Rome, 19-21 February 2025. Participation of the IAO Leadership to the 19th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly on the Mediterranean (PAM)

The Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), Dr. Maximos Charakopoulos, and the President of the IAO General Assembly, Mr. Ioan Vulpescu, accompanied by the IAO Advisor, Dr. Kostas Mygdalis, traveled to Rome to participate in the work of the 19th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), which took place in the Italian Parliament.

PAM is an inter-parliamentary organization composed of 31 member parliaments and constitutes an important forum for dialogue and cooperation between the parliaments of the Mediterranean. The IAO enjoys observer status in the work of the PAM Plenary, by virtue of a relevant Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two institutions in 2019, which allows it to participate in its work, contribute to the parliamentary dialogue and promote the principles and values it advocates.

The IAO head stated that “The Mediterranean basin brings together different peoples, cultures and religious beliefs and by its nature can constitute a sustainable model of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect. Global challenges, such as human trafficking, the spread of terrorism and violent extremism, the environmentally friendly management of natural resources and the consolidation of international peace and security can be effectively addressed through coordinated action and multilateral cooperation. To this end, the common religious values of the monotheistic religions shared by the peoples of the Mediterranean are useful and we must highlight these in the difficult times we are going through.”

At the opening ceremony, greetings were delivered by prominent political figures, including the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Mr. Lorenzo Fontana, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Antonio Tajani, as well as important representatives of other inter-parliamentary organizations, such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

During their stay in Rome, the IAO leadership visited the headquarters of the Focolare Movement, where they met with representatives of the Political Movement for Unity (MPPU), Ms. Arja Albanese, former member of the Italian Parliament and current president of the MPPU, Ms. Maria Bencivelli, member of the MPPU, and Mr. Mario Bruno, former mayor of Alghero and member of the MPPU.

The MPPU is a special institution of the Focolare Movement, which promotes politics as a tool for dialogue, cooperation and unity, with the aim of strengthening Christian values, solidarity, peace and justice at the national and international level.

During the meeting, initiatives to strengthen cooperation were discussed, with particular emphasis on highlighting Christian values in the contemporary political reality of Europe.

Finally, the Secretary General held a meeting at the Embassy of Ethiopia with the Deputy Head of the Diplomatic Mission, Mr. Asefa Abijou, and the Head of the Political Diplomacy Department of the Embassy, Mr. Edaueke Tesfaje. The meeting discussed the possibility of sending an official Ethiopian parliamentary delegation to the IAO, as the country has a majority Christian population and shares common values with those promoted by the international Orthodox institution.