GREECE, June 3, 2007, (WAFA)- The Mediterranean Forum expressed early Sunday its utmost concern over the deteriorating living conditions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) as due to the economic siege imposed on the palestinian peop[le.

In its final release, the Forum, including a number of ministers and officials of 11 countries located around the Mediterranean Sea, voiced out their concern about the worsening conditions in the (OPT), calling urgently for providing the Palestinians with International aid.

"The Palestinian cause is still the basic problem in the Middle East", according to the release. "The solution would only be by establishing an independent Palestinian State that lives side by side with Israel", the release added.

The participants called for immediately releasing the Palestinian ministers behind Israeli bars as well as releasing the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit imprisoned by some Palestinian gangs in Gaza.

R.S (11:00 P) (8:00 GMT)