A CHANCE THE IPU MUST TAKE

The President and Secretary General of the IPU recently visited the Middle East. They met with high-level Iranian and Lebanese officials and proposed IPU's services as a forum of dialogue on the occasion of the inter-parliamentary assemblies, particularly those held in Geneva. Wishful thinking or realistic proposal?

At a time when conflicts are raging or threaten to erupt in many regions of the world, parliamentary diplomacy far-removed from the media spotlights may prove useful - for those States whose governments have reached a standstill and whose people are living in a state of anxiety - to emerge from tense political situations that erode their daily existence and jeopardize their future.

IPU Assemblies bring together legislators from some 150 parliaments the world over. They represent a forum that is conducive to bilateral meetings between countries in conflict. And the setting is well-suited, since the world organization of parliaments counts among its Members almost every parliament of these countries that have direct stake in securing a peaceful solution in these situations.

The world organization of parliaments is not in a position to end conflicts, but it can play a role in encouraging informal talks between officials likely to convince their governments to make peace or prevent war.

L.B.

	INAUGURAL SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE MEDITERRANEAN The IPU organized the Inaugural Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) in Amman on 10 and 11 September 2006, at the invitation of the Parliament of Jordan. The Inaugural Ceremony took place under the patronage of His Majesty, King Abdullah II. The Speaker of the Jordanian House of Representatives, Mr. A. Al-Majali, presided over the Session which proceeded to elect Mr. Abdelwahed Radi, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Morocco, as President of the PAM. "The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean marks an important step because there are several problems to tackle. We are concerned with peace, security, stability in the Middle East and in particular a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but also questions related to democracy and human rights, and any issue likely to prompt the men and women of theMediterranean to start a new era in our relations. We would like to place much greater emphasis on what unites us rather than on what divides us ", said Mr. Radi, who was elected to preside over the PAM for a two-year term of office. The Assembly also decided to locate its headquarters in Valletta, Malta, and hold, in principle, the PAM's Second Session at its new headquarters in November 2007.

	IN MEMORIAM A former IPU President, Sir Michael Marshall, has passed away Sir Michael Marshall passed away on 6th September 2006. President of the IPU Council from 1991 to 1994 and honorary life president of the world organization of parliaments, this Conservative Member of the United Kingdom' Parliament "saw that MPs could study together, regardless of party allegiance, race or creed", wrote Times on Line, in its 18 September 2006 edition. Sir Michael was born in Sheffield and educated at Bradfield College, Harvard and Stanford universities. He was the first MP with a Harvard MBA to be elected. A frequent traveller, Sir Michael continued to lead an active life after Westminster, despite being diagnosed with cancer eight years ago. A popular speaker, he addressed no fewer than 33 legislatures, lectured in management studies and gave talks on board cruise ships. The IPU sent his wife Caroline, and his family, sincere condolences and expressed its profound sympathy on his passing.