The Euro-Med Summit and the 'Alliance of Civilizations'

by Michael G. Mickey

(11-28-05)

As this week's Euro-Med Summit approached, I read a commentary by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana entitled 'Toward a partnership of hope' as many of my site's readers felt certain something dramatic might be forthcoming at the summit where the future fulfillment of Bible prophecy is concerned.

As I read Solana's words concerning the Barcelona process he started ten years ago, also called the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, I was chilled when I read how the Barcelona process was born of the hopes of the Oslo peace talks, which had a seven-year timeline - one I still believe may play a prominent role in the prophetic future. My attention was grabbed even more when I further read that a period of seven years may play largely in the future of the Euro-Med region. In Solana's speech, there were many points worth sharing, but I was fascinated by the following excerpt as it addresses a future period of seven years:

Many Mediterranean countries say they want to advance on the path of political reform but that it should be home-grown and that they need help. I agree. So I am pleased that the EU will launch a so-called governance facility. This will not be a cosmetic initiative, but one that, over seven years, will offer several hundred million euros to those countries that are making the greatest efforts concerning governance reform. They can then spend the extra money on the priorities they have set themselves. This is what I call a true partnership for political reform.

Many believe, as I hear often, the next EU budget period, set for 2007-2013, could be worth noting as a timeframe wherein the EU could make a major move toward establishing a new world order, leaving me to wonder, specifically after reading Solana's words, if the millions of euros he refers to being handed out over seven years is simply coincidence or could indeed be telling of things to come. Time will tell as one of the stated goals of the Euro-Med partnership is peace in the region, particularly resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

And then there's the "Alliance of Civilizations" I'm hearing more about that met on the sidelines of the Euro-Med summit weekend as well, but first some background on that.

In July of 2005, as seen in a United Nations press release, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced an "Alliance of Civilizations" would be formed which would come up with a "practical plan of action" by late 2006 - one short year from now. A practical plan to achieve what you ask? The press release gives us a pretty good idea, as seen in the following excerpt:

The Secretary-General is pleased to announce the launch of an initiative for an “Alliance of Civilizations”. The initiative is intended to respond to the need for a committed effort by the international community -- both at the institutional and civil society levels -- to bridge divides and overcome prejudice, misconceptions, misperceptions, and polarization which potentially threaten world peace. The Alliance will aim to address emerging threats emanating from hostile perceptions that foment violence, and to bring about cooperation among various efforts to heal such divisions.

While I'm sure some will scoff at what I'm about to state, I believe the divide the so-called "Alliance of Civilizations" is primarily concerned with is the divide that exists between the Israelis and Palestinians - the one the international community, the international Quartet, and the revived Roman empire believes is "fomenting" the violence most of us refer to as terrorism.

As I've stated on many occasions and, I'm hopeful, demonstrated through a variety of references, the international community is shaking in its collective boots as a result of radical Islamic terrorism and, as a result, has become convinced the only way to prevent or lessen acts of Islamic terror from threatening the western world is for Israel to yield to the demands of its Arab-Muslim enemies and surrender land for peace which Israel is beginning to do, as was seen in the recent Gaza withdrawal.

Well before Kofi Annan was talking up the "Alliance of Civilizations", Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, as seen in a BBC report dated July of 2004, issued what I believe was the initial call for such a group when he asked for "an international effort to resolve cultural and religious differences between the Western and Muslim world" --- what he originally referred to as an "alliance of cultures". What I want my readers to note, particularly, from the 2004 article is the following (emphasis added mine):

The alliance he envisages could therefore prevent hate and misunderstanding from developing by looking at political and cultural issues - everything from joint peace keeping missions to interfaith dialogue.

Did you catch that? Peacekeeping and interfaith dialogue! While I have no idea if Zapatero's proposed "alliance of cultures", which is now being called the "Alliance of Civilizations" by Kofi Annan's U.N., is seen in the Bible, prophecy tells us an alliance of civilizations of some sort is going to take place in the prophetic future --- one that will confirm a seven-year peace in the Middle East between Israel and its enemies (Daniel 9:26-27), as well as impose a universal religion on mankind --- one that will see the peacemaker from the revived Roman empire (today's EU) who will someday confirm peace between Israel and its enemies proclaimed to be "god" three and one-half years later and commanded to be worshipped, as seen in the 13th chapter of Revelation.

A number of world leaders have come out in support of Zapatero's proposed "Alliance of Civilizations" which Annan drew attention to in July of this year. For example, Tony Blair, as seen in a Guardian Unlimited report dated 7-27-05, "welcomed a plan for an "alliance of civilisations" to combat Islamist terrorism by bringing together Christian and Muslim nations." Interesting in light of what prophecy tells us is ultimately going to take place, huh? Can you say ecumenism?

Fox News reported, in the days leading up to the Euro-Med summit, the United Nations had a new "scheme" up its sleeve. The scheme? You guessed it! The Alliance of Civilizations which was to meet for the first time, apparently at sidebar in Spain. Two paragraphs of the Fox News story demonstrate why we may want to keep an eye on this Alliance. They are presented below in the order they appear in the story (emphasis added mine):

Still reeling from scandals on many fronts, the U.N. has launched another questionable initiative, called the Alliance of Civilizations, which is due to hold its first meeting this weekend in Spain. The program has been widely touted by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan as a bridge across cultural and religious divides, but it involves a daisy-chain of dubious associations that casts serious doubt both on the project itself and on the U.N.’s ability to cut loose from the scandals of the past decade.

But one lane of the bridge is a lot wider than the other: the panel of 18 “eminent persons” whom Annan named to the Alliance (a 19th, representing all of East Asia, has yet to be named) is weighted heavily on the side of Islamic states, including representatives of Egypt, Qatar, Tunisia, Morocco, Pakistan and the former president of Iran, Mohamed Khatami. There are two representatives from the U.S., but none from Israel.

Yes, prophecy tells us there will be a new world order in the prophetic future - one we're told will bridge cultural and religious divides and, ultimately, encompass Jerusalem with forces!

Zechariah 14:2: For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Could what we're seeing, the Alliance of Civilizations, be a start to that coming about? If so, it isn't ultimately going to be what Zapatero and Annan currently think it will be as many of the Islamic states it hopes to have as allies in that cause are going to be doing anything but working toward peace in the prophetic future - the Gog-Magog battle of Ezekiel 38 & 39 being demonstrative of that!

All the same, whether it be Solana's Euro-Med partnership or Zapatero's "Alliance of Civilizations" or some new brainchild the EU is going to come up with, someone, sooner or later, is going to emerge from the EU with a seven-year plan for peace in the Middle East that is going to work! As both of these initiatives demonstrate, the EU has a number of irons in the fire presently. That could, of course, change quickly, but it's interesting to monitor at any rate.

An EUBusiness.com article stresses that the goal of the Euro-Med summit was "to re-invigorate ties with its Mediterranean-rim and Mideast neighbours" and to "set up a free trade area covering both the EU and the Mediterranean." The article also makes reference to the Oslo peace process having played a role in the Euro-Med partnership's hope-filled early stages, noting that things haven't gone as originally planned.

As the article points out, the Middle East has plunged back into violence since 1995, the EU has struggled with constitutional issues, and the Iraq war has taken place. Adding to that, the western world presently suspects (knows, in my opinion) Iran is seeking nuclear weapons, further complicating what seems a difficult, if not impossible, task for anyone to complete --- the task of bringing peace to the Middle East. The EU and the Middle East could sure use a hero about now, huh? If the prophesied son of perdition - the Antichrist - is out and about making his rounds in EU-Middle East diplomacy, his prophetic ride onto the world stage described in Revelation 6:2 may well be approaching.

Revelation 6:1-2: And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

For the record, both Zapatero and Solana left Barcelona happy by summit's end. Zapatero is quoted in an EU Observer article as saying the summit's conclusion represented an achievement "without precedent". Solana walked away happy that an anti-terrorism agreement was reached between members of the Euro-Med partnership, even though it doesn't define what terrorism actually is, due to the fact the Arab nations wouldn't agree to a definition of terrorism that didn't include "legitimate resistance against any occupying foreign military force" AKA "Israel existing" in it.

Where will we go from here? I don't know, but it's clear EU leaders like Solana and, most recently, Zapatero are pushing hard for peace to come to the Middle East by way of the revived Roman empire. That, RaptureAlert.com fans, is very telling concerning the lateness of the hour we're living in, regardless of where we go from here precisely. What we're presently witnessing is prophetic posturing at the very least and, hopefully, evidence that our Lord's return is closer than many imagine, potentially at the very door!

May God bless and keep you all under His protective wing!

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