Mediterranean MPs meet in Palermo

The second conference of the Mediterranean sea parliament speakers was opened in Palermo Italy.

On Monday evening, the participating Arab parliamentary delegations held a meeting under the chairmanship of head of the Arab Parliamentary Union and Speaker of the Egyptian People's Assembly Fathi Srour. They discussed the agenda, stressing the necessity of Libya's participation in these meetings due to its role in the Mediterranean basin.

Syrian PA Speaker Qaddoura stressed the importance of the meeting to discuss and overcome the region's obstacles in the service of Arab common interests and of the principles of Barcelona Declaration's sixth paragraph, providing for the achievement of a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, based on the Security Council-related resolutions and on the land for peace formula.

He stressed Syria's readiness to resume the peace talks from the point they broke off and highlighted the stances calling for converting the Middle East into a nuclear-free zone.

The Parliamentary speakers are meeting ahead of two day meetings, starting on Wednesday, of Mediterranean and European Union foreign ministers.