French FM meets Union for the Mediterranean (UM) Chief

PARIS, Aug 28 (KUNA) -- French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius met here Tuesday with the Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Fathallah Sijilmassi, to discuss developments with the UM's projects in the southern Mediterranean region and potential for financing by member countries for future operations.
Sijilmassi, a former Moroccan ambassador to France, indicated to the French Minister his priorities and the progress with ongoing projects, approved and currently being financed.
These include the water purification plant in Gaza, motorway construction in the Maghreb region and a number of university projects.
Fabius "shared the orientations set out" by the UM Secretary-General and his office, which is headquarter in Barcelona, his office indicated.
Both men discussed the "needed for appropriations" and financing for projects by the two sides of the Mediterranean, North and South.
They also broached the need to reinforce the activity of the UM via the policies of the European Union in the region.
The Union for the Mediterranean was found in July 2008 with over 40 participants from Europe, the Maghreb and Middle East region.
But it has encountered problems picking up speed because of some internal political problems and due to the ongoing conflicts in the region, particularly the failure to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian issue. On Monday, in a keynote speech to French ambassadors here, President Francois Hollande stressed the need to focus on development of the Mediterranean region, particularly the Maghreb zone, which he said had vast potential for France and Europe. (end) jk.asa KUNA 281256 Aug 12NNNN