Ban pleased by Union for the Mediterranean

PARIS, July 14 (UPI) -- The United Nations has voiced its support for the new Union for the Mediterranean initiative to enhance cooperation on regional peace and security issues.

The union, formed Sunday out of a summit in Paris that brought together representatives from 43 countries from the European Union and the Mediterranean region, is an effort to address regional trans-border threats to security. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the union, calling it "well timed" to help the countries in the region better handle security concerns.

Launched by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the union will further the cooperation initiated during the Barcelona process, a current Euro-Mediterranean partnership. Officials say the union will level the dialogue between wealthy and poorer countries around the Mediterranean.

"I believe this far-reaching multilateral initiative can work to address the complex trans-border issues the region faces, and provide a framework for the pooling of resources and the development of collective action," Ban said in a statement.

"And I hope the union will become a vibrant partner of the entire United Nations family, across the range of the union's areas of focus -- from energy and environment to security cooperation, education and science."