MESSAGE BY UN SECRETARY GENERAL TO PAM

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THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

MESSAGE TO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

Marseilles, 22 January 2014

 

Monsieur le Président du Sénat, Monsieur le Président de l’Assemblée nationale,

Mesdames et Messieurs les Parlementaires,

 

Je suis heureux de m’adresser à vous à l’occasion de la 8ème Session Plénière de l’Assemblée parlementaire de la Méditerranée.

 

The aims and objectives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean complement those of the United Nations and add strength to our efforts to build a better world. The promotion of dialogue, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence in the Mediterranean region and beyond is vital, never more so than at the present time.

 

The people you represent all share the fundamental human aspiration for lives of peace, prosperity and opportunity. As parliamentarians, you have a precious responsibility to give voice to those yearnings and advance the will of the people. This is what you have sought to do as an assembly since 2005 and I am grateful for your deliberations and contributions.

 

The PAM has an important role to play in supporting peace efforts in the Middle East and in helping to create an environment of trust among parties. The fragile but important hope resulting from the renewed efforts of the United States to restart direct talks between the Israelis and Palestinians must be sustained and translated into peaceful dividends for both peoples. This is long overdue.

 

As you gather today in Marseilles, delegations convene in Montreux in an historic opportunity for the Syrian sides and the international community to demonstrate their commitment towards ending the violence and launching a political transition process.  There is no military solution to the Syrian conflict. Each day of inaction and disagreement means more deaths, devastation, destruction and damaging regional spill-over.

 

As countries of the region, and as friends of the parties, you have an active and urgent role to play in these quests for peace. I look forward to the contributions you will make on these and other pressing global challenges.

 

Monsieur le Président du Sénat, Monsieur le Président de l’Assemblée nationale,

Mesdames et Messieurs les Parlementaires,

 

Permettez-moi de conclure en vous souhaitant de très riches discussions et une excellente Session.

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