Tributes to Former Presidents of the Association
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INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION Aims The Inter-Parliamentary Union, whose international Statute is outlined in a Headquarters Agreement drawn up with the Swiss federal authorities, is the only world-wide organization of Parliaments. The aim of the Inter-Parliamentary Union is to promote personal contacts between mem- bers of all Parliaments and to unite them in common action to secure and maintain the full participation of their respective States in the firm establishment and development of repre- sentative institutions and in the advancement of the work of international peach and co- operation, particularly by supporting the objectives of the United Nations. In pursuance of this objective, the Union makes known its views on all international problems suitable for settlement by parliamentary action and puts forward suggestions for the development of parliamentary assemblies so as to improve the working of those institutions and increase their prestige. Membership off the Union (October 1993) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'lvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea (Dem. P. R. of), Korea (Rep. of), Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Associated members: Andean Parliament, Latin American Parliament, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Structure The organs of the Union are: 1. The Inter-Parliamentary Conference which meets twice a year. 2. The Inter-Parliamentary Council, composed of two members from each affiliated Group. President: Sir Michael Marshall (United Kingdom). 3. The Executive Committee, composed of twelve members elected by the Conference, as well as of the Council President acting as ex officio President. At present, it has the following composition: President: Sir Michael Marshall (United Kingdom) Members: Mrs. H. Castillo de Lopez-Acosta (Venezuela); D. Cavay6 Yeguie (Cameroon); T. S. Darsoyo (Indonesia); L. Fischer (Germany); A. Fosset (France); V. Gotsev (Bulgaria); M. Jalal Essaid (Morocco); J. Komiyama (Japan); Mrs Naziha Mahzoud (Tunisia); L. McLeay (Australia); S. Paez Verdugo (Chile); G. L. Papp (Hungary). 4. Secretariat of the Union, which is the international secretariat of the Organization, the headquarters being located at: Place du Petit-Saconnex, Case Postale 438, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland. Secretary general: Mr. Pierre Cornillon. Official publication The Union's official organ is the Inter-Parliamentary Bulletin, which appears quarterly in both English and French. This publication is indispensable in keeping posted on the activities of the Organization. Subscription can be placed with the Union's Secretariat in Geneva. Constitutional and Parliamentary Information Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments 3rd Series - No. 16511st Half-year -1993 First Series - Forty-third year Contents I. Tributes to former Presidents off the Asso- ciation Mr. M. Rosetti 3 Mr. A. F. Schepel 4 Mr. F. Humblet 4 II. The Parliamentary System of the Repub- lic of Cameroon Extract from the Minutes of the Yaounde session, April 1992 6 III. Motions of Censure against an indivi- dual Minister and the consequences for the stability off the Government 1. Introductory Note by Dr. Silvio Traversa, May 1990 . 19 2. Topical discussion: extract from the Minutes of the Punta del Este session, October 1990 23 3. Report prepared by Dr. Silvio Traversa, Deputy Sec- retary General of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy (adopted at the Stockholm session, September 1992) . 29 IV. Relations with former Members 1. Introductory Note by Mr. Doudou Ndiaye, February 1990 49 2. Topical discussion: extract from the Minutes of the Punta del Este session, October 1990 51 3. Report prepared by Mr. Doudou Ndiaye, Secretary General of the National Assembly of Senegal (adopted at the Stockholm session, September 1992) . 53 V. Defection of Members from their Party 1. Introductory Note by Shri C. K. Jain, Secretary Gen- eral of the Lok Sabha, India, April 1992 58 2. Topical discussion: extract from the Minutes of the Yaounde session, April 1992 65 VI. The Constitution of Mongolia A. The Constitution of Mongolia, January 1992 69 B. Law annexed to the Constitution of Mongolia, Ja- nuary 1992 94 Tributes to former Presidents of the Association I. Tributes to former Presidents of the Association Mr. Moshe Rosetti, President of the Association 1965-1968, died 6th March 1992. In the early days of the State of Israel, with the establishment of the Pro- visional State Council, the forerunner of the Knesset, the nation's leaders sought someone who could guide them into the inner secrets of parliamentarianism - a field in which the Jewish People had had no experience for the two thousand years of their dispersion. The name of Moshe Rosetti, who had been familiar for many years with the British House of Commons where he acted as a representative of the Zionist Organisation, was suggested as a suitable candidate for the position of Secretary of the Provisional State Council. In those days there was no clear-cut demarcation between the duties of the Government Secretary and those of the State Council Secretary. Moshe Rosetti's rich experience was invaluable in the first hesitant steps of the ire- born State of Israel towards the laying down of rules and regulations for the new parliament. He guided and advised the fledgeling law-makers of Is- rael and, to this day, the Rules of Procedure of the Knesset bear his im- print. Moshe Rosetti served as Secretary General of the Knesset from October 1948 till February 1968. In his position of President of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments, Moshe Rosetti was the first of the Knesset's Secretaries General to represent the Knesset in a major international post. He was a member of the Association from 1949, a member of the Executive Committee between the years 1952-1955 and Vice President 1960-1965. He was a rapporteur for reports agreed in 1951, 1955 and 1964. Moshe Rosetti is survived by his wife, daughter, son-in-law and grandchil- dren. Samuel Jacobson Secretary General of the Knesset Constitutional and Parliamentary Information Mr. A. F. Schepel, President of the Association 1960-65, died 30th April 1992. (Mr. Schepel was a Member of the Association since 1946, a member of the Executive Committee from 1946-48, and Vice-President from 1950-60. He was rapporteur for reports agreed by the Association in 1951 and 1961.) We deeply regret to have to report the death, on the 30th April, of Mr A. F. Schepel, former Clerk of the Second Chamber of the Netherlands States-General and a former President of our Association. He reached the age of 84, and to the very last kept his interest in parliamentary developments. A space in the brand new Chamber building, ceremoniously opened on the 28th of April, has been named after him, thus linking his name with parliamentary democracy in this country. In our memory he lives on, not as a shining, or glittering, or splendid, or monumental example of his profession - he was too modest for such grandiose terms - but as a singularly happy blend of professional efficiency and human kindness. W. Koops A. Sprey T. H. E. Kerkhofs former Clerk of Clerk of the Clerk of the Second Chamber First Chamber Second Chamber Mr. Francis Humblet, Secretary General emeritus of the Senate of Bel- gium, President of the Association 1970-73, died 27th June 1992. It is with great regret that we learn of the death of Francis Humblet, former President of the Association and Secretary General emeritus of the Senate of Belgium. Francis Humblet became a member of the Association in 1946 and held with honour all the Association's posts: member of the Executive Committee from 1946-1949 and again from 1961-1964, Vice-President from 1966-1970, President from 1970-1973. He was in addition the author of two notable reports, one on parliamentary incompatibilities (published in 1952), the other on bicameral parlia- ments (published in 1966). Francis Humblet served in the Belgian Senate for over 40 years, notably under Speakers Gillon, Rolin, Struye, and Harmel. He also served Europe from an early stage, having taken part in the establishment of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), as Tributes to former Presidents of the Association well as of the Western European Union, of which he was the Clerk for a number of years. We can, finally, only repeat the words of the Speaker of the Belgian Senate in saying that "we will keep of him memories of an elite public servant and of a courteous and able man always conscious of the dignity of the institution of parliament". Members of the Association will remember a man of exceptional personality who was a model to all. They express to his widow and daughter their fullest and most sincere condolences. Herman Nys Clerk of the Senate Constitutional and Parliamentary Information II. The Parliamentary System of Cameroon Extract from the Minutes of the Yaounde session in April 1992 Dr. Bernard NZO-NGUTY, Deputy Secretary General (Legislative and Linguistic Affairs) of the National Assembly of Cameroon, spoke as follows: "I.