The Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), Dimitrij Rupel, will participate in the EU-Arab League ministerial meeting to be held in Malta on 11 and 12 February 2008.

Many EU and Arab League Foreign Ministers or their deputies, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa have confirmed their participation in the meeting.

This is a unique and highly opportune event, as dialogue with Arab partners is currently of vital importance in view of current regional and global challenges in world politics.

The participants will define potential areas of cooperation between the EU and the Arab League, address current regional crises such as the Middle East peace process, Iraq and Lebanon, and also focus on intercultural dialogue and climate change.