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| Mid-East leaders meet in France | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Israeli and Palestinian leaders have met in Paris ahead of a summit of EU and Mediterranean rim countries to launch a regional union. | |
| Summit host, President Nicolas Sarkozy, said the aim was to see that the region was a place where people could love each other instead of making war. | |
| He re-emphasised the French and European commitment to achieving peace. | |
| Leaders from 42 nations are meeting to discuss issues including regional unrest, immigration and pollution. | |
| France says the new union could send a "wind of hope" through the region. | France says the new union could send a "wind of hope" through the region. |
| Ahead of the summit, Mr Sarkozy addressed the media alongside Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. | |
| There is a wind of hope... but I regret to say discussions between Israelis and Palestinians are not part of it so far Bernard KouchnerFrench Foreign Minister | |
| Mr Sarkozy said the role of Europe and France was to help achieve peace through economic development, political initiatives and providing guarantees for all stakeholders. He said the main problem was one of confidence. | |
| Mr Olmert said they had never been so close to an agreement with the Palestinians as they were today. | |
| He added that he would like direct talks with Syria, but warned they must not hinder talks with the Palestinians. | |
| Progress has already been made in other areas. Mr Sarkozy announced on Saturday that Syria and Lebanon had agreed to set up embassies in each other's capitals. | |
| Lebanon and Syria have not had fully-fledged embassies in each other's countries since both gained independence from colonial rule in the 1940s. Relations between the two have been strained since Lebanon's former PM Rafik Hariri was assassinated in 2005 - an attack which Lebanon claims Syria was involved in. | Lebanon and Syria have not had fully-fledged embassies in each other's countries since both gained independence from colonial rule in the 1940s. Relations between the two have been strained since Lebanon's former PM Rafik Hariri was assassinated in 2005 - an attack which Lebanon claims Syria was involved in. |
| But after Mr Sarkozy held talks with Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman and then Syria's leader Bashar Assad, he announced the establishment of embassies and hailed the moment as an "historic step forward". | But after Mr Sarkozy held talks with Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman and then Syria's leader Bashar Assad, he announced the establishment of embassies and hailed the moment as an "historic step forward". |
| The French president also asked Mr Assad to use his ties with Iran to help resolve the international stand-off over Tehran's nuclear ambitions. | The French president also asked Mr Assad to use his ties with Iran to help resolve the international stand-off over Tehran's nuclear ambitions. |
| UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to use the summit to recommend increasing EU sanctions on Zimbabwe's leadership, following the rejection of a sanctions resolution by the UN Security Council. | UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to use the summit to recommend increasing EU sanctions on Zimbabwe's leadership, following the rejection of a sanctions resolution by the UN Security Council. |
| Mr Sarkozy has long spearheaded the idea of a Union for the Mediterranean. | Mr Sarkozy has long spearheaded the idea of a Union for the Mediterranean. |
| He recently claimed the grouping could transform the Mediterranean region into an area of peace and prosperity. | He recently claimed the grouping could transform the Mediterranean region into an area of peace and prosperity. |
| Lacking substance? | Lacking substance? |
| French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Saturday that a "wind of hope" was blowing in the Middle East. | French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Saturday that a "wind of hope" was blowing in the Middle East. |
| But he added: "I regret to say discussions between Israelis and Palestinians are not part of it so far." | But he added: "I regret to say discussions between Israelis and Palestinians are not part of it so far." |
| Mr Sarkozy has already made progress with the leaders of Syria and Lebanon | Mr Sarkozy has already made progress with the leaders of Syria and Lebanon |
| Critics have dismissed the new union as lacking substance, and diplomats say there are continuing disagreements over key issues such as how to address the Middle East peace process and a possible role for the Arab League. | Critics have dismissed the new union as lacking substance, and diplomats say there are continuing disagreements over key issues such as how to address the Middle East peace process and a possible role for the Arab League. |
| BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says that, although some French newspapers have written off the scheme as a kind of "showy multilateralism" in tune with President Sarkozy's showy life-style, it is in fact a serious attempt to re-energise France's role in the Middle East - and by extension Europe's . | BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says that, although some French newspapers have written off the scheme as a kind of "showy multilateralism" in tune with President Sarkozy's showy life-style, it is in fact a serious attempt to re-energise France's role in the Middle East - and by extension Europe's . |
| However there are many longstanding rivalries between delegations - such as Israel and Syria; Syria and Lebanon; and Israel and the Palestinians. | However there are many longstanding rivalries between delegations - such as Israel and Syria; Syria and Lebanon; and Israel and the Palestinians. |
| There were also fears that Turkey might not co-operate, because of fears that the union might be used as an alternative to EU membership for Ankara, which Mr Sarkozy has long opposed. | There were also fears that Turkey might not co-operate, because of fears that the union might be used as an alternative to EU membership for Ankara, which Mr Sarkozy has long opposed. |
| However Turkey's foreign minister said on Saturday that his government would play an active role in the union. | However Turkey's foreign minister said on Saturday that his government would play an active role in the union. |
| The only European or Mediterranean rim leader boycotting the Paris meeting is Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, who has described the union as a new form of colonialism. | The only European or Mediterranean rim leader boycotting the Paris meeting is Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, who has described the union as a new form of colonialism. |
| Meanwhile, Jordan's King Abdullah II and King Mohammed VI of Morocco say they have other commitments and are sending senior representatives. | Meanwhile, Jordan's King Abdullah II and King Mohammed VI of Morocco say they have other commitments and are sending senior representatives. |
| Mr Sarkozy's original plan was to create a grouping reserved just for Mediterranean rim states. | Mr Sarkozy's original plan was to create a grouping reserved just for Mediterranean rim states. |
| But the plan had to be amended and its agenda watered down after opposition from other EU states, notably Germany, which wanted to be involved. | But the plan had to be amended and its agenda watered down after opposition from other EU states, notably Germany, which wanted to be involved. |
| France and Egypt plan to co-chair the new organisation for the first few years. | France and Egypt plan to co-chair the new organisation for the first few years. |