It has consistently been Greece s policy towards the countries of the Mediterranean in her own geographical region to maintain and develop relations of friendship and good neighbourliness on both the bilateral and multilateral levels.

In respect of the Mediterranean countries of Europe these relations fall within, and are largely dictated by, the political, economic and legal framework of the European Union.

With the Arab countries and Israel relations are fostered on three levels: bilateral, within the formal framework of EU-Mediterranean relations, and in the context of the Mediterranean Forum.

On the bilateral level Greeces relations with the Arab countries and Israel have deep historical roots, associated among other factors with the long-established presence of Greek communities around the Mediterranean region. These relations are now governed by a comprehensive framework of treaties and agreements, which facilitate close cooperation in areas of common interest.

As a member of the EU, Greece attaches particular importance to the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, with its common goals of peace, security and prosperity for the region. Of course these relations are influenced, but not dominated, by developments and tensions in the Palestinian issue.

On the multilateral level Greece is a founding member of the Mediterranean Forum, inaugurated in Alexandria in 1994. The Forum has been operating ever since as a policy-framing body, but also as a think-tank. Greece held the presidency of the Forum in 2002 and is represented at all its meetings by ministers and senior civil servants.