Euro-Arab summit in Barcelona, Problems

[Felix the Cat]

Barcelona summit more Euro than Med as Arab leaders stay away (http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1557869,00050003.htm)
The first-ever Euro-Mediterranean summit opens on Sunday, but most Mideast leaders have chosen to stay away from gathering where the EU will be pushing for further measures to combat terrorism and illegal immigration.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair co-hosts the summit to mark the 10th anniversary of the so-called Euromed process, which aims to boost ties between the European Union and 10 countries stretching from Morocco to Israel.

While another aim of the gathering on Sunday and on Monday in the Spanish city where the partnership was launched in 1995 will be to accelerate efforts to set up a free trade area covering both the EU and the Mediterranean, terrorism has moved to the top of the agenda.

British officials said ahead of the summit Blair will seek pledges from his European and Mediterranean partners to endorse a "Code of Conduct on Countering Terrorism", as well as greater cooperation such as in sharing intelligence and managing border movements.

However, the leaders of most Arab states and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon elected not to show up.

Critics say Euromed has achieved little over the last decade, and EU officials admit to shortcomings -- saying that is why the process needs to be re-launched.

"Our summit will aim to put the partnership on a sounder and stronger footing, and take courageous decisions to meet the challenges we face as we enter a new phase," European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said ahead of the gathering.

[Felix the Cat]

Euro-Mediterranean summit fails in attempt to define terrorism (http://www.spainherald.com/2150.html)

The Barcelona Euro-Mediterranean summit ended yesterday without any fundamental agreement on the definition of terrorism. Arab delegations maintained their demand to exclude "resistance to foreign occupation" from any definition of terrorism. Two annexes were added to the summit's official declaration, the incomplete anti-terrorist code of conduct and a plan of action for the next five years.
The Spanish administration, as the summit's organizer, and the UK, as revolving president of the EU, were not able to convince attending delegations to define terrorism. British and Spanish negotiators were unable to mediate between the Arab countries and Israel, who maintained their positions, requiring a declaration from British prime minister Blair that "a strong condemnation of terrorism was achieved, the strongest that could be passed."

Spanish administration sources had previously said that the summit would pass an antiterrorist code of conduct and five-year plan of action. Regarding the code of conduct, foreign ministry spokesman Bernardino León said that initiatives of cooperation between interior ministries and security forces supported by both Arabs and Israelis would be established. He added that the five-year plan would include a section on immigration to those on political, economic, and sociocultural issues.

The summit's final conclusions were introduced at a press conference at which Blair, Spanish prime minister Zapatero, EC president Durao Barroso, and EC secretary general Javier Solana. Blair, in his speech, stressed that the delegates have voted in favor of a quick resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for the establishment of two countries living together in peace. He also said that an agreement had been reached to stop illegal immigration, and that "a strong condemnation of terrorism has been achieved, the strongest that could be passed."

Zapatero, in his speech, said that the summit had achieved "an unprecedented feat" with the antiterrorist code, in which he said there was "an unmitigated, energetic condemnation." According to Zapatero, the text is an example of the "qualitative leap" in collaboration between the EU and the south Mediterranean countries signified by the summit. He stressed that in the negotiations the delegates have worked so that the Mediterranean will be a space of peace and cooperation, as well as regional integration against common problems, and said the challenges are illegal immigration and terrorism. Zapatero called immigration "a positive phenomenon for the countries of origin and destination, if and when it is well-managed and regulated. It is urgent to take steps to establish a process that permits, above all, the channeling of aid to countries that export immigrants."

On terrorism, Zapatero stressed that the delegates agreed that it was "a curse that we all reject," and therefore "the antiterrorist code was passed by the members of the EU, Israel, and the Arab nations, including the Palestinians." He claimed that the code would be "a dependable instrument which will permit an energetic condemnation and an increase in cooperation in the antiterrorist struggle." He called on the international community not to relate terrorism with one nation or people in particular.

During the summit, Zapatero was caught by an open microphone when foreign relations adviser Carles Casajuana told him a meeting with "some Palestinian" would be arranged, "because if not you're going to get bored." Casajuana added, regarding the problems to agree on a definition of terrorism, "The Israelis can't be dealt with." Zapatero responded, "We have to reach an agreement in whatever way."

PSOE secretary general Diego Lopez Garrido said yesterday that the summit has demonstrated the influence of Spain in the international scene, and criticized "the obvious, incomprehensible, shameful, and ridiculous PP attempt to minimize its achievements." Lopez Garrido said, "Never before have the leaders of Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Israel sat down at the same table to talk about terrorism and immigration, something achieved thanks to Spain's exceptional leadership."

[Felix the Cat]

TERRORISM: THREAT TO 'DECAPITATE' BERLUSCONI (http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.232940132&par=0)

Rome, 24 Nov. (AKI) - A message menacing Western leaders including Italy's prime minister Silvio Berlsuconi appeared on an Islamist website on Thursday. The message - whose authenticity has yet to be verified - threatens to "decapitate" US president George W. Bush, Britain's prime minister Tony Blair, Berlusconi, Japan's prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, and Australian premier John Howard.

A section of the message - which reveals a good knowledge of Italian affairs on the part of its author- attacks Berlusconi, announcing: "the plan for his abduction has been laid - it only needs the go-ahead to be given." "Our appointment will be in April," the message reads. Italy is due to hold a general election on 9 April.

The message criticises Italian foreign policy and its continuing presence of Italian troops in Iraq, saying this has put Italy "on top of a volcano - for a mere 2,900 soldiers." It praises opposition leader Romano Prodi for announcing he will withdraw Italy's troops, and threatens "attacks on the streets of Rome, if candidates run the election who support war".

It describes as a "martyr" the mayor of a town near Naples who named one of its streets after former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat instead of "The martyrs of Nasiriya" to commemorate the Italian soldiers killed at the military barracks in the Iraqi town in a November 2003 in a suicide bombing.

As in an earlier message threatening Italy, the message is signed by 'Rakan Ben Williams' - or 'bin Wilyamz', as it is written in Arabic - and by the purported al-Qaeda mouthpiece, the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF). After the Amman suicide bombings in three hotels this month, GIMF published a letter signed by the same author, titled 'The next al-Qaeda soldier' warning of "white" converts to Islam who were preparaning for upcoming attacks in Europe and the US. GIMF has also posted webcasts of the so-called 'Al-Qaeda TV' to several Islamist sites in recent weeks.