9 February 2022 – On the occasion of the 130th Anniversary of the International Peace Bureau (IPB), the IPB and the IPU organized the seminar “Re-imagining Peace Process”.
PAM President, Hon. Gennaro Migliore, addressed participants on the challenges to peace and security in the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions. In his speech, he referred to the steadily deterioration of the international security landscape, saying that “over the years, conflicts have become more complex, and the vicious cycle of poverty and institutional fragility decreases the resilience of societies and the hopes for peaceful resolutions”. Among the drivers of insecurity in the PAM regions, he mentioned climate change: “desertification, extreme weather, new threats to health, food insecurity, scarcity of fresh water and fragile economies are a reality for our countries. The war for water started long ago in our region.”
PAM President remined that PAM, as a unique platform for parliamentary diplomacy, promotes constructive dialogue and supports peace initiatives. PAM parliamentary diplomacy offers a dedicated framework, parallel and complementary to traditional diplomacy, to keep the door for talks open and apply new strategies to collectively find solutions to the regions’security concerns.
PAM has acted, since its inception, as a facilitator in the resumption of peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine to reach a Two-State solution, and, inter alia, is active in Libya to assist the country’s electoral process towards national reconciliation, as soon as the situation allows it. PAM is also following the negotiations among Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia concerning the Renaissance Dam to reach an inclusive and sustainable solution for the parties involved, as well as the increasing tensions in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
In his conclusions, PAM President stated that “PAM will continue to utilize its parliamentary tools to promote stability and peace in our region.” He added that PAM “looks forward establishing a structured dialogue with the International Peace Bureau to join efforts.”
The event was attended by members of international organizations, NGOs, national parliaments, and the civil society. Participants agreed on the fact that we are at a historical crossroads on matters relating to peace, climate, disarmament, and security, and that to overcome these global challenges, interactions and constructive dialogue are needed among parliamentarians, youth, experts, and, most importantly, the people at local, regional, national, and international levels.//