The Alliance of Civilisations - a grouping of organisations from Europe and North Africa - will hold its first regional conference for the Mediterranean in Malta.

Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said the aim of the meeting was to promote inter-cultural dialogue which would lead to joint actions against common prejudices.

He pointed out that three fourths of the major world conflicts had the cultural dimension as a cause.

The initiative to hold the conference in Malta follows up the recently inaugurated European Commission-Arab League Liaison Office in Malta to strengthen dialogue between Europe and the Arab World.

Dr Borg was speaking at a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs' Council.

Foreign ministers discussed in particular, ways of engaging Iran in the diplomatic process and of resuming negotiations on its nuclear programme. Dr Borg said any measures should not target or affect the general population.

The Council also discussed the situation in Gaza. The Foreign Ministers underlined the importance of a credible and impartial investigation into the Israeli raid on the aid flotilla. To this end, the Dr Borg stressed the overriding importance of addressing the humanitarian and economic situation.