pam annual report 2009 -...
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Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean Palazzo Spinola
St. George Road
St Julians, STJ 3207
Malta
Telephone: +356 22 48 42 00
Fax: +356 22 48 42 15
Electronic mail: [email protected]
Website address: www.apm.org.mt
ANNUAL REPORT 2009
INDEX
Message by PAM President Hon. Rudy Salles 1
IVth Annual Plenary Session 3
1st Meeting of the Secretaries General of the Member Assemblies 3
The PAM Bureau 4
The Standing Committees 5
Middle East Fact Finding Mission 6
PAM strengthens relations with the United Nations and the United States of America 7
UNISDR-PAM Parliamentarians international roundtable on Climate Change – COP 15 8
PAM delegation joins Copenhagen Climate Change discussions 8
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean and the United Nations 9
PAM and the Holy See 9
In the Gulf Region – beyond the Mediterranean 10
Conclusions 10
Financial Report 11
2009 Financial Performance 13
Financial Position at 31st December 2009 14
2009 Cash-flow Statement 15
Annex 1: UN General Assembly Resolution (PAM Observer Status) 18
Annex 2: Malta Declaration of the Commitment by Parliamentarians to COP 15 and
Beyond 19
Annex 3: Work Plan & Calendar 2009 21
Annex 4: Overview of PAM outreach activities in 2009 22
Annex 5 : Work Plan & Calendar 2010 27
1
Message by President Hon. Rudy Salles
“This has been yet another intensive year for our organisation. I
cannot but not start with the achievement of the Observer Status that
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean has been granted
to the General Assembly of the United Nations1.
Perhaps an unprecedented recognition for a regional inter-state
organisation at such an early stage of its endeavours. I am
particularly proud of this step forward, a sign of respect by the
international community towards the role of PAM in parliamentary
diplomacy in the Mediterranean region. It is the result of a steadfast,
concerted effort between the Bureau and our Secretary General with
the unconditional assistance of a number of friends and supporters, among which Malta,
France and Libya through their Permanent Representatives at the UN in New York.
“Thank you” is the least we can say, although totally aware of the new responsibilities this
status bestows upon us. But I am sure our Mediterranean character, determination, ideals and
vision will inspire our future actions and the national parliaments of the member states will
surely rise to the occasion collectively within PAM.
Equally important is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the League of
Arab States, which took place during a visit to our Headquarters by Secretary General H.E.
Amr Moussa. PAM‟s advantage is that we have a 360 degree outlook. We are convinced that
the seeds of peace, security and stability grow wherever there is a true sense of goodwill, and
all parties to our Assembly are men and women who believe in creating the conditions for a
better living for their citizens.
In Amman, the President of the Euro-mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, H.E.
Abdulhadi Majali, Speaker of the Jordanian Parliament and myself, pledged in a joint
statement, to join efforts to support international initiatives for a rapid and lasting peace
between the peoples of Israel and Palestine. The issue is only one of the regional aspects we
consider of common concern to PAM, including the Balkans and Cyprus. I will not give here
an exhaustive list of all our 2009 activities, but what follows my humble introduction is
absolutely worth reading.
I am half way through my term at the helm of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Mediterranean. I would have never imagined how honoured and fulfilled I would have felt to
lead, in the role of primus inter pares, my fellow parliamentarians of the region in such a
demanding task aimed at building on and consolidate the sterling work of my predecessor,
Hon. Abdelwahed Radi, whose balanced and wise contribution we all yearn to continue to
count on.
I am also grateful to all those parliamentarians, experts, keynote speakers and representatives
of the private sector and civil society, who actively participated in our debates at the Standing
Committees‟ meetings. I express my full appreciation to those parliamentarians who have
1 Annex 1 – Resolution A/64/124 adopted by the UN GA
2
taken upon them, over and above their national commitments, the onus to research and
prepare reports and resolutions that found full approval through adoption at the IV Plenary
Session in Istanbul.
There we also had the occasion to convene the 1st Meeting of the Secretary Generals of our
National Parliaments, an occasion to exchange best practices and experiences, further
consolidating PAM‟s parliamentary network.
My message for the year 2010 is to continue on the path already initiated in the last 3 years.
This can only be achieved through the unreserved commitment by the National Parliaments,
the personal involvement of their Presidents and the pro-active participation of the members
of their delegations to the activities of PAM, which are the synthesis of all political, social,
economic and cultural views of each member state. Our strength is in our operational
structure. We have to support our small but by far almost overly dynamic Secretariat, to
which we must secure a realistic level of resources in order to carry out a sustainable
programme of initiatives at the international level.
The Plenary Session of our Assembly, on the other hand, is a concrete expression of the
realisation of an ideal and at the same time a tangible “cradle of civilisations” since every
single one of us parliamentarians, is the direct representative of the constituents, those who
believe in us, those who expect us to be their voices and the leaders who have the power to
transform dreams into concrete actions for a better life for us adults and for our children‟s
future.
We are delivering. I am sure you all concur with me.”
3
IVth Annual Plenary Session Istanbul, Turkey 23-24 October 2009
The Annual Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) is
the highest moment of the work of the Assembly. The IV Plenary Session of PAM this year
was hosted and co-organised by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in the splendid city
of Istanbul: a city of wonders offering a unique cultural and historical experience.
The proceedings kicked off with the inaugural address by H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime
Minister of Turkey, H.E. Hon. Mehmet Ali Sahin, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly
of Turkey (GNAT) and PAM President Hon. Rudy Salles (France).
A further novelty for the Plenary Session was the participation of six distinguished guest
speakers representing different regional parliamentary organisations who addressed the
opening session.
The Plenary Session was also the occasion
to draw the conclusions of the year‟s
various discussions. The Presidents of the
three Standing Committees summarised the
reports and resolutions drawn up by the
individual Special Task Forces and Ad Hoc
Committees during 2009. The texts were
subsequently submitted to the Assembly for
their final and unanimous adoption.
President Salles concluded the Assembly‟s proceedings by referring to its unprecedented
success thanks to the participation of almost all PAM delegations and many of its
international partners, to the excellent organization and wonderful hospitality of the Turkish
Parliament, and the hard work put in by the PAM Secretary General and the Secretariat staff.
1st Meeting of the Secretaries General of the Member Assemblies
Istanbul, Turkey 25th
October 2009
The 1st Meeting of the Secretaries General of PAM member assemblies represented another
step towards further networking of the legislative arm of Mediterranean parliamentary
diplomacy.
The objective of the Secretaries General meeting was to exchange experiences, information
and to learn about each other‟s best practices, as well as benefit from the vision and
knowledge of the participants in developing the communication strategies and working
procedures of PAM.
Some 15 parliaments were present and this served to lay
down the foundation stones for future dialogue.
The Meeting far exceeded the expectations and proposed a
number of actions on how to improve the communications
network between the PAM Secretariat and the SG‟s of the
member parliaments. Mr. Alain Delcamp – Secretary
General of the French Senate, offered to host the next PAM
Secretaries General meeting in Paris.
4
The PAM Bureau
The Bureau is the governing body of PAM, comprising eight members equally representing
the Northern and Southern geo-political groupings of the region. During 2009, the Bureau
met 3 times; in Rome (March), in Lisbon (June) and in Istanbul (October) just before the
Annual Plenary Session. Due to other opportunities arising from PAM‟s busy calendar of
international activities, the Bureau members also met on another two occasions; during the
High Level Mission to the Middle East in May, and during the visit to the United States in
September.
The PAM Bureau for 2009 is composed as follows:
Mr. Rudy Salles, PAM President(France)
Mr. Abdel Kader Fedala (Algeria)
Mrs. Elisavvet Papadimitriou (Greece)
Mr. Francesco Amoruso (Italy)
Mr. Suleiman Ghneimat (Jordan)
Mr. Mohamed Titna Alaoui Idrissi (Morocco)
Mr. Tayseer Quba'a (Palestine)
Mr. José Junqueiro (Portugal)
Honorary President:
Hon. Abdelwahad Radi (Morocco)
PAM Roving Ambassador:
Mr. Mohammed Abu Al-Enein (Egypt)
The 9th
Meeting of the Bureau was held on 12th
March 2009 and was hosted by the Italian
Parliament at Palazzo Montecitorio in Rome, Italy. On that occasion, meetings were held
with the Vatican State authorities and in the city of Assisi.
The 10th
Meeting of the Bureau, on 24 June 2009, moved to São Bento Palace in Lisbon,
Portugal.
President Salles presented the outcome of the mission to the Middle East, and specifically
thanked the Egyptian and Jordanian Parliaments, and personally, Hon. Abou El-Enein, Head
of the Egyptian delegation, for their precious and tangible support without which the mission
would not have been possible. It was decided that the Middle East Mission report should be
widely distributed, including to the Presidents of all EU national Parliaments, as well as the
media.
The 11th
Meeting of the Bureau was held on 23th October 2009 in Istanbul, Turkey, prior to
the IV Plenary Session.
President Rudy Salles commented on the enthusiasm for PAM both from the US
Administration and the UN and reiterated that more visibility meant greater responsibility. It
was also imperative that as Palestine was accepted with open arms, it was equally necessary
that the same is done with Israel, which would have been in attendance at the Plenary
Session.
The Secretary General referred to the fact that the organisation has far outgrown its initial
budget provisions due the momentum gained by PAM and the actual running costs.
At the end, the Bureau members thanked the Secretary General and his staff for the support
and outstanding commitment towards the Assembly especially in their continued effort to
support the Bureau, the Standing Committees, the delegates and delegations to carry out their
work in the best way possible.
5
The Standing Committees2
During 2009, the three Standing Committees further developed the following themes:
1st Standing Committee – Political and Security-related Cooperation
Ad Hoc Committee – Regional Issues: the Middle East Chair: Hon. George Vella, (Malta)
Special Task Force on Organized Crime Rapporteur: Hon. Angela Napoli (Italy)
Reflection Group on the Definition of Terrorism Rapporteurs: Hon. Askin Asan (Turkey) and
Hon. Tayseer Quba’a (Palestine)
2010 Agenda for the 1st Standing Committee:
- The Ad hoc Committee on the Middle East will continue its work;
- The Special Task Force on Organized Crime will focus its work on human trafficking and the
dumping of toxic waste;
- The Reflexion Group on Terrorism will focus on the Root Causes of Terrorism.
2nd
Standing Committee – Economic, Social and Environmental Cooperation
Special Task Force – Environment and Climate Change Rapporteur: Hon. Elsa Papadimitrou
(Greece)
Special Task Force – Disaster Management Rapporteur: Hon. José Junqueiro (Portugal)
Special Rapporteur on Energy, Hon. Mohammed Abou El Enein (Egypt)
Special Rapporteur on Water. Senator Jacques Blanc (France)
Special Task Force on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Rapporteur: Hon. Ridha
Bouargoub (Tunisia)
2010 Agenda for the 2nd
Standing Committee:
- The Malta meeting on Climate Change Adaptation will be part of the work of the STF on
Climate Change;
- The Special Rapporteur on Water will continue his work;
- The Special Rapporteur on Energy will continue his work;
- The Special Task Force on SMEs will organise a Panel on External Trade;
- Updates on the Copenhagen Summit will be organised;
3rd
Standing Committee – Dialogue among Civilizations and Human Rights
Special Task Force – Dialogue among Cultures and Religions Rapporteur: Hon. Sonia
Sanfona (Portugal)
Special Task Force – Migration Rapporteur: Hon. Mahmoud Muhaidat (Jordan)
Special Task Force – Gender and Equality Issues Rapporteurs: Hon. Aski Asan (Turkey),
Hon. Bizid Blaiech (Tunisia)
2 Detailed Executive Reports of the Standing Committees will be available on the New PAM website:
www.apm.org.mt
6
2010 Agenda for the 3rd
Standing Committee:
- The Special Task Force on Dialogue of Cultures and Religions will continue its work, with
specific focus on the Balkans;
- The Special Task Force on Migration will continue its work with a particular focus on
Palestinian Women.
- The Special Task Force on Gender and Equality Issues will continue its work with a specific
focus on “Achieving Gender Equality”
- A colloquy with EMUNI will be organised in Slovenia to examine how the work of PAM can
be supported by Universities located in PAM Member States.
Middle East Fact Finding Mission
A high-level delegation led by PAM President, Hon. Rudy Salles, went on a four-day mission
to the Middle East (Egypt, Jordan, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories) from 18-
21 May 2009. In Cairo, the delegation met, inter alia, with H.E. Ahmed Fathy Sorour,
Speaker of the People‟s Assembly of Egypt.
With him, the delegates spoke on the situation in
the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The
delegation was also received by H.E. Ahmed
Abou El Gheit, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Egypt, who discussed Egypt‟s role in inter-
Palestinian dialogue and efforts by his country in
response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Another meeting was held at the League of Arab
States Headquarters (LAS) with Hon. Ahmed
Ben Helli, Deputy-Secretary General of LAS,
who spoke on the organization‟s role in both the
Arab Peace Process and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
In Ramallah, the delegation had talks with members of the Palestinian Legislative Council
(PLC), namely with Hon. Riyad Al-Maliki, Minister for Information and Foreign Affairs, and
Hon. Samir Abdallah, Minister of Planning and Labour, of the Palestinian Authority, on the
inter-Palestinian dialogue and the state of Jerusalem. Another meeting was held with
Ambassador Robert Serry, High Commissioner of the United Nations Special Coordinator
Office for the Middle East (UNSCO). In Gaza the PAM delegation met Mrs. Karen AbuZaid,
General Commissioner of UNRWA, and also visited the Jordanian Military Hospital.
In Amman, the PAM Bureau met with Hon. Naser Judeh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Jordan, with whom the Arab Peace Initiative was discussed. The delegation also paid a visit
to Hon. Abdulhadi Majali, Speaker of the Jordanian House of Representatives who, at the
time, was also the President of the Euro-mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA). On
this occasion, Presidents Salles and Majali declared their intention for the two Assemblies to
collaborate in a structured and regular manner. A joint declaration was issued to this effect.
In Ramallah, the delegates also met with other key members of the Palestinian National
Authority, including representatives of the Palestinian Legislative Council and the Palestinian
National Council.
7
In Jerusalem an important meeting was also held with H.E. Reuven Rivlin, Speaker of the
Knesset, who explained Israel‟s position on the major issues regarding the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.
PAM strengthens relations with the United Nations and the United States of
America
A Bureau delegation led by President Hon. Rudy Salles embarked on a mission to New
York and Washington, D.C., USA, from 29 September to 2 October, 2009. Meetings were
held with senior United Nations officials and high-level members of the United States
Congress and Administration.
Issues discussed ranged from the Middle East, the environment, migration, energy and
intercultural dialogue, all of which are of critical importance to the Mediterranean
community, as well as to the UN system and the United States. The aim of the mission was
to introduce PAM, establish closer cooperation and a structured dialogue with the UN and
the US, and exchange views on these important issues.
In New York, a meeting was held with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, as a
follow up to a meeting between PAM and the UN Secretary General held earlier in the
year in Malta. Further discussions were held with the Heads of other UN Departments
dealing with political affairs, humanitarian affairs, peacekeeping, the question of Palestine,
and climate change.
In Washington, talks took place with members of the US Congress on topics ranging
from terrorism, energy and the Middle East. The delegation exchanged views on the status
of the peace process in the Middle East at the White House and at the US State Department.
8
UNISDR-PAM parliamentarians international roundtable on Climate
Change St. Julians, Malta – 23-24 November 2009
The event was organized jointly by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean and the
United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), as well as the
Government of Malta. Participants included members of parliaments from as far as Algeria,
Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malta, Namibia,
Senegal, Uganda and Turkey, in representation of regional parliamentary assemblies from
Asia, Latin America, Africa, Europe and the Mediterranean.
At the end of the two day meeting, the parliamentarians had agreed upon a common position
to be presented at the UN Climate Conference, COP15, in Copenhagen in December 2009.
The adopted document is the “The Malta Declaration of the Commitment by Parliamentarians
to COP 15 and Beyond.”3
“The Malta Declaration” was circulated to all
Heads of States and Governments ahead of the
Copenhagen meeting, and the message was also
conveyed to the COP15 participants by the Prime
Minister of Malta, Hon. Dr Lawrence Gonzi, and
the PAM Secretary General, Dr. Sergio Piazzi. It
reflects how parliamentarians can unite across
borders and cultures. Both UNISDR and PAM
expressed their belief that parliamentarians must
continue to be the driving force behind their
governments, as well as build awareness and
ensure immediate action by all actors of society.
Emphasis was placed on the role of the private sector, civil society and other relevant
stakeholders who should use their influence to see that all COP 15 decisions are
implemented. A particular reference was made to the private sector, calling on it to play its
part by setting aside no less than 10% of corporate social responsibility funding for the
specific use for disaster risk management and climate change adaptation programmes and
projects.
PAM delegation joins Copenhagen Climate Change discussions
A delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean was officially invited to
participate as observer to the Climate Change COP15 meeting in Copenhagen, as an inter-
governmental organization.
PAM President, Hon. Rudy Salles (France) led a group of Mediterranean parliamentarians,
namely Hon. Mohamed Abou El-Enein (Egypt), Hon Camille de Rocca Serra (France), Hon
Athanasia Merentiti (Greece), Sen. Francesco Amoruso (Italy), Hon. Suleiman Ghneimat
(Jordan) and Hon Askin Asan (Turkey). The Secretary General, Dr. Sergio Piazzi, also
accompanied the PAM delegation. The Secretary General took the floor in the plenary
session on behalf of President Salles, where he illustrated the commitment of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean to issues related to Climate Change in the
region.
3 Annex 2
9
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean and the United Nations
The agreement between Malta and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean on the
juridical status of the Assembly was presented to the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs
by H.E. Mr. Saviour F. Borg, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent
Representative of Malta to the United Nations, and by Dr. Sergio Piazzi, Secretary General of
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, in a ceremony held at the UN
Headquarters in New York on 23rd January 2009.
In April, during a second mission to New York, the Secretary General of PAM launched the
process for PAM to obtain the Observer Status at the United Nations General Assembly.
The process was spearheaded by the Permanent Mission of Malta and together with the
delegations of France and Libya, played an important role in the negotiations and
consultations with other UN Member States on the draft resolution which was first adopted
by the Sixth Committee (Legal Affairs). By this decision, PAM has been granted the right to
occupy a seat at the General Assembly, intervene in important debates and participate in the
formal consultation processes.
The collaboration with the United Nations and a number of its Agencies, continued to grow
throughout the year, and as this report shows, this synergy has materialised into the co-
organisation of international events on topics such as the Middle East and Climate issues,
while many UN high-level officers have addressed PAM parliamentarians during the
meetingsthroughout the year.
PAM and the Holy See
While in Rome, on the invitation of the Italian Parliament for the meetings of the Special
Task Forces falling under the 3rd Permanent Commission on Dialogue among Civilisations
and Human Rights, PAM parliamentarians participated in the general audience with H.H.
Pope Benedict XVI, which was followed by a private meeting with the Secretary of State of
the Holy See, H.E. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. On this occasion both sides exchanged views
and possible actions required to secure peace and stability in the region.
“The Mediterranean is back in the centre of attention”, Cardinal Bertone said to the MPs. He
also underlined the importance of PAM, which “is a young institution that has already made
important progress in promoting political dialogue among the countries of the
Mediterranean”.
PAM President, Hon. Rudy Salles (France), while thanking Cardinal Bertone for the privilege
conceded on the occasion of the unique opportunity to meet PAM delegates, underlined the
Assembly‟s philosophy to work with all the parliaments of the region on issues of common
interest, in order to bring closer the populations of the Mediterranean. The delegates were
also addressed by Monsignor Pietro Parolin, Vatican Undersecretary for Relations with
States, with whom the Secretary General also discussed the future structured cooperation
between the Vatican and PAM.
10
In the Gulf Region – beyond the Mediterranean
On 5th April 2009, Hon. Rudy Salles paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Mohamed Bin Mubarak
Al-Khulaifi, President of the Advisory Council of Qatar. Among other major issues they
discussed the granting of “Associate Member” status with PAM to the Qatari Parliament,
whereupon His Excellency said that he would take all the measures necessary in order to
begin proceedings for the Advisory Council to obtain this status.
Two days later President Salles addressed the opening ceremony of the 6th Annual Dubai
International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference (DIHAD). He presented the
organization‟s role in the Mediterranean region as regards disaster management, and
highlighted the fact that PAM itself has established a Special Task Force on Disaster
Management. He also emphasised that “Parliamentarians can facilitate the establishment of
bilateral/multilateral agreements among the Member States in order to create additional
capacities to respond to disasters.”
Conclusion
The list of activities organised by the Assembly, and the international events to which PAM
has been invited and represented by members of the Bureau and parliamentarians from
different member countries, is endless4. This is testimony to the proactive and dynamic
attitude that the Organisation has vested itself with. The Secretariat, although limited in
human and financial resources, has embarked on an intensive programme of advocacy and
empowered by a clear vision, is committed to support further the intercultural dialogue at all
levels, as a means of mutual understanding between the citizens of the Mediterranean region.
4 Annex 3 – Work Plan & Calendar 2009: Annex 4 – Outreach Activities 2009: Annex 5 – Work Plan & Calendar 2010
11
Financial Report
Whilst in 2009 the PAM continued to increase its relevance in dealing with issues related to
the Mediterranean in general and in their parliamentary dimension in particular, the financial
situation remains a source of concern. A condition for PAM to maintain a constructive role in
the region is to ensure to its members the highest standard of support in their individual and
collective endeavors, through, for instance, the preparation of state-of-the-art background
documents, the conduct of open and fruitful debates, the organization of and/or participation
in conferences and fora relevant to the mandate of the Assembly. The recent acquisition of
Observer Status with the UN General Assembly and the League of Arab States represents the
recognition of the excellent work carried out by the Assembly.
As pointed out in last year‟s report, and considering the real costs incurred by the Assembly
in Malta, the 2008 budget was already inadequate to meet and cover the daily functioning of
PAM. The budget for 2009, of an equal amount, was again absolutely insufficient to cover
the operational costs of the Assembly, and the Secretariat had to work under enormous
financial constraints to complete the scheduled activities and honor the Assembly‟s financial
obligations. The situation of 2009 is illustrated by the fact that, just to refer to some simple
examples, bills were paid late, the staff could not be afforded any medical insurance nor
pension fund, the premises of PAM were not (and are still not) covered by a Fire and Theft
insurance, the maintenance of premises had to be kept at a bare minimum.
To address this situation, at its Annual Session of the Assembly in Istanbul, the Bureau and
the Assembly, took an informed decision so as to increase the budget in order to meet the
critical needs of the Assembly. The adopted budget for the biennium 2010 and 2011 was
therefore fixed at Euro 755,400 per year.
As from 1 January 2009, PAM has changed its basis of recognizing income from one of an
accruals basis to one on a cash basis. As a result contributions are only reflected in the
Financial Reports when they are received. Figures brought forward from previous years have
been adjusted to reflect this change.
To summarize the 2009 situation, the original budget for the years 2008 and 2009 had been
tentatively set at Euro 500,000 per year which included a yearly contribution of EUR 20,000
towards the establishment of a Working Capital Fund. However the authorized expenditures
for 2009 amounted to Euro 555,461. Contributions actually received (including those for the
Working Capital Fund of EUR 18,900) amounted to EUR 472,552, resulting in a deficit of
Euro 82,909. This deficit, together with the deficit brought forward from previous years of
EUR 20,892, was mainly due to the outstanding contributions of one country as at 31st
December 2009 (see Contributions table attached). Therefore, the amount allocated for the
years 2010 and 2011 is intended not only to cover the basic operational requirements of the
Assembly in 2010, but also to absorb the unbearable deficit and put the Secretariat in the
condition to operate beyond a survival mode. In Istanbul, the Bureau also proposed, and the
Assembly agreed, to request an expert to review the current proportional (%) system of
sharing the amount required among its members based on national GDP and per capita GDP
as criteria. The idea being to: A) reduce the actual ten contribution groups to four, and B) if
possible, spread in an even more equitable fashion the required budget among its members.
12
In brief, the main chapters of the 2009 expenditure were the following:
Staff Euro 370,365
Services Euro 36,025
Operational Euro 149,071
Staff
As was pointed out in the previous year‟s report, staff allocations were inadequate to
maintain a dedicated capacity on regular basis. Most of the contracts for the staff are on a
short-term basis as, in the absence of a reserve fund, their extension depends entirely on PAM
receiving all the assessed contributions, and also on receiving them on time, at the beginning
of the year. Furthermore, no provisions exist for home leave or for the transport expenses of
personal effects. PAM has been further fortunate in obtaining the free services of a couple of
dedicated interns.
Services
Due to the high cost of organizing conferences in Malta in 2008 on the budget of the
Secretariat, it was then decided by the Assembly to hold all the future meetings in member
countries, where host Parliaments were able to meet the direct expenses of such meetings.
Even so, the total expenditure on services to be covered by the Assembly amounted to Euro
36,025. In this category are to be listed, inter alia, expenses on translation services. Again,
with the due limitations, action has been taken so that, as much as possible, the Secretariat
carries out this work in house.
Operation and Maintenance
A major part of this budget line was absorbed by increased costs of communications, as well
as increased travel expenses. The Secretariat has looked at various possibilities to try to cut
the cost of the telecommunications bill and it partly succeeded by using both internet
communication lines and in negotiating a new favorable agreement with Malta‟s leading
telecommunications supplier, GO mobile. In 2010, however, it has also to be expected a
major rise in utility bills, as both the water and electricity rates in Malta have been recently
increased significantly by national authorities. Furthermore, due to frequent power cuts and in
order to protect its IT equipment, of a value exceeding Euros 70,000.00, in 2010 PAM
Headquarters will have to be equipped with an independent power generating unit to ensure
continuity of operation and safeguard the integrity of the server.
Conclusion
From a financial point of view, 2009 was a difficult year. PAM was not able to put aside any
amount for a much needed reserve fund, something that is required – by its own rules - in
order to be able to carry on activities from one year to the next, and also to have sufficient
funds available to anticipate small amounts pending receipt of assessed contributions, to
extend the contracts of staff at the end of each year, or to meet any unforeseen expenditure, as
requested by the Assembly. Within the space of 30 months, since the set-up of the Secretariat
in Malta in September 2007, the Assembly has made a great leap forward. It has increased its
visibility and relevance, and it would be a real pity if, due to lack of funds, PAM will not be
able to keep its position as the leading parliamentary voice of the Mediterranean.
13
2009 Financial Performance
2009 2008
EUR EUR
Assessed Contributions as foreseen by the Budget
1 Assessed 2009 480,000 480,000 2 Working Capital Fund 20,000 20,000
Total Assessed Contributions 500,000 500,000
Income Contributions Received 472,552 484,945
Operating Expenses 1 Staff 370,365 313,587 2 Services 36,025 125,971 3 Operational Costs 149,071 108,563
Total Operating Expenses 555,461 548,121
Operating Deficit (82,909) (63,176)
Accumulated Deficit at Beginning of Year (20,892) 17,594 Operating Deficit (82,909) (63,176) Interest Earned 454 2,350 Other Contributions received re 2005/6 - 22,340
Accumulated Deficit at End of year (103,347) (20,892)
Note: Income only reflects Contributions actually Received during the period Contributions received in 2008 include some relating to 2007
14
Financial Position as at 31st December 2009
PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE MEDITERRANEAN
Statement of Financial Position at 31 December 2009 in Euros
2009 2008
EUR EUR
ASSETS
Bank balances 26,776 63,088
Accounts Receivable
Goverment of Malta – Claim for refund of Conference Expenses 14,500 -
TOTAL ASSETS 41,276 63,088
LIABILITIES AND RESERVES
Accounts Payable and Accrued Payables 134,623 68,980
Advance from IPU 10,000 15,000
TOTAL Liabilities 144,623 83,980
Accumulated Deficit (103,347)
(20,892)
TOTAL LIABILITIES and RESERVES 41,276 63,088
15
2009 Cash-flow Statement
PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE MEDITERRANEAN
Statement of Cashflows for the year ended 31 December 2009 in Euros
2009 2008
EUR EUR
Opening Cash Balance 63,088 99,754
Cash provided by (used in) Operations
Operating (Deficit)/Surplus (82,909) (63,176)
plus non-cash expenditures
Changes in Receivables (14,500) -
Changes in Payables 65,643 6,820
Total cash from Operations 31,322 43,398
Cash provided by the Working Capital Fund
Other Contributions - 22,340
Interest 454 2,350
Total cash from Working Capital Fund 454 24,690
Cash used in Financing Activities
Loan from (Repayment to) 5,000 5,000
Total cash from Financing 5,000 5,000
Cash used in Investing Activities
Other Assets - -
Total cash used in investments - -
Closing Cash Balance 26,776 63,088
19
ANNEX 2
The Malta Declaration of the Commitment by Parliamentarians to COP 15 and Beyond
Unanimously adopted at the
International Roundtable of Parliamentarians on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation
St. Julians, Malta, 24 November 2009
1. Why we parliamentarians, representatives of the people, are engaged. Because:
a. Our core responsibility includes oversight of the executive and formulation of legislations, as
well as appropriation of the budget.
b. We are the bridge between the executive and the people and we also have the responsibility to ensure the implementation of decisions taken.
c. We are the elected representatives of people, we have to secure that their aspirations,
views and knowledge form part of the overall decision-making processes.
d. We are in close and constant contact with our people, and we know how to raise their awareness to threats to their livelihoods and to explain how to prevent that these threats do not materialize.
e. We have opportunities and responsibilities in leading our citizens through crises and uncertainties using innovative ideas to overcome the challenge of climate change through the application of disaster risk reduction as a tool for climate change adaptation.
2. What we are concerned about.
a. The universal threat to the welfare and aspirations of humanity, as a result of climate change, makes it incumbent upon us as leaders to ensure awareness creation and responsible and immediate action by all stakeholders of society, in conformity with the fundamental principles of human rights.
20
b. The frequency and scale of disasters obliges us to promote the coordination between governments, parliaments, civil society, private sector, academia, local communities and the general populace to commit to immediate action to share our collective experiences and knowledge, and implement all the decisions of COP 15 to reduce the threat to our welfare and existence.
3. Therefore, we call upon all parliamentarians to collectively:
a. Proactively invite their governments to demonstrate the utmost political will to ensure the
positive outcome of COP 15.
b. Exercise our responsibility in national oversight over the implementation of COP 15 decisions.
c. Encourage all parliamentarians, as role models, to combat corruption, to embrace
transparency and accountability at all levels of handling disaster-related and climate adaptation funding, with strict adherence to the code of conduct, national quality standards and international best practices.
d. Recognize the importance of building a culture of prevention by using education as a good
example of how long-term investment benefits socio-economic development and thus prevention.
e. Recognize that measures for climate change adaptation will contribute not only to the
prevention of problems resulting from increasingly scarce resources, which may lead to conflicts and local displacements, specially related to water and land, but will also represent an opportunity to create employment and sustain development.
f. To use all the available instruments of their legislative bodies, including gender
mainstreaming, to ensure disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation measures are integrated in national planning and budget processes.
4. We also call upon:
a. All the Parties to the COP 15 Conference to ensure immediate action to finalize a legally-
binding agreement, with progressive and accessible financing mechanisms adequate for reaching the goals of disaster risk reduction, coupled with accessible appropriate technology, to ensure availability based on region-specific vulnerabilities.
b. The private sector, civil society and other relevant stakeholders to use their influence to
ensure the implementation of COP 15 decisions and achieving and realizing their national goals.
c. The private sector to set aside no less than 10% of corporate social responsibility funding for
the specific use for disaster risk management and climate change adaptation programmes and projects.
Our commitment is to consistently represent the true voice of the people
21
ANNEX 3
Work Plan & Calendar 2009
TENTATIVE DATES
ACTIVITY REMARKS
30 January Reflection Group on Terrorism Turkish Parliament, Istanbul
20-21 February
2nd
Meeting of the Special Task
Force (STF) on Environment and
Climate Change
1st
Meeting of the STF on
Disaster Management
Parliament of Cyprus,
Limassol/Lemesos
12-14 March 9th
Bureau meeting
2nd
Meeting of the STF on
Dialogue among Cultures and
Religions
2nd
Meeting of the STF on
Migration in the Mediterranean
2nd
Meeting of the STF on
Gender and Equality Issues
Italian Parliament, Rome
Audience with His Holiness the
Pope Benedict XVI
Visit to Assisi
21 March
Celebration of the
“Mediterranean Day”
Each PAM National Parliament
to organize a symbolic event on
this occasion
1-2 April
2nd
Meeting of the Ad Hoc
Committee on Energy
1st
Meeting of the STF on Small
and Medium-Sized
Industries/Maritime Trade
1st Meeting of the STF on
Organized Crime
Egypt, Cairo
18-21 May Visit to the Middle East Israel, Jordan, Lebanon,
Palestine, Syria
24-26 June 4th
Meeting of the Standing
Committees
Portuguese Parliament, Lisbon
29 September – 1st October PAM Bureau meeting
and follow-up of May Middle
East mission
NY, DC (USA)
23-24 October 11th
PAM Bureau
4th
Plenary Session of the
Assembly
Turkish Parliament, Istanbul
25 October 1st
Meeting of the Secretaries
General of the Member
Assemblies of PAM
Turkish Parliament, Istanbul
23-24 November
Coordination Meeting of
parliamentary regional assemblies
on Disaster Risk Reduction and
Climate Change adaptation
Malta
22
ANNEX 4
OVERVIEW OF PAM OUTREACH ACTIVITIES IN 2009
- 23 January – Dr. Sergio Piazzi, Secretary General – United Nations Headquarters, New York:
Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean Juridical Status Agreement presented to the United Nations.
- 30 January – Dr. Sergio Piazzi and Mrs. Céline Cervi, Assembly Affairs Officer – Turkish Parliament, Istanbul:
1st meeting of the Reflection Group on Terrorism.
- 20-21 February – Dr. Sergio Piazzi and Mrs. Céline Cervi – Parliament of Cyprus, Limassol:
1st Meeting of the Special Task Force (STF) on Disaster Management.
2nd Meeting of the STF on Environment and Climate Change.
- 27 February – Dr. Sergio Piazzi, Mrs. Céline Cervi and Mr. Martin Micallef, Senior Communications Officer –
PAM Headquarters, Malta:
Bilateral meeting with H.E. Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and Europeans Affairs of France.
- 3-5 March – Hon. Jesmond Mugliett and Mr. Aziz Belaouda – Strasbourg:
16th Plenary Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.
- 9 March – Dr.Sergio Piazzi – University “Federico II”, Naples:
Dr. Piazzi opens the Academic Year with a lesson entitled “From the Faculty of Political Sciences to the
Europe of International Relationships”.
- 11 March – PAM Bureau – Holy See:
General Audience with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
- 12 March – PAM delegates – Holy See:
Audience with the Vatican Secretary of State, His Eminence Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.
- 12-13 March - Dr.Sergio Piazzi, Mrs. Céline Cervi, Mr. Martin Micallef and Mr. Aziz Belaouda - Italian
Parliament, Rome:
2nd Meeting of the STF on Dialogue among Cultures and Religions.
2nd Meeting of the STF on Migration in the Mediterranean.
2nd Meeting of the STF on Gender and Equality Issues.
9th Bureau meeting.
Mr. Martin Micallef releases an interview to Italian Public Broadcaster - RAI International, in Rome.
- 14 March - PAM delegates visit Assisi:
Meetings with Mr. Claudio Ricci, Mayor of Assisi, Monsignor Domenico Sorrentino, Bishop of Assisi, and
Father Giuseppe Piemontese, Custodian of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis.
- March: Celebration of the 1st Mediterranean Day (Shared Values-Shared Aspirations)
19 March: Students from the “Istituto Superiore Francesco Saverio Nitti” of Naples visit PAM Headquarters.
- 20 March: “Shared Values – Shared Aspirations” colloquy organized by the Speaker of the Maltese Parliament,
Dr. Louis Galea, held at Parliament and attended by members of the diplomatic, academic and political
communities.
Speakers: H.E. Dr. Louis Galea (Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta), Dr. Sergio Piazzi , Hon.
Jesmond Mugliett (Head of the Maltese Delegation to PAM and Vice President of the 1st Standing Committee),
Hon. Justyne Caruana and Hon. George Vella (Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Middle-East)
- 21 March: Open Day at PAM Headquarters, Palazzo Spinola, including
Visit by the Mayor of St. Julians, Mr.Peter Bonello
- 23 March: Roundtable held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malta on security and stability in the
Mediterranean attended by students from the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies (MEDAC), GF Abela
Junior College (pre-university college) and De La Salle College, as well as staff from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and PAM.
Speakers: Hon. Tonio Borg (Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of Malta), Dr .Sergio Piazzi,
Mr. Martin Micallef and Dr. Stephen Calleya (MEDAC Director)
Activities in other member countries in connection with the 1st Mediterranean Day
Croatia - The City of Dubrovnik and the Croatian Camellia Society in Zagreb co-organized a photo exhibition entitled
„Mediterranean Day - Camellia Day’, which was inaugurated on Mediterranean Day. The occasion was also marked by
an address at the opening of the exhibition by Hon. Dubravka Suica, Head of the Croatian Delegation to PAM and
Mayor of Dubrovnik, as well as the presentation of a book called „The Flora of the Adriatic Coastline and Islands‟, and
23
the showing of a short animated film in French, „L‟homme qui plantait des arbres‟ (A Man who Planted Trees).
Cyprus - The Acting President of the House of Representatives, Hon. Christos Pourgoundes, delivered an address on 19
March during the Plenary Session of the Parliament to mark the occasion.
France - PAM President, Hon. Rudy Salles, issued a statement on the Mediterranean Day and planted an olive tree in
honour of the celebration. The President of the French National Assembly, Hon. Bernard Accoyer, and members of
both French Chambers, gathered to present, at the entrance of the Palais-Bourbon, from 20 to 27 March, extracts from
the Charter of the Mediterranean illustrated with pictures symbolizing the Mediterranean civilization.
Greece - Inaugurated Mediterranean Day at a parliamentary session and issued a statement from the President of the
Hellenic Parliament, Dr. Dimitrious Sioufas, to all Presidents and Speakers of PAM Member Parliaments.
Monaco - The Monegasque National Council issued a press release and a statement by Hon. Fabrice Notari, Head of
the Delegation to PAM, on 21 March.
Morocco - A meeting was organized at the House of Councilors on 21 March to celebrate the Mediterranean Day,
which was attended by Members of the delegation to PAM, including Hon. Mohamed Titna Alaoui, Head of the
Delegation to PAM, and a communique was also issued.
Portugal - The Portuguese Parliament held a conference on 24 March entitled „Shared Values-Shared Aspirations’
Romania - The Chamber of Deputies issued a statement on the Mediterranean Day which was adopted by its
Committee for Foreign Policy in a meeting held on 11 March.
Turkey - The Turkish Parliament organized an event to commemorate the Mediterranean Day to which other PAM
delegates had been invited. Due to local general elections, the proposed initiative was cancelled.
Dr. Piazzi releases press interviews in Malta to In-Nazzjon and The Times, and radio-television interviews
to PBS, NET Television and Educational TV
- 1-2 April – Dr.Sergio Piazzi and Mrs. Céline Cervi – Egyptian Parliament, Cairo:
1st Meeting of the STF on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.
1st Meeting of the STF on Organized Crime.
2nd Meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on Energy.
- 2 April – Dr. Sergio Piazzi and Mrs. Céline Cervi – Headquarters of the League of Arab States, Cairo:
Meeting with the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Dr. Amr M. Moussa.
- 5 April – Hon. Rudy Salles (PAM President) and Dr. Sergio Piazzi - National Assembly of Qatar, Doha:
Courtesy visit to H.E. Mr. Mohamed Bin Mubarak Al-Khulaifi, President of the Advisory Council of Qatar.
- 7 April – Hon. Rudy Salles – Dubai, United Arab Emirates:
President Rudy Salles addresses the opening ceremony of the 6th Annual Dubai International Humanitarian
Aid and Development Conference (DIHAD).
- 5-10 April – Hon. Elissavet Papadimitriou – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia:
Hon. Papadimitriou addresses the 120th Plenary Session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
- 14 April – Mrs. Céline Cervi – PAM Headquarters, St. Julians, Malta:
Meeting with Madame Michèle Gendreau-Massaloux, Rector, who is on President Nicolas Sarkozy’s team
for the Union for the Mediterranean. Presentation of PAM and of the PAM activities within the 3rd
Standing Committee.
- 15 April – Mrs. Céline Cervi – Old University of Malta:
Meeting organised by the French Embassy entitled, « Identité méditerranéenne et Francophonie – Pour une
dialogique sur la communication internationale » – 4th Annual Meeting of the Editors in Chief of the
Synergies journals and 10th Anniversary of the creation of GERFLINT.
- 22 April - San Anton Place, residence of the President of Malta:
Meeting between Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the UN, and Dr.Sergio Piazzi.
- 29 April: MEDAC students visit PAM Headquarters
- 2 May – Dr. Sergio Piazzi and H.E. Mohamed Titna Alaoui Idrissi, Vice-President of PAM – Fez:
24
Preparation of the activities of the 3rd Standing Committee for 2010 with Dr. Abdelhak Azzouzi, President
of the Moroccan Interdisciplinary Center for Strategic and International Studies (CMIESI).
- 6-7 May – Hon.George Vella – Nicosia, Cyprus:
Hon. Vella addresses the United Nations International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace.
- 7 May “World Day of Orphans from AIDS” - Cav. Martin Micallef and Ms. Courtney White, Research and
Communications Scholar - Valletta, Malta:
Roundtable Discussion with Countess Albina du Boisrouvray entitled “World Day of Orphans from AIDS”,
organised by the French Embassy and FXB (Association François-Xavier Bagnoud). Meeting attended by the
French Ambassador in Malta H.E. Daniel Rondeau, Mr. Alexiei Dingli, Mayor of Valletta, Father Martin Micallef,
Director of Dar tal-Providenza, Mr. Martin Micallef, PAM Senior Information Officer, Mr. Ahmed Burge,
Manager, Marsa Open Center, Ms. Maria Pisani, International Organization for Migration (Malta office), Mr.
Serge Borg, Cultural Advisor (French Embassy), Ms. Claire Bodonyi, Political Advisor (French Embassy), Ms.
Courtney White, Research and Communications Scholar
- 10 May – Hon. Rudy Salles – Damascus:
Hon. Salles meets with H.E. Mahmoud Al-Abrache, Speaker of the Parliament of Syria.
- 12 May – Dr. Sergio Piazzi releases interview to Malta Business Weekly
- 18-21 May – Mission by a PAM Bureau delegation to the Middle East (Cairo, Gaza, OPT, Jerusalem,
Amman) - Participants : Hon. Rudy Salles (France), PAM President, Hon. Mohamed Abou El-Enein (Egypt),
Hon. Elsa Papadimitriou (Greece), Hon. Suleiman Ghneimat (Jordan), Hon. George Vella (Malta), Hon. Tayseer
Quba‟a (Palestine), Hon. Askin Asan (Turkey), Dr. Sergio Piazzi, Mr. Aziz Belaouda and Ms. Kalliopi Mermigki
(Assistant to Hon. Papadimitriou)
Meetings were held with:
18 May
Dr. Ahmed Fathy Sorour – Speaker of the People‟s Assembly of Egypt
Hon. Ahmed Aboul Gheit - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt
Mr. Ahmed Ben Helli - Deputy-Secretary General of the League of Arab States
19 May
Mrs. Karen AbuZayd – Commissioner General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East
Hon. Abulhadi Majali - Speaker of the House of Representatives of Jordan and EMPA President
20 May
Hon. Riyad Al-Maliki - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian National Authority
Hon. Abdullah Abdullah – Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council
Hon. Hanane Ashrawi – Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council
Hon. Samir Abdullah - Minister of Planning of the Palestinian National Authority
Mr. Robert. Serry - UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
Mr. Reuven Rivlin - President of the Knesset
21 May
Hon. Naser Judeh - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan
Hon. Saleem Al Zanoon - Speaker of the Palestinian National Council
- 21-24 May – Hon. Rudy Salles – Bucharest:
Hon. Sonia Sanfona, Rapporteur on Dialogue of Cultures and Civilisations, attends the UNESCO Forum on
Higher Education in the Europe Region.
- 26 May – Briefing to the diplomatic corps and local media, PAM Headquarters, Malta:
Presentation of the PAM Bureau delegation’s mission to the Middle East by Hon. George Vella and address
by Dr. Sergio Piazzi.
- 27-29 May – Hon. Rudy Salles and Dr. Sergio Piazzi – Fez:
Fez Forum on “the Union for the Mediterranean: achievements and future perspectives”
- 30 May – 1st International Competition for Journalists of the Mediterranean – Bari, Italy :
PAM sponsored the activity organized by Terra del Mediterraneo and awarded a prize to Mr. Francesco De
Leo, which was presented by Hon. Francesco Amoruso, Vice President of PAM.
- 2-4 June – Dr. Sergio Piazzi – Geneva:
Consultations with the IPU on administrative cooperation.
Consultations with the UN on:
1) PAM support to the UN on the issue of the Middle East
2) Disaster relief
25
3) Administrative arrangements
- 4 June – Hon. Rudy Salles – Paris:
Hon. Salles attends the 56th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Western European Union.
- 10-13 June – Hon. Askin Asan, Head of the Turkish Delegation to PAM – Bucharest:
Hon. Asan addresses the 33rd PABSEC General Assembly.
- 11 June – Dr. Sergio Piazzi, Mr. Martin Micallef – PAM Headquarters, Malta:
H.E. Karl Andreas Freiherr von Stenglin, German Ambassador to Malta, pays a courtesy call to the PAM
Secretariat.
- 14-15 June – Hon. Claudio Azzolini, Honorary Member of PAM – Naples, Italy:
Hon. Azzolini addresses the Parliamentary Assembly of NATO’s Mediterranean and Middle East Special
Group.
- 16-18 June – Dr. Sergio Piazzi – Geneva:
Dr. Piazzi addresses the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) meeting
with Parliamentarians at the 2nd Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction – “How to
make Disaster Risk Reduction a Tool for Climate Change Adaptation”
- 23-25 June – Dr.Sergio Piazzi, Mrs. Céline Cervi, Mr. Martin Micallef and Mr. Aziz Belaouda – Portuguese
Parliament, Lisbon:
4th meeting of the Standing Committees.
- 26 August – Malta, PAM Headquarters:
Courtesy visit of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs at the General People’s Congress of Libya, Mr. Suleiman
Al Shahoumi.
- 1 September – Dr. Piazzi – Paris, UNESCO Headquarters:
Dr. Piazzi discusses PAM-UNESCO cooperation on environmental issues and on the establishement of a
UNESCO Parliamentary Forum in the Mediterranean.
- 3-4 September – Dr. Sergio Piazzi, Geneva:
Dr. Piazzi adresses the World Climate Conference-3
- 9 September – Hon. Mugliett, Dr. Piazzi - Valletta, Malta:
Hon. Mugliett addresses the MEUSAC Seminar on "Managing Climate Change: Global, EU and Maltese
Perspectives".
- 29 September – 2 October - PAM Bureau visit to New York and Washington.
Participants: President Hon. Rudy Salles, Hon. Abou El-Enein, Sen. Amoruso, Hon. Fedala, Hon. Ghneimat, Hon.
Mugliett, Dr. Piazzi
Meetings held:
- 29 September - New York, United Nations Headquarters:
- Sir John Holmes, Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs.
- Amb. Paul Badji, Permanent Representative of Senegal to the UN and Chairman of the UN Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
- 30 September - New York – United Nations Headquarters:
- H.E. Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General
- Mr. B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs
- Mr. Janos Pasztor, Director of the UN Secretary General's Climate Change Support Team
- Mr. Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations
- 1 October - Washington, DC - United States Congress:
- Senator Benjamin Cardin, Member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Chairman of the Commission on
Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) and Vice President of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
- Congressman Robert Wexler, Member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Chairman of the Subcommittee on
Europe, Member of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia
- Congressman Darrell Issa, Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (on a
temporary leave of absence from the House Energy & Commerce Committee)
- 2 October – Washinghton, DC - Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP):
- Mr. David Makovsky, Senior Fellow and Director of the Project on the Middle East Peace Project
- 2 October, Washington, DC - US Department of State:
26
- Ms. Maura Connelly, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs
- Ms. Margaret Nardi, Director of Maghreb Affairs
- Ms. Nicole Shampaine, Director of Egypt and Levant Affairs
- 2 October Washington, DC - The White House - National Security Council
- Mr. Prem Kumar, Director for Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian and Jordanian Affairs
- 7-23 October – Valletta, Malta/Tunis, Tunisia/Tripoli, Libya/Limassol, Cyprus/Beirut, Lebanon (see list of
participants):
Ulysse 2009 - Under the aegis of the PAM Fez Programme and with the French Embassy to Malta, the
French frigate Le Cassard undertakes a cruise calling on several Mediterranean ports in order to promote
and foster intercultural dialogue among the people of the region - President Salles addressed the
participants on 8 October
- 14 October – Malta, PAM Headquarters:
Visit of H.E. Mr. Amr Moussa, Secretary General of the League of Arab States
Meeting between H.E Amb. Amr Moussa and Dr. Piazzi and exchange of the Obsever Status between the
two organizations.
- 23 October – Istanbul, Turkey:
11th Bureau meeting.
- 23-24 October –Istanbul:
4th Plenary Session of PAM.
- 25 October – Istanbul:
1st meeting of the Secretaries General of the PAM member Parliaments.
- 13 November – Hon. Mitsopoulos – Nicosia, Cyprus:
Hon. Mitsopoulos addresses the 8th General Assembly of MEDREG
- 23-24 November – Malta:
PAM / UNISDR International Roundtable of Parliamentarians on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate
Change Adaptation.
- 25 November – Dr. Sergio Piazzi – Paris, UNESCO Headquarters:
Dr. Piazzi discussed the establishment of a UNESCO Parliamentary Forum in the Mediterranean and
signed a financial agreement with UNESCO.
- 2 December – President Hon. Rudy Salles, Dr. Sergio Piazzi – Paris:
President Hon. Rudy Salles addressed the Assembly of the Western European Union’s 57th Plenary Session.
- 14-18 December – President Hon. Salles, Hon. Abou El Enein, Hon. Amoruso, Hon. Ghneimat, Hon. Merenditi,
Dr. Piazzi, Copenhagen:
Dr. Piazzi, on behalf of PAM President, addressed the COP 15 on Climate Change Plenary Session on 18
December.
- 16 December - Amb. George Saliba – New York:
Amb. Saliba attends the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly, on the occasion of the granting of the
Observer Status to the PAM.
27
ANNEX 5
Work Plan & Calendar 2010 (changes may be effected due to prevailing circumstances )
TENTATIVE DATES ACTIVITY REMARKS
12-13 February 2010
Joint international UN/PAM
Parliamentary meeting on the Middle
East Peace Process
(1st Standing Committee)
Malta
21 March 2010
Celebration of the
“Mediterranean Day”
Each PAM National
Parliament to organize a
symbolic event.
15-16 April 2010
Special Task Force (STF) on
intercultural and inter-religious Dialogue
(3rd
Standing Committee)
STF on Migrations in the Mediterranean
(3rd
Standing Committee)
STF on Gender
(3rd
Standing Committee)
Seminar on Education (The role of
Universities in support of PAM
activities)
(3rd
Standing Committee)
Parliament of Slovenia
Ljubljana
EMUNI University Portorož
Wednesday 28 April Conference on “Cultures at the heart of
Mediterranean relations”
organized by the Institute for
International and Strategic Studies
(IRIS), Paris
Nice - France
29 – 30 April 2010
12th
Bureau Meeting
STF on Organised Crime (1st Standing
Committee)
STF on Root causes of Terrorism
(1st Standing Committee)
Environment and Climate Change
(update on Post-Copenhagen)
(2nd
Standing Committee)
Special Rapporteur on Water
(2nd
Standing Committee)
Special Rapporteur on Energy
(2nd
Standing Committee)
Nice-France
27-28 May 2010
Meeting to establish a Panel on External
Trade & Investments (2nd
Standing
Committee)
Lisbon - Portugal
24-27 June 2010 13th
Bureau meeting
5th
Meeting of the Standing Committees
Parliament of Serbia
Belgrade
End of October 2010 14th
Bureau Meeting
& Geopolitical groups
5th
PAM Plenary Session
Parliament of Morocco
Rabat