Madrid praises success of peace talks in Majorca

Spain's Foreign Minister, Josep Piqué, yesterday said that the Mediterranean Forum, held in Majorca last month, which addressed the Middle East peace process was “very positive.” The two-day meeting at the Hotel Formentor was attended by the Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat, the Israeli Foreign Minister, Simon Peres and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Piqué said yesterday that all parties came away from the forum agreeing to co-operate “to the maximum.” Piqué also said that this year's Majorcan conference has established itself as an important meeting point for those involved in the Middle East peace process, as well as security and stability in the Mediterranean. The Minister said that behind the scenes, Mubarak, Peres and Arafat held important fire-side talks and the meetings gave a new impetus to the Madrid Peace Conference which Piqué said has achieved a great deal since it was first held ten years ago. He added that Spain made it clear to the Middle East in Majorca that it intends to play an important role in the peace process when it takes over the presidency of the European Union.