Maltese Parlamentarians back from International Conference in Rhodes

The Hon Chris Cardona, MP, and the Hon Michael Frendo, MP, this week returned from Rhodes where they attended the Conference for Young Parliamentarians of the Mediterranean Region which was held between the 12 and 16th April 1997. The Conference organised by the International Institute for Democracy in cooperation with the Hellenic Parliament and with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe, brought together delegations from Turkey, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, Malta and Greece.

The Maltese delegates contributed actively to the discussions on the two main topics which were:

(i) Dialogue for democracy: a key element for security in the Mediterranean region; and

(ii) The role of young parliamentarians in encouraging young people's involvement in political life in the eastern Mediterranean region.

The following declaration was issued by the delegates after the Conference:-

Recognising

- the Barcelona Declaration as the basis for the future development of the region;

- the need for deepening democracy in our countries and consolidating peace in the whole region;

- referring to the Conference of Speakers of the Mediterranean Parliaments held in Athens earlier this month;

We

- call for a continuous dialogue between young parliamentarians in order to promote a better understanding among us and to hold exchanges of views on specific political, security and environmental questions concerning the region;

- propose to each of our respective parliaments to form a committee for "Cooperation of Young Parliamentarians of the Eastern Mediterranean Region", in order to have the possibility to organise every two years in Rhodes, under the aegis of the International Institute for Democracy, a "Conference for Young Parliamentarians of the Eastern Mediterranean Region" for which preparatory meetings will be held in various cities of the region.

The aims of this conference are to:

- facilitate conditions in all our countries which will allow both women and men to practise democracy;

- discuss practical ways to develop economic, social and cultural cooperation between our countries, and especially among young people;

- promote democratic values in the countries of our region.