Egypt leads Mediterranean Assembly, urges peace, justice for Palestine
Deputy Speaker: Regional crises demand Euro-Mediterranean unity, shared responsibility
Mr. Mohamed Abou El-Enein, Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives, has officially assumed the presidency of the Egyptian Parliament for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM). This significant handover occurred during his participation in the 9th Summit of Speakers of Parliament of the PA-UfM and the 18th Plenary Session of the Assembly, held in Spain. The assumption of this leadership role comes at a critical juncture for the Euro-Mediterranean region, which faces numerous security and development challenges.
During the handover ceremony, Mr. Abou El-Enein delivered a pivotal speech outlining Egypt’s unwavering commitment to regional cooperation and stability. He began by extending gratitude to the Spanish Parliament for its diligent efforts during its presidency of the PA-UfM.
Mr. Abou El-Enein underscored Egypt’s long-standing dedication to the Union for the Mediterranean. Since its inception, Egypt has vigorously strived to embed the principles of shared ownership and shared responsibility to foster growth and prosperity for the region’s peoples. This commitment is reflected in Egypt’s active and influential participation across all UfM forums and activities. The Egyptian parliamentary division has consistently engaged in the PA-UfM’s activities, recognizing its vital role as a platform for communication, dialogue, and the exchange of views among parliamentarians from member states.
A central theme of Mr. Abou El-Enein’s address was the indispensable link between genuine cooperation and the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. He asserted that such peace hinges on the Palestinian people achieving their legitimate and inalienable rights to establish their independent state. This state, he emphasized, must be on their land along the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in full accordance with international legitimacy resolutions.
He further highlighted that Egyptian diplomacy, encompassing both governmental and parliamentary efforts, consistently prioritizes dialogue and cooperation as fundamental pillars for supporting regional security and stability.
While acknowledging the UfM’s numerous achievements in regional development programs and projects aimed at integration, the Deputy Speaker pointed to the profound obstacles posed by current regional crises. He specifically cited the “brutal aggression of the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, which amounts to genocide,” and Israel’s continued expansion of the regional conflict. These actions, he argued, impede the desired cooperation among all countries in the region.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Abou El-Enein reiterated that Egypt’s assumption of the PA-UfM presidency occurs during a period fraught with challenges that threaten the security of Euro-Mediterranean nations and undermine development endeavors. He stressed the imperative for all members to coordinate activities and unify efforts to effectively confront these challenges.
At the conclusion of the meetings, members of the PA-UfM Parliamentary Assembly issued a strong condemnation of the widespread Israeli practices and violations in the Gaza Strip. They called for members of the Israeli government to be brought before the International Court of Justice and affirmed their support for Egypt’s principles on the Palestinian issue, including the rejection of Palestinian displacement and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions.
