The meeting also opened new hopes for peace in the Middle East. The summit brings together Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Lebanese President Michel Sleimane. Many of the leaders were sitting at the same table for the first time in decades.

"We have never been as close to an accord as we are today," Olmert told reporters after talks with Abbas and Sarkozy.

Olmert also said his country would have direct talks with Syria soon.

Unfortunately, no meeting was scheduled between Olmert and Assad, whose countries have technically remained at war since 1948.

Sarkozy urged trust in the Middle East and efforts to put an end to war, as the EU has done in the past 50 years.

"The purpose of the summit of the Union for the Mediterranean is that in the Mediterranean, around the Mediterranean, we learn to love each other rather than hate each other and make wars," Sarkozy told reporters after his meeting with Abbas and Olmert.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2008)