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Malta considered out of running
in UoM contest
Despite the support of Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi and
his government, Malta is considered to be out of the running for the post of
secretary general of the Union of the Mediterranean (UoM), which was created at
the recent Paris summit.
The European media has classed the candidature of Malta
alongside that of Tunis and Rabat as “non-starters” considering that the two
heavyweights – Barcelona and Marseille – are fighting for the prize. Unless,
that is, a compromise solution will have to be found if none of the two
principal contenders bows out.
The final decision will be taken on 4 November in Marseille
itself by the foreign ministers of the countries in the Union of the
Mediterranean.
Spain insists on Barcelona as the city where the
Euro-Mediterrranean process has been kept active since 1995. Precisely, argue
its opponents, because the Barcelona Process led nowhere.
France insists on Marseille because the city already has
many international institution linked to Mediterranean affairs and also because
of its long experience in the matter.
Besides, of course, the simple fact that the Union of the
Mediterranean was created by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Algeria has announced it is not a candidate so as to avoid
any contact with Israel.
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Europe