A high level delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), led by President, Senator Alia Bouran, paid an official visit to Abu Dhabi, from 23 to 25 June 2019.
The PAM President and H. E. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC) of the United Arab Emirates explored ways to enhance and bolster relations between the two assemblies and a number of issues of common interest were also reviewed.
The PAM delegation also included Hon. Pedro Roque, and the PAM Secretary General, Ambassador Sergio Piazzi. The visit was a follow up to a preparatory meeting between the PAM Vice-Presidents Hon. Pedro Roque and Hon. Belal Qasem with the Speaker of the FNC, in Luxor, Egypt, last February.
PAM and the Federal National Council also signed a Memorandum of Understanding based on the friendly relations that link the United Arab Emirates with the Euro-Mediterranean region and affirming the role of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening relations between nations and in maintaining peace and security in the world. The MoU, granting the FNC the status of Associate Member, was signed by H.E. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi and Sen. Alia Bouran, thus making the UAE the 34th Member of PAM.
The Memorandum of Understanding provides for coordination between PAM and the FNC on important issues concerning the relations between them and the implementation of measures to share the views of the two sides on a number of issues, as well as cooperation between the delegations of the FNC and PAM at meetings, conferences and seminars. It also provides for collaboration in international fora and the exchange of experiences and best practices between the two sides.
The Memorandum of Understanding, signed at the Headquarters of the FNC, provides also for undertaking tangible initiatives to promote peace and security in the region and in the world, for work to accomplish the goals of the United Nations, particularly those relating to sustainable development, the fight against terrorism, mass migrations, poverty and climate change, and to strive for the proper implementation of the principles of international law to achieve an international community free of wars and the threat or use of force, in order for peace and security to prevail at all times.
In Abu Dhabi, the PAM delegates also held meetings with H.H. Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, H.H. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, with whom initiatives regarding the fight against terrorism were discussed. With H.E. Dr. Ali Al Nuaimi, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hedaya, the issue of deradicalisation of prison inmates was highlighted and possible cooperation with PAM Parliamentarians will be further explored. Other meetings were held with the Minister of Tolerance; H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoun bin Mohamed Al Nahayan, Executive Director of Martyr’s Families’ Affairs Office at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court; H.E. Dr. Mohammed Al Falahi, Secretary General of Emirates Red Crescent; H.E. Mohammed Jamil Al Rumhi, Executive Chairman of Masdar City.