministers from the Euro-Mediterranean partnership was held last week at Heraklion on the island of Crete. The order of the day was the resumption of inter-cultural dialogue in the region and, especially, the peace process in the Middle East. In order to examine more deeply Europe’s role in healing a conflict that has lasted for more than thirty years, SirEuropa met with Georges Mavroyiannis , economist, professor of local development and director of the Development Agency of the Prefecture of Heraklion. How can European-Mediterranean relations recover the initial impulse of the Barcelona Conference? “Both at a political and technical level, for the actors involved in the partnership, the priority is to begin from civil society and its organisms. The fact is that, on the European side, more attention has recently been dedicated to expanding the Union, and to the political, economic and social consequences of such a move. As long as the EU does not consider European-Mediterranean relations as being tantamount to a ‘virtual expansion’ southwards, it will be difficult to commit people and resources to ensure that the co-operative and associative spirit of Barcelona regains the impulse necessary to build a new relationship between the EU and the countries of the Mediterranean (most of which are Muslim). Once again it is a question of will because, although one can perhaps speak of some diffidence in Arab countries towards Europe following 11 September and the recent attack on Iraq, it is certainly not right to think that the people of the southern Mediterranean are hostile to close and permanent contacts with the European Union”. Do you share the view that a key role for peace can be played by Europe through Euromed? “The restoration of peace in the Middle East is perhaps the most important task that humanity has faced and is facing since the end of the Second World War. With the fall of the Berlin Wall, the last great division in international relations remains the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Undoubtedly, given their economic and military power, the United States is called to play a central role in finding a solution. They have tried in the past, but from the successes of Camp David to the renewed occupation and the Intifada was but a brief step. It cannot be scientifically proven, but the absence of Europe on the political level has contributed to the continuance of the conflict. The Europeans are closer, they are also more neutral in the sense that the member countries of Europe are not partisans exclusively of one side or the other, and they are well looked-upon both by the Israelis and the Arab world. There has been a clamorous lack of credibility in a European policy capable of mediating and following up words (many and important) with actions (few and – if one excludes humanitarian aid – of little significance). If Europe supports the ‘road map’ in a unitary and non-ideological manner, the Middle East will recognise the positive benefits. Can relaunching dialogue between the people of the Mediterranean stop those who would transform the world into a field of conflict between religions? “Inter-cultural dialogue is fundamental. It is the only way to build peace from the ground up, on the basis of the will of peoples to live in peace. International Islamic terrorism aims to block this process, which is also impeded by certain large but unexpressed economic and geo-political interests of the western world. An enlarged Europe cannot afford to ignore this fact and must, indeed, set the example. At a religious level, substantial steps forward have been made: talks and discussions takes place, and attempts are made to involve people so as to eradicate the cancerous growth of the hatred that is an end unto itself. Having said this, healing the rift between the north and south of the world also requires direct efforts by the parties involved: As proposed by the ‘road map’, Israel must stop occupations and settlements, and the Palestinian Authority must force the terrorists to halt their attacks. Europe, united and with one voice, through the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, is in a position to provide a fundamental contribution”.