Press release of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Marseille, 3 April 2000
N° 5

The Third CSCM, which has been meeting in the Hôtel de Région in Marseilles on the initiative of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the French Parliament since Friday, 31 March, closed its proceedings this Monday, 3 April, with a call for the creation of a parliamentary assembly of the Mediterranean. Some two hundred delegates from about thirty countries adopted a final document concerning regional stability, economic co-development and partnership, dialogue among civilisations and human rights.

The final document contains over a hundred recommendations. It states the resolve of the Conference to "promote the concept and practice of true partnership among States and interested parties in order to ensure peace and stability in the Mediterranean and the sustainable and more homogeneous development of all the countries of the region".

Ten years after the IPU set in motion the CSCM process and almost five years after the launching of the Barcelona process, an assessment can be made of progress to date.

In the area of security, for example, the Conference expressed "cautious optimism" now that "the process of resolving the Middle East conflict (…) has resumed after an extended interruption". The improvement in relations between Greek and Turkey (opening up new prospects for Cyprus), the suspension of the embargo on Libya and the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe gave ample cause for satisfaction - although the Kosovo issue "remains a serious problem".

To prevent conflicts, the Conference recommended the adoption by States of a "package of confidence-building measures" so that routine military activities were not perceived as hostile action vis-à-vis a neighbouring country (notification of such activities, invitation of observers, etc.). The delegates also stressed the need for arms control, urging States to "scale down their armed forces so that they are proportionate to their real security needs" and to oppose the spread of small arms, which "has led to an upsurge in violence in the Mediterranean". The Conference further raised the issue of terrorism, which "continues to represent a particularly serious challenge and risk in the Mediterranean".

The Third CSCM also took a stance on such topics as economic development, combating poverty and exclusion, the debt issue, agriculture, the environment, water, employment and migration, noting that action to control illegal migration should be reconciled with respect for the principle of the free movement of persons.

Speaking on behalf of all participants meeting in Marseilles, the President of the Conference, Mr. Michel Vauzelle, stressed the need "to impart a strong new stimulus to the MEDA programme, the European Union's main financial tool for the activation of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership".

With regard to democracy and human rights, the Conference reaffirmed the "Universal Declaration on Democracy" adopted by the IPU in 1997. "Democracy is a universally recognised ideal as well as a goal based on the common values shared by peoples throughout the world community irrespective of cultural, political, social and economic differences. It is a basic citizenship right to be exercised under conditions of freedom, equality, transparency and responsibility, with due respect for plurality of views and in the interests of the polity."

The Conference reiterated that sound management of public affairs called for transparency in administration and action against corruption. It therefore recommended in particular that national public finance auditing bodies be reinforced.

According to Mr. Anders B. Johnsson, Secretary General of the IPU, "women's key role in society was reaffirmed on the recommendation of the many women parliamentarians who attended the Third CSCM". The final document notes that "the achievement of democracy presupposes a genuine partnership between men and women in the conduct of the affairs of society". It also stresses the duty of States to safeguard the rights of children, especially the girl child: combating "discrimination against the girl child and violations of her rights" calls for the introduction of "the requisite legal reforms to ensure the full and equal enjoyment by the girl child of all human rights and fundamental freedoms".

The Conference noted that the IPU, through its action over the past ten years, has "established an innovative political consultation process for the region to enable all Mediterranean States and two States directly linked to the Mediterranean in economic, political and strategic terms to work together on an equal footing to solve the problems of the Mediterranean in association with other major players in the region". It observed, however, that the main initiatives in the context of the Euro-Med process had been taken by the European countries vis-à-vis the rest of the Mediterranean, while noting the momentous character of the initiatives taken through the Barcelona process and the importance of economic partnership. Under those circumstances, the Conference stressed the need to pursue its action.

During the press conference which followed the adoption of the final document, Mr. Mohamed Afif Chiboub, First Vice-President of the Tunisian Chamber of Deputies and rapporteur for the Third CSCM, expressed his satisfaction at the excellent conditions in which the Conference proceedings had taken place and extended his warm thanks to France and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

For his part, Mr. Johnsson felt that "the IPU is witnessing a positive shift towards the strengthening of democracy in the Mediterranean area. This explains why the participants at the Marseilles Conference emphasised the different aspects of democracy in the final document." Mr. Johnsson went on to say that "the IPU is pleased to note the changes with regard to the status of women in political life and is deeply committed to such changes. The Conference wishes to encourage additional progress in this field."

Finally, Mr. Vauzelle stressed the practical nature of the recommendations set out in the final document and the effectiveness of such an approach: "these decisions and proposals will be relayed to national parliaments, which are institutions that embody powerful views which governments cannot afford to ignore." He also recalled that such a conference "complemented rather than competed with the Barcelona process", the fourth stage of which is due to take place in Marseilles in November 2000. In accordance with the hope expressed by the President of the French Republic, Mr. Jacques Chirac, this governmental conference could become a Summit of Heads of State and Government. As Mr. Vauzelle said, "in any event, the holding of the present meeting in Marseilles marks a first in the history of the Euro-Mediterranean process".

"The fact that countries and peoples whose situations are marked by great diversity and inequality have agreed to exchange views in a parliamentary meeting reflects a real desire for peace. This is the best way of fighting to achieve respect for others, be they women, children or members of a minority", emphasised Mr. Michel Vauzelle.

Contacts: in Marseilles, international press: Ms. Luisa Ballin, IPU press officer, tel. (41.79) 649.71.45 or (00 33 4) 91.57.53.82, fax (00 33 4) 91.57.53.81, e.mail lb@mail.ipu.org or cd@mail.ipu.org - local press: Mr. Jean Fleury, press officer for the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region, tel. (00 33 4) 91.57.51.64, fax (00 33 4) 91.57.51.53, e-mail jfleury@hdr.cr-paca.fr