The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anton Tabone yesterday called for unity at all levels within the Mediterranean – a fundamental that is lacking and that can only materialise through “an all-inclusive approach and determined action”. Mr Tabone was delivering the opening speech at the second session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean held yesterday at Palazzo Spinola. “You will agree that one of the fundamentals that the Mediterranean region lacks today is a comprehensive form of union. I leave it to you to conclude whether this has happened by mere chance or by design,” he said. Mr Tabone pointed out that, at present, Mediterranean cooperation is limited to sub-regional groupings which do not incorporate all countries and, as a result, “cannot deal effectively and comprehensively with the wide ranging issues pertaining to the whole region. “However, we, as Mediterraneans and as parliamentarians, have the necessary credentials to achieve what has eluded us for years,” said Mr Tabone. He went on to say that the parliamentarians have the necessary tools to promote closer cooperation and understanding among the peoples of the region. “We are duty bound, as Mediterranean parliamentarians, to endeavour towards this goal and we should realise that the Assembly is not replacing or competing with other important processes,” he said. The Assembly represents a unique parliamentary forum that brings together all the national parliaments bordering the Mediterranean region and should be supported by one and all, explained Mr Tabone. He said that the assembly should act as the launching pad towards a better use of resources for the well-being of all, a better understanding of our rich cultural heritage and an effective and determined inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue that remove any divisions. “Above all, we should build on our common heritage,” said Mr Tabone. In his speech, Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) president Abdelwahed Radi explained that the mission of PAM is “to develop cooperation among its Members in its fields of action by promoting political dialogue and understanding.” It is therefore, he said, a strategic instrument to ensure regional security and stability, to promote peace, and create the conditions for a true spirit of partnership among its members with a view to ensuring their harmonious and sustainable development. Mr Radi said the assembly was an important tool for political diplomacy and would serve as a forum for political and economic cooperation as well as a dialogue among cultures, civilisations and religions. He went on to say that there were still many political differences between the regions that needed to be “urgently addressed in a rapidly evolving political, economic and social order”. The PAM president pointed out that the recent changes in the international political scene have created new challenges to the Mediterranean region – especially those connected to globalisation. “International and internal migrations, terrorism, money laundering, organised crime, environmental degradation, and human trafficking are but a few of the issues that many of our countries are faced with, and which cannot be dealt with in isolation from one another,” said Mr Radi. He called on the parliamentarians to work with their national parliaments, and other regional and local representative bodies, academic institutions, civil society and private actors to finally achieve the set goals. “The success of the PAM depends on the collective efforts of all its Members dedicating their attention, time and energy to furthering our goals,” he said. Later on in the evening, President Eddie Fenech Adami inaugurated the headquarters of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean at Palazzo Spinola and unveiled a commemorative plaque. He pointed out that worldwide events affected people’s daily lives “just like events happening in our area may have direct and serious consequences on the international community.” The president said he was proud to host the headquarters of the first all-inclusive parliamentary forum of the Mediterranean. “The Assembly, with its headquarters in Malta, should provide the prime unifying factor of our region. The Mediterranean sea itself gives us added impetus to rally our resources together and pave the way towards a structured enhanced cooperation in all sectors and at all levels,” said Dr Fenech Adami. He went on to say that the Maltese, along with other countries in the region, were striving to promote Mediterranean issues on the European agenda.