BEIRUT, Lebanon, April 20 (UPI) -- Lebanon said Saturday it will boycott the Euro-Mediterranean conference of foreign ministers in Valencia, Spain, next week, rather than accept the presence of Israel at discussions about political, cultural, security and trade partnerships.
Prime Minister Rafic Hariri said Lebanon will not attend the April 22-23 gathering because of Israel's current offensive against Palestinian territories.
Convening the Euro-Mediterranean conference "with the presence and participation of Israel is not acceptable," said a statement from the foreign ministry.
"How could we sit around one table with the Israeli foreign minister and discuss fields of cooperation and partnership at a time Israel resorts to aggressing a partner member in the Barcelona process, which is the Palestinian Authority?" the statement said.
It said Israel was continuing with its siege of Palestinian territories and leaders, ignoring United Nations resolutions and condemnation of its crimes by international organizations.
The statement said the European Union presidency, currently held by Spain, failed to reply to Lebanon's request for suspending Israeli participation at the Valencia conference and for holding a separate meeting between the European Union and the Arab Mediterranean countries.
"That is why Lebanon decided not to participate at the Valencia meeting," the statement said, adding that Lebanon also demanded that its own partnership accord with the European Union be postponed for two or three weeks. Lebanon had previously expected to sign the accord Monday.
Hariri said the delay has nothing to do with Lebanon's relations with Europe or the partnership accord itself. But "unfortunately (its signing) comes at the same time of the Euro-Med conference."
"These are two different and unrelated things. It's only a matter of timing, and we are ready to go next week or two or any time set by the EU (to sign the partnership accord)," Hariri said after a meeting with Patrick Renault, European Union ambassador in Beirut.
Renault said hoped the accord to liberalize trade ties between Lebanon and the EU would be signed as soon as possible because it was also a "very important political agreement."
Syria Friday announced it will also boycott the Euro-Mediterranean conference because of Israel's participation.
The Euro-Mediterranean partnership consists of 15 members states of the European Union and 12 countries of the southern and eastern Mediterranean: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta. The 13th, Libya, has observer status.
Its objectives are to establish a free trade area and to promote understanding between cultures as well as peace and stability based on respect for human rights, democracy and other principles, according to the European Union Web site.
