A space of conflict and risk

Conflictuality the Mediterranean hangs over its future development. The Mediterranean is characterized by, first, conflicts "traditional" territorial in nature and, secondly, emerging threats of "low intensity". The permanence of various traditional territorial disputes is the primary factor of instability in the Mediterranean area jeopardizing the prospect of lasting political stability in the Middle East and thus the emergence of a zone of prosperity and peace euro -Mediterranean: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Western Sahara and Cyprus conflict.

Today, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a ground of deep division of the Mediterranean and a major obstacle to development initiatives across the space. The Oslo Accords had played an undeniable role in the release time of the signing of Barcelona in 1995. The start of the second Intifada in September 2000 opened a new phase of instability and clashes with the IDF in Gaza intervention in the summer of 2008 is the latest episode. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict opposes the first European countries to the north shore of the Mediterranean and much of North Africa and the Middle East for which the existence of the State of Israel is a tool of Western domination in the region. Moreover, the conflict deeply divided the South themselves, some have opted for the recognition and negotiation (Jordan, Egypt) or of the alliance and cooperation (Turkey) while others remain in a position of non-recognition (Libya, Algeria, Syria). Finally the conflict has sometimes impact within the countries themselves.

Another conflict segmenting the Euro-Mediterranean area, one that, since 1974, bisects the island of Cyprus. In the South, the Republic of Cyprus, which houses the Greek Cypriot community is the only authority recognized by the international community. In the north, a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) proclaimed in 1983 is recognized only by Turkey. It occupies the area invaded in 1974 by Turkish troops in response to the coup Greek Cypriot ultra-nationalists who wanted the unification of the island with Greece. Between the two, a line (green line) of 180 km in length on which a peacekeeping force stationed UN (UNFICYP) in 1200 men. The Cyprus conflict is now a significant factor in blocking the prospect of accession negotiations started in 1999 between Turkey and the European Union.

The Western Sahara conflict is also contributing to the political fragmentation of the Mediterranean to the extent that it is one strong element blocking the process of building the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) which aims to bring the Morocco , Algeria and Tunisia. Western Sahara is a vast desert territory of 266 000 kilometers bordered to the north by Algeria and Morocco, Mauritania to the south and east while the west coast overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The former Spanish colony has still not found a definitive status in legal terms, more than thirty years after the Spaniards left in 1975. The territory is claimed by both the Polisario Front, a movement whose goal is the complete independence of Western Sahara in 1976 and proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, and Morocco who administers almost all. Morocco, Algeria accuses of sanctuary to the Polisario Front and to provide political support, economic and military. The UN is trying to organize a referendum under the auspices of the "United Nations Mission for the organization of a referendum in Western Sahara" (MINURSO) since 1988. Western Sahara is so plagued by conflict reflects both the struggle for Sahrawi independence and rivalry of Morocco and Algeria in this region.

To go further:

Under the direction of Yves Lacostes, Geopolitics of the Mediterranean, Armand Colin, 2007

Georges Corm, The Middle East erupted 1956-2007, folio, Paris, 2007

Frisk, Bernard, The Great War for Civilisation, The Discovery, 2007