A High Level Delegation from the Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation paid an official visit to the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean in Malta.
The delegation was lead by Sen. Andrei Klimov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the Council, who was accompanied by Sen. Igor Morozov, member of the same Committee, Hon, Ivan Novitskiy, member of the City of Moscow Duma, the Ambassador of Russia to Malta, H.E. Boris Marchuk, and Mr. Pavel Dukarev, Deputy Ambassador.
Sen. Klimov emphasized the common efforts by Russia and PAM in relation to the Syrian crisis and underlined that now it is important that these lead to tangible results. He also confirmed that the Russian Parliament, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will participate at and contribute to the forthcoming parliamentary hearing organized by PAM in Amman, on 10 November 2013, where the humanitarian aspect and the diplomatic initiatives will be at the centre of the event. In his general comments on the Mediterranean region, Sen. Klimov underlined the fact that security and instability have become broader and there must be a continued effort by all key players to work for peace.
From Left:: Sen. Igor Morozov, PAM Secretary General, Amb. Sergio Piazzi, Sen. Andrei Klimov, Amb. Boris Marchuk, Dep. Ambassador Pavel Dukarev
Sen. Klimov also reiterated the decision for the Council of the Federation and the Duma to join as an Associate Country the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean. To this effect, he proposed to start discussing a possible agenda so that Russia can fully contribute with its own input to PAM’s planned activities for 2014-2015, including on issues such as migration and regional security.
It was finally agreed that, before the end of the year, a PAM delegation will visit Moscow to brief parliamentarians and the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the latest developments, including the follow up to the PAM Amman hearing, the conclusions of which will be also shared with the UN and the US Administration, during a visit to New York and Washington in the coming weeks.