FM PAET: CO-OPERATION BETWEEN EUROPEAN AND ARAB COUNTRIES NECESSARY
22.12.2008
Increasing reciprocal trust and the Middle East peace process were the main topics at the meeting of the foreign ministers of European Union and Arab nations in Vienna on Friday, 19 December.
Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said in his speech that relations between European Union and Arab countries must be deepened first and foremost in the areas of culture, technology, energy, and environmental protection. “The creation of the Mediterranean Union increases the accountability of each nation and makes relations more concrete and visible than they were before,” said Paet.
Paet stated that it is necessary to better understand each other’s culture and traditions. “Misinformation and preconceptions can lead to racism and xenophobia. Shattering stereotypes is very important for the future development of relations,” he added. Paet believes that co-operation between the EU and the Arab League in election monitoring and crisis prevention is also essential. “Naturally, we also value intercultural dialogue, the development of which is helped by the Anna Lindh Foundation,” he said.
At the conference, which focused on dialogue between Europe and the Arab world, the foreign ministers also agreed that it is important to take advantage of the willingness of countries to make agreements in an effort to resolve the Middle East conflict.
