Address by H.E. Hon. Dr. Karim Darwish,
Incoming PAM President
14th Plenary Session
Athens, Greece, 21 February 2020
Dear friend, Dr. Alia’a Bouran
Dear friend, Mr. Sergio Piazzi, PAM Secretary General
Dear PAM Members,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It’s my great honor to assume the presidency of the Assembly that has been deemed as the long-standing parliamentary forum that bears the hopes of the peoples of our region in the Mediterranean. That region has witnessed throughout its ancient history the emergence of the oldest and most ancient human civilizations. It’s a great responsibility and I hope I am up to the task.
On this occasion, please let me express, on my own behalf and on behalf of the Assembly members, our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to our dear friend Dr. Alia’a Bouran for her sincere efforts throughout her presidency of the Assembly, wishing her every success, and looking forward to her constructive participation in supporting the Assembly’s work and upgrading its role at all levels.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am fully aware that I am assuming the presidency of the Assembly today, at this critical juncture in the Mediterranean region which encounters various challenges that threaten the security, stability and development efforts of member states, foremost of which are the persistence of many conflicts and turmoil in the region, the threat of terrorism and extremism and the risks posed by illegal immigration.
There is also the challenge of driving sustainable development efforts in the Mediterranean countries in order to reduce the growth gap between the states north and south of the Mediterranean as well as to provide a healthy economic and social environment that the peoples of our region deserve.
In the light of these challenges, we, as parliamentarians, are requested to coordinate our activities and muster our efforts in order to face them, so that our Assembly would be the voice of the Mediterranean peoples in achieving a safe Mediterranean region, and serve as a tool of human and cultural communication to build bridges of cooperation and partnership in the region.
I look forward, thanks to your contributions, opinions and activities, to building on the many achievements made by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean since its establishment in the fields of political, security, economic and social cooperation, in addition to the initiatives that consolidate the principles of tolerance and acceptance of the other as well as build bridges linking all civilizations and religions in the Mediterranean.
I also look forward to strengthening our Parliamentary Assembly’s role in parliamentary diplomacy, as well as strengthening its relations with other international and parliamentary organizations that share our goals and aspirations to serve the interests of the peoples of our region.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In this regard, let me extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to my dear friend, PAM Secretary General, for his sincere efforts in leading the Assembly Secretariat and upgrading its role, which we all feel ourselves. I would also like to express my thanks and appreciation to all the members of the Assembly’s Secretariat under his leadership for their sincere efforts since they are the work partners and the real soldiers in our Parliamentary Assembly.
Thank you very much for your kind attention, and I reiterate my thanks and appreciation to my dear friend Dr. Alia’a Bouran.
Allah’s peace and mercy be upon you.