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Italy urges int'l community to assume responsibility to achieve peace in Mideast

By Mahdi Al-Nemr

ROME, Dec 12 (KUNA) -- Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Paolo Gentiloni has called on the international community to assume its responsibility in order to achieve peace in the Middle East region.
At the conclusion of the Rome 2015 MED - Mediterranean Dialogues forum in Rome on Saturday, Gentiloni said that the idea that historic conflict between Israel and Palestine has been marginalized is an illusion.
He warned that turning the cause into a religious conflict between Israel and Islamic fundamentalism will worsen the situation in the region.
"While dealing with all current crises, a new regional system should be created based on available factors in order to restore confidence among the region's states," he stressed.
The minister underlined the importance of the Mediterranean which forms the future of economy for Italy and the European Union, noting this requires working together so as to develop trade exchange in the region between the European Union and Balkan countries.
He expressed his joy that Rome hosted the thee-day Mediterranean Dialogues forum in which Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and King Abdullah II of Jordan delivered their speeches.
Gentiloni called for exerting further efforts in order to reduce risks and problems in the Mediterranean, and adopting a "positive agenda" to be in favor of the region.
King Abdullah II of Jordan, Secretary General of the Arab League Nabil Al-Araby, Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Italy Sheikh Ali Khaled Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, several Arab ministers and ambassadors, and representatives from multilateral organizations were present in the event. (end) mn.hm