The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) participated at the 59th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on 11-14 October 2013. PAM was represented by Hon. Federica Mogherini and Hon. Paolo Alli, President and member of the Italian delegation to the NATO PA respectively.
A resolution passed at the session referred to the importance to boost humanitarian aid to countries hosting millions of refugees from Syria, an issue with PAM will be addressing in its high level parliamentary hearing to be held in Amman, Jordan, on 10 November 2013, and dedicated specifically to the humanitarian aspect and the diplomatic initiatives. The event will also include the presentation of reports on the situation of refugees in the neighboring countries and a visit to a refugee camp on the Jordanian-Syrian border.
During the debate Mr. Joseph Bahout, from the Centre for International Studies and Research in Paris, urged parliamentarians not to focus on the chemical weapons issue alone. “The UN Resolution 2118 is perhaps the beginning, the trigger of a solution in Syria. However, it is making us all forget the crisis in Syria is not a chemical weapons issue, it is much more profound than that, it is a question of political transition, of popular claim, and it is not an issue of disarmament”, he added.
The Session brought together some 340 parliamentarians from the 28 NATO member countries from North America and Europe as well as delegates from partner countries and observers to discuss and adopt Assembly reports and recommendations on current transatlantic security matters.