(ANSAmed) - ROME, APRIL 18 - ''The democratic transition in
progress in the Arab Spring countries has its ups and downs. The
process must be analysed case by case, but fundamentally it has
started." This statement was made by the Italian foreign
ministry's special envoy for the Mediterranean area and the Arab
Spring, Maurizio Massari, during a hearing in the Chamber
Foreign Affairs Commission on the goals of Italy's Mediterranean
policies regarding a new balance in the region.
Massari, pointing out that the transition in Tunisia and
Morocco, unlike the situation in Egypt and Libya, is ''well
underway'', underlined ''the need to respond bilaterally to the
strong demand for Italy in these countries'' because
''strengthening the Arab democracies is in Italy's interest,
both economically and from a security viewpoint.'' Moreover, he
added, Italy ''can play a more important role by being present
(for the transfer of know-how, support to local SMEs) than by
giving financial assistance, also considering the limited
available resources."
Massari also mentioned the importance of ''stimulating the
response from the EU, which the Arab Spring countries consider
to be weak so far." For that reason, the plenipotentiary
minister has proposed ''to make Italy sponsor of a group of
'friends of the Mediterranean', in order to help the EU develop
a more ambitious vision." Massari also announced a meeting of a
Euro-Atlantic workgroup on monitoring the democratic transitions
in the Mediterranean. The meeting will be held on May 7 in Rome.
(ANSAmed).
(ANSAmed).
