Ambassadors from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean member states, diplomatic representations accredited to Malta and International Organisations, were hosted at the Headquarters of the Assembly in Malta, for the end of year briefing on PAM activities in 2010.
PAM Secretary General, Dr. Sergio Piazzi, reviewed the calendar of events organised by the PAM and the role of the Assembly at the regional and international level, through the participation of High level delegations and member parliamentarians.
During the session, Dr Piazzi highlighted the most critical issues that were tackled during 2010, among which the PAM-UN International Meeting in support of the Israeli Palestinian peace process, the bilateral meetings on the question of Cyprus, Organised crime and terrorism, as well as the mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina on the request of the United Nations.
An important development for 2010 was the establishment of the PAM Panel on External Trade and Investments in the Mediterranean, which was launched in Lisbon and became fully operational in Naples, with the assignment of the sectoral responsibilities, which will be shared between PAM parliamentarians and representatives of the financial and economic actors, and from the civil society.
Dr Piazzi also gave an overview of the close cooperation that has been strengthened with the United Nations System and with other important International Organisations, with whom initiatives will be co-organised in the coming years.
The PAM V Plenary Session held in Morocco in October, also featured prominently during the presentation. Details were given on the adoption by the Assembly of the Reports and Resolutions, prepared and agreed upon by the 3 Standing Committees of PAM. The Bureau for 2011-2012 and the newly elected President of PAM, Hon. Mohammed Abu El Enein (Egypt) were announced to the ambassadors. Dr. Piazzi also conveyed a message from Hon. El Enein, in which he underlined the strategic vision of his presidency, especially in terms of increasing the engagement of parliamentarians in support of the peace processes in the region.
The Secretary General also gave a general outline of the programme that PAM has prepared for the 2011 Calendar, which includes new major topics of interest, such as, the Middle East, Cyprus, the Constitutional Reform in Bosnia Herzegovina, Maritime industrial accidents, Pollution, the Civilian application of nuclear energy and domestic violence, among others.
In their interventions the participating Ambassadors, expressed their impressions on the dynamic character of PAM and for the achievements and the recognitions it is receiving from the international community, such as the granting of Observer Status to the General Assembly of the United Nations. The Ambassador of Libya, Dr. Suayeh Gladly, while reiterating the full support of his country to the Assembly, also informed PAM that Libya would be pleased to host PAM activities in the future.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Piazzi thanked all the diplomats present, and invited them to continue to support PAM’s mission and vision, and to be the key intermediaries and the link between parliamentary and traditional diplomacy, in order to consolidate the synergies required between all stakeholders, to achieve further successes for the benefit of peace and stability in the region and globally//