Syria plans EU conference boycott

Syria and Lebanon asked France to postpone the meeting

By Barbara Plett in Amman, Jordan

Arab diplomats say Syria and some other Arab states will boycott a meeting with the European Union on Wednesday because Israel will be there.

They gave as another reason the fact that the EU had not taken a firm stand on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The conference has aroused pro-Palestinian passions

The conference on European-Mediterranean co-operation is the first test of a recent Arab summit resolution calling for reduced contacts with Israel.

France, the host country, refused to postpone the Euro Med meeting despite Arab anger at Israeli-Palestinian clashes that have killed nearly 200 Palestinians.

Lebanon earlier joined Syria in asking France to postpone the conference, but it is not clear whether Beirut will also boycott it.

Libya has said it will not be going but it has only guest status.

Vulnerable partnership

The European Union set up this partnership with Mediterranean states on the heels of the Middle East peace process.

It is meant to improve security on the EU's southern rim by promoting co-operation and economic development.

But it is obviously vulnerable to regional unrest.

Arab foreign ministers meeting at an Islamic conference in Doha at the weekend debated whether to attend.

Arab resolution

Syria said they shouldn't because of an Arab summit resolution calling for an end to multilateral meetings that include Israel.

But that argument doesn't appear to have convinced the other Arab members of Euro Med, which include Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia.

None have said they will stay away.

However, the conference cannot entirely ignore the violence.

France has already scrapped plans to present a proposed stability pact for the region.

Talks are expected to focus instead on improving EU aid programmes to the Mediterranean countries.