The new delegation of the Maltese Parliament to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) paid a courtesy visit to the PAM Secretariat in St. Julians.
The Maltese MPs, led by the Head of the delegation, Hon. Justyne Caruana, were welcomed by PAM Secretary General, Amb. Sergio Piazzi, who on behalf of the PAM President, Sen. Francesco Amoruso (Italy) and himself, congratulated them on their appointment to one of the most active parliamentary delegations to PAM, among the 27 members.
As part of the familiarization visit Amb. Piazzi briefed the Maltese delegation on major current PAM initiatives for the region, inter alia, the forthcoming conference in Geneva “Harnessing Trade for Growth in the Mediterranean”, on 30-31 May, 2013, organized in cooperation with the United Nations Trade and Productive Capacity Cluster, UNECE and UNCTAD, and the high-level parliamentary hearing on the humanitarian situation in Syria, to be held in Rome on 6 June, 2013, with the participation of Syrian parliamentarians.
“The PAM meeting is intended to offer an opportunity to humanitarian agencies to meet with Syrian MPs and other delegates from PAM Member Parliaments in order to review the present humanitarian situation, as well as to promote the protection of civilians and facilitate the timely delivery of humanitarian aid to all the victims of the ongoing conflict in Syria and refugees in the neighbouring countries”, Amb. Piazzi said. The conference will also be followed up by a mission to the Middle East.
PAM Secretary General presented a general overview of PAM and underlined the commitment of Malta to the region. He also highlighted the role of Hon. George Vella who, since the setting up of the Assembly, chaired the PAM Ad hoc committee on the Middle East, until he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta. He also referred to the number of reports and resolutions which the former members of the Maltese delegation, including Hon. Caruana, have contributed to the PAM Standing Committees on political, economic and social affairs.
Hon. Caruana, on behalf of the Maltese parliamentary delegation, reiterated Malta’s commitment to the Assembly, since it has developed into a key player, through soft diplomacy, in the region’s most important issues. “A platform where every state is considered on an equal footing is a place where cultures can meet and conflicts discussed in an atmosphere of mutual respect”, Hon. Caruana said.
Amb. Piazzi expressed his wish to see the cooperation between the Maltese Parliament and PAM strengthened and invited the MPs to uphold the same level of participation of the previous delegations, not only to support PAM in the delicate role it has at a time of changes on the Southern shores and the financial crisis on the Northern side, but also to increase awareness among the citizens on the importance of parliamentary activity as one of the principal pillars of democracy.