RIYADH, 8 May 2007 — German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose government currently holds the presidency of the European Union, said here yesterday that the EU welcomed the relaunch of the Middle East peace initiative at the 19th Arab Summit, which was first proposed by Saudi Arabia, adding that it was supported by European countries.

Foreign ministers of 27 EU countries will meet in Riyadh today with their counterparts from the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for the 17th Joint GCC-EU Ministerial Meeting. Saudi Arabia, which is the current head of the GCC, will lead the GCC delegation represented by Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal.

“We have been following with great interest the effective role played by Saudi Arabia in the Middle East,” Steinmeier said after his preparatory meeting with Prince Saud. “We as Europeans and as the European Union welcome this initiative and support,” he said. He was hopeful the initiative would be a middle ground between the Palestinians and Israelis.

Steinmeier said that current developments in the region made this particular GCC-EU meeting important, noting that “it was necessary to meet again.”

He also said the most important item on today’s agenda will be a free-trade agreement between the EU and GCC countries. Prince Saud described the preparatory meeting yesterday as “a good beginning,” adding that he was hopeful that both the GCC and EU ministers would reach an understanding.

He added that part of his discussions with the EU representative was the situation in the Middle East as well as his tour of the region. Prince Saud also attended yesterday a GCC preparatory meeting to draft the points that ministers would raise in today’s meeting. He also met separately with EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson. According to GCC Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah, the meeting is expected to discuss a large number of issues, including the Iranian nuclear program, the situations in Iraq and Lebanon, and a free-trade agreement between GCC countries and the European Union.

“The meeting will focus on the sensitive political issues in the region in addition to the issues which concern both the GCC and the EU, particularly ways to strengthen economic ties and the establishment of a free trade zone,” he said.