Frattini: Euro-Mediterranean Conference is a contribution to dialogue, partnership

Italy's foreign minister Franco Frattini on Tuesday described the Euro-Mediterranean Conference in the Italian city of Naples as a great contribution to the dialogue and partnership between the EU and countries in southern Mediterranean.

Frattini, whose country is the EU president, told a news conference that cooperation and dialogue between the two sides are of great significance, pointing out to the importance of setting up certain institutions, including European-Mediterranean parliament, a panel to follow-up Euro-Mediterranean dialogue and joint bank.

On Iraq, the Italian Minister gave emphasis to transferring powers to a national elected government as soon as possible, adding his country would push towards more international presence in Iraq, and ask the other EU member-countries for a bigger contribution in rebuilding the country.

Frattini said the recent unofficial Geneva Document ( between some Palestinians and Israelis) could not replace the Roadmap plan approved by the Quartet: the UN, the U.S., the EU and Russia.