"Security in Europe... is closely linked with security in the Mediterranean..."
- Helsinki Final Act 1975

Malta has always played an active and a pro-active role in international affairs, especially in those fora dealing with Mediterranean issues.

In 1973, Malta was admitted to the Conference (today Organisation) for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Malta was instrumental in coupling the strategic importance of Mediterranean security with European security, leading to the signing of the Helsinki Final Act in 1975. What was hotly contested by the superpowers existing at that time is today taken as a given wherever and whenever the issue of Mediterranean security is discussed. It is a feather in Malta's foreign policy cap that to date this has always been a major tenet of any Maltese government's raison d'être.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) forms the largest regional security organisation in the world and is a primary instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation in its area. Its aegis stretches from Vancouver to Vladivostok.

It has 19 missions in southeastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. The organisation deals with security-related issues, including arms control, confidence and security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratisation, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 56 participating states enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically- but not legally-binding basis.

Malta plays an active role in several of the OSCE's fora, such as the Ministerial Council meetings, the Permanent Council, the Forum for Security and Cooperation, Human Dimension Implementation meetings, the annual Mediterranean Forum, and in the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly (PA).

As head of the Maltese Parliamentary delegation to the OSCE PA, three years ago I had proposed to the OSCE that Malta hosts the 2006 Fall meeting and the Mediterranean Forum. Aware of the intensifying and evolving debate on illegal migration, integration and security-related issues in Malta and within the Mediterranean basin, I believed that the hosting of such a high profile conference would provide us with an invaluable opportunity to relay our concerns and provide food for meaningful thought.

My proposal gathered momentum and was unanimously accepted. Apart from the prestige in hosting the largest ever parliamentary gathering, the Maltese delegation had the honour of proposing the theme and subjects to be debated.

Thus, between November 17 and 20, Malta's Parliament will have the honour of hosting for the very first time the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly autumn meeting. High-level parliamentary leaders from the OSCE participating states will be discussing the role of the OSCE in Immigration, Integration and Cross-Cultural Dialogue. The last day will be dedicated solely to the Mediterranean Forum, where the focus will be on the Middle East and soft security concerns.

With more than 56 participating states and well over 300 representatives from Europe, Central Asia and North America having confirmed their attendance, this conference will be the largest ever conference of the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly. It will raise the issues of migration and cross-cultural dialogue on an inter-parliamentary level, facilitating inter-parliamentary dialogue, an increasingly important tool in the overall effort to meet the challenges of democracy throughout the OSCE area.

A host of Maltese and foreign distinguished speakers, hailing from the political, legal and academic milieu will help provoke and focus the debate. The insights to be delivered by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anton Tabone, President Emeritus Guido De Marco, Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo, Simon Tonelli, head of the Migration Division of the Council of Europe, US, Turkish and Israeli high-profile invitees, among others, will be invaluable.

Having accepted my invitation to attend, Libya will be participating for the very first time, definitely a win-win situation for Malta and the Mediterranean basin countries.

Later on this month, God willing, we will be able to show how parliamentary diplomacy plays a crucial role in localising our Mediterranean and European security concerns.

Dr Azzopardi, chairman of the Standing Foreign and European Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, is currently head of the Maltese delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.