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Discord over terror code dogs Mediterranean talks

EU leaders sought to finalize an anti-terrorism code of conduct with their mostly Muslim southern neighbors yesterday on the second and last day of a summit clouded by the absence of most Arab leaders.

Discord over the definition of terrorism has marked the gathering and tensions bubbled over late on Sunday when an Algerian minister lashed out at EU demands for reform in exchange for more money at the meeting in Barcelona.

"We find it humiliating that the Europeans demand reforms from us in exchange for a few euros," said Abdelaziz Belkhadem as the summit opened to mark the 10th anniversary of the so-called Euro-Mediterranean partnership.

Ministerial-level delegations sat up until the early hours trying to make headway ahead of a final conference scheduled 1:30pm, European diplomatic sources said, but their efforts could not disguise the discord.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, co-hosting the gathering as current EU president, had hoped to re-invigorate the Euromed alliance, focusing notably on fighting terrorism and cutting illegal immigration.

Blair was to hold a series of bilateral meetings with counterparts, including Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, in an attempt to salvage a concrete result to announce to the final conference.

Agreement on a Code of Conduct on countering terrorism was blocked notably by Arab states' demands for a reference justifying "resistance movements" in the final text.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the sticking point was a question of wording, insisting that all sides agreed on the fundamental need to fight terrorism.

"We have all suffered from terrorism, whether it's at Sharm-el-Sheikh, Madrid or London," he said. "Cooperation between countries on the north and south [of the Mediterranean] in the fight against terrorism is total."

Solana also downplayed the absence of most Arab leaders at the summit of the bloc with its Mediterranean-rim partners, as talks resumed.

"The important thing is not the spokesman, but what the spokesman says, and what the countries will say," Solana said.

"There was a very constructive and positive atmosphere last night. I hope this constructive tone will continue today," he said.

But European Parliament head Josep Borrell said that Arab leaders' presence "would have presented a stronger political commitment," adding that "some absences were justified, others less so."

The Euromed partnership brings together the 25-nation EU with Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.

Of the Mediterranean-rim partner states, only Palestinian chief Mahmud Abbas and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan led highest-level delegations to the summit, which began on Sunday evening.
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