Current challenges in the Mediterranean region and the key role of parliamentary diplomacy in assisting governments’ action in dealing with the evolving changes were the main topics raised during the PAM Second Consultative Meeting with Permanent Representatives to the UN in Geneva, held on 3 May, 2011.
Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in Geneva of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) member states, and key partner countries, such as the United States of America and the Russian Federation, as well as partner international organizations, such as the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the European Union (EU), attended the briefing by PAM Secretary General, Dr. Sergio Piazzi.
H.E. Amb. Shehab Madi, Permanent Representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, hosted the high-level meeting at the UN European Headquarters. Amb. Madi, in his opening address, welcomed PAM’s constant efforts to strengthen the links between parliamentary and traditional diplomacy and highlighted the decisive role that PAM immediately played, and is pursuing with determination, in the process of democratic transition unfolding in the South of the Mediterranean.
PAM Secretary General, presented a detailed review of the activities undertaken by PAM since the first Consultative meeting last year. The growing influence of the Assembly, as a unique forum of parliamentary diplomacy in the Mediterranean, has been converted into concrete actions in close coordination with the United Nations system, and other key regional bodies such as the League of Arab States, and the “5+5” Forum or the G8/Broader Middle East and North Africa initiative. PAM, as an Observer to the UN General Assembly, has mobilized its resources to complement the UN initiatives to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region. ‘PAM organized in March, the first visit by a Mediterranean parliamentary delegation to Tunisia to meet with the President of the Republic, and provided assistance to the UNSG Special Envoy to Libya’ Dr. Piazzi added.
Referring to the regular ongoing cooperation with UN Secretary General, H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, PAM Secretary General referred the UNSG’s words in praising PAM initiatives, notably its readiness to assist UN humanitarian efforts in the region. In this regard, Dr. Piazzi stressed PAM’s wish to continue to coordinate with the international community and all government bodies the efforts to facilitate the transition to a civilian government in Egypt and to offer all the necessary support to the Electoral Assistance Program of UNDPA, in view of the forthcoming elections for a Constituent Assembly in Tunisia, scheduled on 24 July 2011.
Dr. Piazzi reiterated PAM’s firm condemnation of the use of violence and terrorism acts against innocent civilians, as it was recently the case in Marrakech, and reminded the Assembly’s commitment to foster intercultural and interreligious dialogue, a message Dr. Piazzi personally shared with H.H. Pope Benedict XVI, during a meeting in February 2011.
In their interventions, the Permanent Representatives expressed their wish to maintain a close link with the PAM Secretariat and the parliamentarians of the Assembly, in order to develop concrete proposals and launch joint initiatives aimed at promoting democracy and sustainable development in the region, since PAM is the most relevant forum where current issues in the Mediterranean are being addressed.
Participants
Diplomatic representations:
Albania, Algeria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Palestine, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Spain, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Russian Federation, United States of America.
Organizations:
League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the European Union (EU).