An extraordinary meeting of the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean
(PAM) was hosted by the Italian Parliament in Rome on 4 March 2011.
Given the exceptional circumstances due to the current political developments in North Africa,
and, particularly, following the dissolution of the Egyptian parliament, the main purpose of this
meeting was to designate a member of the Bureau to assume the PAM Presidency until new
political elections would have taken place in Egypt or, as required, a new President would be
formally elected at the next PAM Plenary Session which will take place in Palermo, Italy, from
27 to 30 October 2011.
In accordance with the provisions of the Instruments of the Assembly, and at the suggestion of
Hon. Tayseer Quba’a (Palestine), H.E. Abdelwahad Radi (Morocco), was proposed for the
Presidency of PAM. The Bureau members unanimously agreed to designate Hon. Radi as the
new President and reiterated their absolute confidence and belief that he will be the appropriate
President to lead the Assembly in this crucial period for the region.
Hon. Radi accepted the appointment, which follows his first Presidency in the biennium 2007-
2008. President Radi highlighted, as a founding member, his longstanding commitment to PAM
values and principles and thanked the PAM Bureau members for their constant support in the
promotion of peace, security and prosperity in the Mediterranean. He emphasized his personnal
belief in the success of PAM and in the role and responsability of the PAM parliamentarians in
these historical times for the region.
“I accept with great emotion this new mission and I count on your support to build upon our
network and achievements to help PAM, as a unique forum of parliamentary dialogue in the
Mediterranean, to adequately respond to the crucial events our region is facing”, President Radi
stated.
On behalf of the Assembly, PAM Secretary General, Dr. Sergio Piazzi, thanked all the
participants at the PAM Bureau extraordinary meeting and assured Hon. Radi of the full support
of the Secretariat. Dr. Piazzi also took the opportunity to brief the members of the Bureau on the
current activities of the Assembly, notably in relation with the ongoing events in the region. He
refered to his consultations with the Ambassadors of the PAM Member States, as well as with
the leadership of the relevant International Organizations, such as the United Nations Secretariat
and the League of Arab States. He also reminded the PAM forthcoming missions to Cairo, Tunis
and other capitals of the region, in order to determine the most appropriate further steps to be
taken by the Assembly.