FOREIGN MINISTER'S PARTICIPATION IN MEDITERRANEAN FORUM IN MOROCCO

Foreign Minister, Joe Borg is currently in Tangiers, Morocco, participating in the 8^th Ministerial Meeting of the Mediterranean Forum which comprises the states of Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey.

The Foreign Ministers of the Forum were hosted to a dinner by the Foreign Minister of Morocco, H.E. Mohamed Benaissa, where they had an opportunity to discuss recent developments in the Mediterranean region and the Middle East.

The formal discussions between the Foreign Ministers focussed on five main themes dealing with Co-operation and Divisions in the Mediterranean, Regional integration and investment in the Mediterranean, Promotion of Mediterranean Heritage, Security in the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.

Minister Joe Borg's main intervention focussed on the theme concerning co-operation and divisions in the Mediterranean, where he called for the establishment of practical measures that can make of the Forum a model of stability and co-operation by developing those aspects that have been agreed as being both useful and necessary.

In this context Minister Joe Borg proposed that the officials of the Forum act as a drafting group to try and consolidate the text of the Charter on Peace and Stability in the Mediterranean.  The results could then be passed on to the Euro-Mediterranean process at an appropriate time and could add impetus to the document and prepare a more solid basis to carry negotiations forward within the Barcelona Process.

The Ministers of the Forum endorsed the recommendation that the second meeting on co-operation in combatting organised crime be held in Malta in the coming Autumn.  The Ministers also welcomed Malta's proposal for the establishment of a Mediterranean Award within the Euro-Mediterranean Process.

Minister Joe Borg also had the opportunity to discuss bilateral issues with a number of Foreign Ministers participating in the meeting.  He also held a separate bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Morocco. 

He is expected to return to Malta on Saturday.