Egypt's ambassador to Italy, Bassam Rady, announced that the Secretary-General of the Mediterranean Parliament, Ambassador Sergio Piazza, handed him a letter confirming the Parliament's decision to award President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi the title of Peace Champion for 2024. The Egyptian ambassador stated that the award was given to El-Sisi for his significant humanitarian efforts to establish security and stability in the region, particularly concerning the Gaza crisis and the strenuous efforts to contain the situation.
Bassam Rady added that the Secretary-General of the Parliament assured him that history would proudly and honorably record President El-Sisi's commitment to promoting stability and security in the region. The Mediterranean Parliament's decision stated, "Mr. President El-Sisi, as you know, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean acknowledges and expresses gratitude annually to individuals and organizations for their exceptional contributions in various fields to enhance political, social, and economic development, protect the environment and culture, promote interfaith dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean region and the Gulf region, and foster peace and prosperity."
The statement continued: "It is with great pleasure that I inform you that His Excellency Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, has been awarded the Mediterranean Parliament General Assembly Prize for 2024, 'Peace Champion,' in recognition of his unique efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, deliver vital aid to the Palestinian population, and secure the release of hostages... taking into account Egypt's crucial role in achieving peace and stability in the region, its ongoing efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, and to establish a definitive ceasefire, as well as to open a real prospect for achieving lasting peace based on a two-state solution, in accordance with the United Nations Charter and relevant resolutions, in addition to its efforts to prevent the escalation of current confrontations that jeopardize both international and regional peace and security."
The official announcement of the winners and the award presentation is scheduled to take place during the opening session of the 18th General Assembly meeting, which will be held on May 15, 2024, in Braga, Portugal. The Mediterranean Parliament (PAM) is an international organization established in 2005 by the national parliaments of Euro-Mediterranean countries. It legally succeeded the Conference on Security and Cooperation in the Mediterranean (CSCM), which began in the early 1990s. It maintains permanent observers at the United Nations in Geneva, New York, and Vienna, and has a contact officer with the Special Coordinator for the United Nations Peace Process in the Middle East and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon in Jerusalem, as well as a permanent representative to the Arab League in Cairo.
