18-21 September 2023, New York – A PAM high-level delegation participated in the 78th High-level Segment of the UN General Assembly, at the UNHQ, in New York.
The UNGA convened under the topic “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all”.
The PAM delegation was led by Hon. Pedro Roque (Portugal), PAM Vice-President and President of PAM 3rd Standing Committee, and included H.E. Hon. Mohammed Abou El Enein, Vice-President of the Egyptian Parliament and PAM President Emeritus; Hon. Mirela Furtuna, Head of the Romanian Delegation to PAM; Sen. Sebastian Cernic, Member of the Romanian Delegation to PAM; Amb. Jean Paul Laborde, PAM Roving Ambassador and Senior Advisor on Counterterrorism and Cybersecurity; Amb. Qazi Shaukat Fareed, PAM Permanent Observer to the UN in New York, and staff of the PAM Secretariat.
The delegation, as part of its presence in New York, also introduced and promoted with key UN counterparts its newly established strategic think tank, the Centre for Global Studies (CGS), based in San Marino.
On 19 September, PAM delegates met with Mr. Weixiong Chen, Deputy Executive Director of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). The discussion, based on the excellent cooperation between the two organizations, focused on joining efforts on a number of critical issues, related to cybersecurity, AI and IT. PAM will activate the CGS for assisting in the project.
In addition, the PAM delegation exchanged views with Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), on the key messages heard during the High-level Mission to the Middle East, from 5 to 7 September 2023, as well as about the work of the Agency and the financial difficulties being encountered. At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Lazzarini accepted the invitation to address PAM 18th Plenary Session, on 6-7 March 2023, in Portugal.
On 20 September, delegates held a meeting with Mr. Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Discussions focused on developments in the Middle East, Nord Africa and Sahel. PAM delegates also met with the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix. During the meeting delegates discussed ongoing UN missions’ developments in Lebanon, Cyprus, and Sahel.
On the sidelines of the UNGA, Hon. Pedro Roque contributed to the 8th edition of the International Youth Conference, as well as the High-level meeting for UNAOC Group of Friends, convened by United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC).
On the margins of the UNGA, PAM delegates met with several Heads of State and Government, strengthening the existing network of bilateral and multilateral relations, and exchanging views on a number of critical issues.
The UN General Assembly granted the Observer Status to PAM in 2009, in recognition of its unique role in the Euro-Mediterranean region, as well as at the international level. By this decision, PAM has been granted the right to occupy a seat in the General Assembly Hall, intervene in important debates, and participate in all formal consultation processes.//