Hon Elsa Papadimitriou, Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) and Vice President of the Hellenic Parliament, addressed the 120th Plenary Session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The event was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the beginning of April 2009.

The PAM Vice President illustrated the way the Organization has so far dealt with major issues such as irregular migration, climate change, environmental degradation, the resurgence of conflict, energy issues and economic growth.

Mrs. Papadimitriou recalled that all throughout the two years since its institution, PAM has been actively involved in achieving an overall peaceful settlement in the Middle East. “PAM believes in the establishment of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side within secure and internationally-recognised borders. PAM is trying to serve as catalyst for new approaches, and hopefully to generate solutions, to pass from words to actions.” The PAM Vice President added.

Mrs. Papadimitriou stressed that complementarity and cooperation between the IPU and PAM is of the utmost importance. “The fact that PAM carries a regional dimension as a priority vis-à-vis the important role of the IPU, which has a global focus, allows for the opportunity to work in a unique forum where experiences from other regions can be exchanged” Hon. Papadimitriou concluded.