Arab-Mediterranean states ministers meet today in Beirut

The foreign ministers of the eight Arab states participating in the Barcelona process will meet in Beirut today, and Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdul Meguid, who arrived at Beirut yesterday, will attend the meeting.

The ministers will discuss the Arab and European alternatives for forwarding the peace process, including Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's call for an urgent summit and the French - Egyptian initiative to hold a conference for rescuing peace.

A diplomatic source said today that the meeting comprises the foreign ministers of Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Tunisia and Algeria who will participate in a conference for the member countries in the Euro-Mediterranean Barcelona process which will be held in the southern Italy city of Palermo on Wednesday and Thursday.

The sources also expected that the eight Arab countries will agree on an Arab work paper submit to the Palermo conference, addressing cooperation in political, economic and security fields within the Barcelona announcement, besides supporting the Egyptian - French initiative.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa will deliver a message from President Hosni Mubarak to Lebanese President Elias Hrawi tackling the developments in the peace process and the Arab coordination towards the policy of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.