italy-libya-obama

Italy / Libya / Obama

Italy

Jim Hood didn’t get home last week as he were to attend a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s Economic and Development Committee, in Lamezia Terme in South Italy, returning late on Saturday night. It may seem like a long way to go for two days of meetings but such is the enormity of the Council of Europe geographic area, travelling twelve hours to and from meetings is not unusual.

Libya

The Arab Spring and its impact on North Africa were central to the economic considerations of the committee, as was the crisis within the Euro zone with the threatened default of Greece of its bail-out conditions. The Committee was also aware that they were meeting less than a two hour flight from Tripoli. Indeed Italy was conducting its airstrikes against the Gaddafi regime in Tripoli, from the near-by Island of Sicily.

Obama

President Obama addresses both Houses in Westminster Hall this week. He will be warmly received and welcomed to the UK. His statement before leaving America on the future of the Middle East, North Africa and the peace process of Palestine and Israel was most welcome. Saying publically that Israel has to come to the negotiating table and search for peace and that a peace agreement must include a dignified agreement giving justice to Palestinians