International Desk

French President Nicolas Sarkozy continues to bolster his growing reputation as a shrewd negotiator and mediator as he launched a Union for the Mediterranean designed to tackle 21st century challenges from immigration to energy security.

The 43-nation Union is due to convene in Paris for a summit that includes Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Israeli counterpart, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. It is the first time leaders from both countries had been in the same room together.

Addressing the press, Prime Minister Olmert said that Israel and the Palestinians have “never been this close” to a peace deal.

President Sarkozy also affirmed on Sunday that Lebanon and Syria had agreed to open embassies in each other’s countries, an event that has not happened since both countries gained independence in 1943 and 1945, respectively.

Addressing foreign ministers ahead of the Paris summit, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said,  “A new wind of dialogue is blowing around the Mediterranean...It is a time of hope in the Middle East.”

“Climate change, worsening of the environment, access to water and energy, migration dialogue between civilizations – the Mediterranean is at the heart of all the issues on which our future depends,” he added.

The new organization will seek to forge a relationship between the EU and North African countries by pursuing practical projects that include a Mediterranean Sea cleanup, migration, infrastructural renovation and developing alternative forms of energy.