Summary Report of the 7 General Assembly Secretariat International

ICAPP-2012 Dec. (3)

Summary Report of the 7th General Assembly Baku, Azerbaijan, November 21-23, 2012

Secretariat International Conference of Asian Political Parties

Table of Contents

I. Documents of the GA

1. Program……………………………………………………………………..…..…….5 2. List of Participating Political Parties and Observers………………………..….…….7 3. List of Candidates for the Bureau…………………………………………..……….15 4. Conference Procedures…………………………………………………….………..17 5. Recommendation for the Amendment of the ICAPP Charter………………….……18 6. List of Speakers at the Plenary Sessions……………………………………….……19 7. New List of the ICAPP Standing Committee………………………………….……23

II. Presentations by Speakers

1. Welcoming Remarks - H.E. Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan and Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party, delivered by Hon. Ramiz Mehdiyev, Chief of Presidential Administration, Office of the President of Azerbaijan………...... 26 - Hon. Ali Javad Ahmadov, Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of the New Azerbaijan Party, and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 7th GA….28 2. Congratulatory Message - H.E. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations………………….30 3. Opening Remarks - Hon. Jose de Venecia, Jr., Founding Chairman of the ICAPP and Co-Chairman of the ICAPP Standing Committee……………………………………………31 - Hon. Du Qinglin, Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)……………………………………………………………………………40 - Hon. Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia and Senior Leader of the Cambodian People’s Party……………………………………………………..43 - Hon. Hussain Muhammad Ershad, Former President of Bangladesh and Chairman of Jatiyo Party of Bangladesh……………………………………………………47 - Hon. Madhav Kumar Nepal, Former Prime Minister and Senior Leader of CPN(UML)……………………………………………………………………..49 4. Keynote Speeches by Representatives - Hon. Raffi K. Hovannisian, Chairman, Heritage Party of Armenia……………51 - Hon. Natik Aliyev, Minister of Energy Industry of Azerbaijan………..………53 - Hon. Rauf Gurbanov, Chairman, Communist Party of Azerbaijan……………56 - Hon. Asim Mollazade, Chairman of Azerbaijan Democratic Reform Party……58 - Hon. Abdul Matin Khasru, Former Minister of Law, Justice and Placement Affairs, and Secretary for Legal Affairs of the Central Committee, Bangladesh Awami League…………………………………………………………………59 - Hon. Keo Puth Reasmey, Chairman of the Party and Advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia with the rank of Deputy Prime Minister….……..67 - Hon. Dr. Barun Mukherji, MP and National Secretary of All India Forward Bloc...71 - Hon. Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Member of the National Executive and Political Associate to the National President, Bharatiya Janata Party of India………..…73

- Mr. Happy Bone Zulkarnain, Vice Secretary General, GOLKAR Party, Indonesia………………………………………………………………………...78 - Hon. Dr. Anis Byarwati Burhanuddin, Head of the Central Executive Board for Women Affairs of the Prosperous Justice Party of Indonesia…………………..80 - Hon. Dr. Anis Byarwati Burhanuddin (Special Workshop on Women Politicians)…………………………………………………..…………………..82 - Hon. Dr. Hassan Ghafouri Fard, Former Vice President and Member of the Central Committee of Islamic Motalefeh Party of Iran…………………………84 - Mr. Mahdi Soli, Vice President of the Center for International Affairs and Advisor on International Affairs to Former Vice President, Islamic Motalefeh Party (Special Workshop on Young Political Leaders)…………………………87 - Mr. Ghodrat Ali Heshmatiyan, Member of the Central Council, Iran Parties House……………………………………………………………………………89 - Hon. Yasuo Ogata, Vice Chairperson of the Executive Committee and Chairman of the International Commission of Japanese Communist Party (JCP)…………91 - Hon. Mukhtar Yermen, Deputy Head of Central Office, People’s Democratic Party “Nur Otan” of Kazakhstan………………………………………………..95 - Hon. Hwang Jin-ha, Member of the National Assembly and President of ICAPP Parliamentarians’ Union of the Korean National Assembly, Saenuri (New Frontier) Party, Republic of Korea…………………………………….….……97 - Hon. Dr. Park In-sook, Member of the National Assembly, Saenuri (New Frontier) Party, Republic of Korea (Special Workshop on Women Politicians)……….……………………………………………………….……100 - Hon. Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Deputy Head of the Committee for External Relations of the Central Committee of Lao People’s Revolutionary Party……103 - Hon. Fadi Fawaz, Advisor to the Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Future Movement Party of Lebanon………………………………………………………………105 - Hon. Dr. Chua Soi Lek, President of Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)..107 - Mr. Mohamed Imthiyaz, Member of the Council and Register General, Jumhooree Party of Maldives…………………………………………………110 - Hon. Khuldorj Buren-Erdene, Member of the Conference, Mongolian People’s Party……………………………………………………………………………112 - Hon. Upendra Yadav, Chairman of Madhesi People’s Rights Forum, Nepal…114 - Hon. Ms. Sujata Koirala, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Head of International Relations Department of Nepali Congress Party…………...……118 - Hon. Mel Senen S. Sarmiento, Member of the House of Representatives and Secretary General of the Liberal Party of the Philippines……………………..121 - Hon. Gennady Zyuganov, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Russian Federation (CPRF) and Head of the CPRF Faction in the State Duma……………………………………………………………………...……123 - Hon. Somawansa Amarasinghe, Leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (People’s Liberation Front) of Sri Lanka…………………………………………………127 - Hon. Daya Dharmapala Kilittuwa Gamage, MP, National Organizer of United National Party of Sri Lanka……………………………………………………129 - Hon. Muhiddin Kabiri, Chairman of Islamic Revival Party, Tajikistan………131 - Hon. Prakob Chirakiti, MP, Democrat Party of Thailand……………….…….133 - Hon. Dr. Nalinee Taveseen, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, Pheu Thai Party of Thailand…………………………………………………...138

- Hon. Ercan Candan, MP, Member of APA for Turkish Group, Justice and Development Party of Turkey………………………………………………….141 - Hon. Hoang Binh Quan, Chairman of the Central Commission for External Relations and Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam………………………………………………………………..………144 - Mr. Itaru Ishii, Executive Deputy Director, CAPDI Japan (Special Workshop on Young Political Leaders)………………………………...…………………….147 - Hon. Gustavo Carvajal Moreno, Deputy President of COPPPAL and Former President of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) of Mexico...... 148 - Dr. Max Georg Meier, Permanent Representative for Central Asia, Hanns Seidel Foundation...... 150 - Dr. Jiang Mingjun, Director General of International Eco-Safety Cooperative Organization (IESCO)…………………………………………………………151 5. Report on the Discussion of Special Workshop on Women Politicians - Hon. Malahat Ibrahim qizi, MP, New Azerbaijan Party, and Hon. Dr. Park In- sook, Member of the National Assembly, Saenuri Party, Republic of Korea....154 6. Closing Remark - Hon. Chung Eui-yong, Co-Chairman of the Standing Committee and Secretary General of the ICAPP………………………………………………………….157

III. ICAPP Charter and Major Understandings reached at the SC Meetings

1. ICAPP Charter (As amended at the 7th GA on November 23, 2012)………...……161 2. Major Understandings……………………………………………..………………166

Documents of the GA

Program of the 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP (Baku, Azerbaijan, November 21-24, 2012)

Wednesday, November 21 Arrival and Registration of Delegates - Venue: Grand Ballroom, Hilton Hotel th 21:00-23:30 18 Meeting of the ICAPP Standing Committee - Venue: 2nd Floor, “Sevda” Room, Hilton Hotel

Thursday, November 22 09:00-09:30 Depart Hotel by bus to the Gulustan Palace (Istiqlaliyyat str.1) 10:00-12:00 Opening Session - Venue: Main Hall, Gulustan Palace 12:00-12:30 Coffee Break 12:30-13:30 First Plenary Session 13:45-14:00 Group photo 14:00-15:00 Lunch - Venue: Main Hall, Gulustan Palace 15:00-16:30 Second Plenary Session 16:30-17:00 Coffee Break 17:00-18:00 Third Plenary Session 18:00 Depart Gulustan Palace by bus to the Hotel 19:00-22:00 Dinner Host: Hon. O. Asadov, Speaker of Parliament - Venue: 2nd Floor, “Sevda” Room, Hilton Hotel

Friday, November 23 08:30 Depart Hotel by bus to the Gulustan Palace 09:20-11:00 Fourth Plenary Session - Venue: Main Hall, Gulustan Palace 09:20-11:00 Special Workshop on Young Political Leaders - Venue: Conference Room I, Gulustan Palace 09:20-11:00 Special Workshop on Women Politicians - Venue: Conference Room II, Gulustan Palace 11:00-11:30 Coffee Break 11:30-12:40 Fifth Plenary Session 12:40-13:40 Sixth Plenary Session 13:40-15:00 Lunch - Venue: Main Hall, Gulustan Palace 15:00-16:00 Closing Session 16:15 Depart Gulustan Palace by bus to the Hotel 16:30-17:00 Courtesy Call on H.E. Artur Rasizade, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan by SC Members 20:00 Gala Dinner to be hosted by the New Azerbaijan Party - Venue: “Sharg” Room, Marriott-Absheron Hotel

Saturday, November 24 Optional Tour of Baku/ Departure of Delegates 10:30 Group I - Asteshgah Fire Temple - Gala Ethnography Museum 5

- Lunch at the Museum Area 10:30 Group II - National Flag Square - National Seaside Park - Lunch at the Sahil Restaurant 10:30 Group III - Old City Complex (Maiden Tower, Caravanserai, Shirvanshahs Palace, Blue Mosque, etc.) - Lunch at the Baku Business Center

List of Participating Political Parties and Observers in the 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP (Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21-24, 2012)

Political Parties (53)

Azerbaijan 1. New Azerbaijan Party - Hon. Ali Ahmadov, Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary - Hon. Ramiz Mehdiyev, Chief of Presidential Administration, Government of Azerbaijan - Hon. Asaf Hajiyev, Head of the International Department - Mr. Siyavush Novruzov, Deputy Executive Secretary - Mr. Mubariz Gurbanli, Deputy Executive Secretary - Ms. Nurlana Aliyeva, Chairperson of Women’s Council - Mr. Seymur Orujov, Chairman of the Youth Union - Mr. Ramin Mammadov, Deputy Chairman of the Youth Union - Ms. Sevinj Fataliyeva, Deputy Chairperson of the Youth Union - Ms. Malahat Ibrahimgizi, Member of the Political Council 2. Civic Solidarity Party - Hon. Sabir Rustamkhanli, Chairman - Mr. Ali Nadir Aliyev, Chairman - Mr. Fazail Ibrahimli, Vice Chairman - Mr. Rafiq Manafli, Chairman of the Supreme Assembly - Mr. Elabbas Kamran Meherremov, Member of Political Council - Mr. Ramil Galamirza Huseynov, Deputy 3. Motherland Party - Mr. Agamali Elchin, Deputy Chairman for International Affairs - Mr. Zahid Orucov, Member of Parliament - Ms. Yegana Haciyeva Tofiq - Ms. Feride Qafarova 4. Azerbaijan Popular Front Party - Hon. Ali Karimli, Chairman - Mr. Niyameddin Ordukhanov, Vice Chairman - Mr. Razi Nurullayev, Deputy Chairperson for Foreign Affairs - Mr. Fuad Gahramanly, Deputy Chairperson for Political Affairs - Mr. Sohrab Abdullayev, General Secretary - Mr. Elchin Mirzabayli, Vice Chairman on International Relations 5. Equality Party (Musavat) - Ms. Roya Rafiyeva, Correspondent 6. Azerbaijan Liberal Party - Mr. Avaz Temirkhan, Chairman - Mr. Elman Mammadzade, Chairman of the Executive Committee - Mr. Ismayil Aliaskerli, Chairman of the Controlling and Auditing Committee 7. Great Structure Party - Mr. Rashad Babayev, Head of Youth Department - Ms. Ajdar Aliyev - Mr. Zaur Mehman Mehdiyev 7

8. Azerbaijan Democratic Reform Party - Mr. Asim Nazim Mollazade, Chairman - Mr. Ramin Hajili, Member of the Political Board - Ms. Ulker Abdullayeva, Member of Political Board - Mr. Mardan Rauf Efendiyev, Member of the Political Council 9. Azerbaijan Social Democratic Party - Mr. Araz Mahammad Alizada, Chairman - Mr. Tahmaz Izzat Mammadov - Mr. Yashar Sardar Asadov 10. Azerbaijan Communist Party - Hon. Rauf Gurbanov, Chairman - Mr. Fikrat Rashidov, Deputy of the Chairman - Ms. Gulnisa Mahsimova, Deputy of the Chairman - Mr. Nazir Asgarov, Assistant to the Chairman 11. Adalet Party - Mr. Ilyas Ismayilov, Chairman - Mr. Elnur Hasanov

Armenia 12. Heritage Party - Hon. Raffi K. Hovannisian, Chairman

Bangladesh 13. Bangladesh Awami League - Hon. Abdul Matin Khasru, Former Minister of Law, Justice and Placement Affairs, and Secretary for Legal Affairs of the Central Committee - Mrs. Salima Subhan Khasru, wife of Hon. A.M. Khasru 14. Jatiya Party (National Party of Bangladesh) - Hon. Hussain Muhammad Ershad, Former President of Bangladesh and Chairman of Jatiyo Party - Mr. Golam Moshi, Member of the Presidium in charge for International and Diplomatic Affairs - Major (retd.) Md. Khaled Akhter, Private Secretary to the Chairman

Cambodia 15. Cambodian People’s Party - H.E. Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister - Madam Sok An, Wife of Deputy Prime Minister - Tansri Chen Lip Keong, Advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia - Hon. Suos Yara, Under Secretary of State, Office of the Council of Ministers - Mr. Chen Yepern, Assistant to Tansri Chen Lip Keong - Hon. Yos Son, Chairman of International Department, CPP - Hon. Tekreth Samrach, Secretary of State, Office of Council of Ministers - Mr. Sao Sopheap, Advisor to the Office of the Council of Ministers - Mr. Kong Chanveasna, Director of International Relations, Office of the Council of Ministers - Mr. Peng Ponea, Official of the Cabinet of Deputy Prime Minister - Mr. Sim Saravuth, Assistant to Tansri Chen Lip Keong

16. Funcinpec Party - Hon. Keo Puth Reasmey, Chairman of the Party and Advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia with the rank of Deputy Prime Minister - Dr. Tee Ching Seng, Counselor to the President

China 17. Communist Party of China - Hon. Du Qinglin, Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) - Hon. Ai Ping, Vice Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) - Hon. Chen Xiqing, Vice Minister, United Front Work Department of CPC (UFWDCPC) - Mrs. Rao Huihua, Deputy Director General, IDCPC - Mr. Yao Zhichuan, Deputy Director General, UFWDCPC

India 18. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Member of the National Executive and Political Associate to the National President - Mr. Nalin Satyakam Kohli, Officer in charge of Publicity Department 19. All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) - Dr. Barun Kumar Mukherji, Member of Parliament and National Secretary and Chairman of Bengal Committee

Indonesia 20. GOLKAR Party - Hon. Ms. Iris Indira Murti, Head of International Cooperation Board - Mr. Happy Bone Zulkarnain, Vice Secretary General - Mr. Formoyudha Humphrey Albert, Vice Treasurer - Ms. Emmalia Natar, Member of International Cooperation Board 21. Prosperous Justice Party - Hon. Dr. Taufik Ramlan Widjaja, Head of Foreign Relation Division - Hon. Raden Agoeng Hardianto Wibowo, General Secretary of Foreign Relation Division - Dr. Ms. Anis Byarwati Burhanuddin, Head of Women Division - Ms. Kurniasih Mufidayati, Secretary of Women Division 22. Crescent Star Party - Hon. Malem Sambat Kaban, President - Hon. B.M. Wibowo Hadiwardoyo, Secretary General - Mr. Rilowidadi Soesilo Sardadi - Mr. Sabar Sitanggang Sampit, Former Vice Secretary General

Iran 23. Islamic Motalefeh Party - Hon. Prof. Dr. Hassan Ghafouri Fard, Former Vice President of Iran, and Member of the Central Committee - Mr. Mahdi Soli, Vice President of the Center for International Affairs and Advisor on International Affairs to Former Vice President 9

- Mr. Reza Rafighdoost, Head of the Studies and Planning 24. Iran Parties House - Mr. Ghodrat Ali Heshmatiyan, Member of the Central Council - Mr. Saber Mir Ataie, Member of the Central Council

Iraq 25. Islamic Group in Kurdistan - Mr. Anwar Faraj Sadoon, Member of Leadership - Mr. Dara Mohammed Ameen Saeed, Member of Leadership

Japan 26. Japanese Communist Party - Hon. Yasuo Ogata, Vice Chairperson of the Executive Committee and Chairman of the International Commission

Kazakhstan 27. People’s Democratic Party “Nur Otan” - Hon. Mukhtar Yerman, Deputy Head of Central Office

Korea, Republic of 28. Saenuri (New Frontier) Party - Hon. Hwang Jin-ha, Member of the National Assembly and President of ICAPP Parliamentarians’ Union of the Korean National Assembly - Hon. Ms. Park In-sook, Member of the National Assembly - Mr. Park Jin-ho, Director General, ICAPP Parliamentarians’ Union in the Korean National Assembly

Laos 29. Lao People’s Revolutionary Party - Hon. Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Deputy Head of the Committee for External Relations of the Central Committee - Mr. Vanghue Nengmongvang, Chief Officer, Division of Party Relations

Lebanon 30. Future Movement Party - Hon. Fadi Fawaz, Advisor to the Prime Minister Saad Hariri - Mrs. Cherine Elias Sfeir, Coordinator of International Affairs

Malaysia 31. United Malay National Organization (UMNO) - Hon. Dato Seri Shahidan bin Kassim, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister for the Northern Region Economic Growth, and Member of Supreme Council - Mrs. Datin Seri Shamsiah M. Yassin, Wife of Hon. Dato Seri Shahidan - Ms. Mohd Hisamudin Yahaya, UMNO Youth Wing Executive Committee Member 32. Malaysian Chinese Association - Dr. Chua Soi Lek, President of MCA - Mr. Tay Puay Chuan, Chief of MCA National Legal Bureau - Mr. Lee Ban Seng, State Economic Bureau Chief 10

- Ms. Ng Miow Hia , Deputy Chief of MCA National Legal Bureau cum the Central Committees of MCA Women Section - Ms. Ho Siew Lian , State Deputy Organizing Secretary - Ms. Yap Chin Chin, Secretary to MCA President - Ms. Tan Sing Pei, Secretary to MCA President 33. Pan Malaysian Islamic Party (Parti Islam SeMalaysia, PAS) - Hon. Mustafa Ali, Secretary General of PAS and Former Deputy Minister - Mrs. Aminah Mohamad, Wife of Hon. Mustafa Ali - Dr. Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, Political Secretary to the President of PAS - Mr. Tuan Ibharim Tuan Man, Information Chief - Mr. Nik Zawawi Nik Salleh, Information Chief of Ulama Wing - Ms. Fatin Zahirah Mustafa

Maldives 34. Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party - Mr. Moosa Fathuhee Adam, President of Shaviyani Atoll Council 35. Jumhooree Party (Republican Party) - Mr. Mohamed Imthiyaz, Member of the Council and Register General - Mr. Hassan Shah, Secretary General

Mongolia 36. Mongolian People’s Party - Hon. Khuldorj Buren-Erdene, Member of the Conference - Mr. Dashdondog Ganbat, Deputy Chairman of Economic Policy Standing Committee, Steering Council

Nepal 37. Nepali Congress - Hon. Ms Sujata Koirala, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Head of International Relations Department - Mr. Rakesh Hamal 38. Communist Party of Nepal (UML) - Hon. Madhav Kumar Nepal, Former Prime Minister and Senior Leader of CPN (UML) - Mr. Keshav Raj Pandey, Secretary, International Department - Dr. Rajan Bhattarai, Member, International Department and former Advisor to Prime Minister 39. Madhesi People’s Rights Forum - Hon. Upendra Yadav, Chairman

Pakistan 40. Pakistan Muslim League-Q - Hon. Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Senator and Secretary General - Hon. Aleem Adil Sheikh, Senior Vice President - Mr. Mustafa Hyder Sayed, International Youth Representative 41. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Party - Hon. Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman President of JUI-F and Member of Parliament - Hon. Mohammad Talha Mahmood, Senator

Philippines 42. Liberal Party - Hon. Mel Senen S. Sarmiento, Member of the House of Representatives and Secretary General 43. Centrist Democratic Party - Hon. Rufus Bautista Rodriguez, Member of the House of Representatives - Mrs. Rodriquez, Wife of Hon. Rufus

Russia 44. United Russia Party - Hon. Andrey Klimov, Member of the Council of Federation and Member of the Presidium of the General Council 45. Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) - Hon. Gennady Zyuganov, Chairman of the Central Committee and Head of the CPRF Faction in the State Duma - Hon. Leonid Kalashnikov, Secretary and Member of the Presidium of the Central Committee, and First Deputy of the Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma - Hon. Alexander Tarnaev, Deputy of the State Duma

Sri Lanka 46. Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (People’s Liberation Front) - Hon. Somawansa Amarasinghe, Leader 47. United National Party - Hon. Daya Dharmapala Kilittuwa Gamage, Member of Parliament and National Organizer of UNP - Hon. Ms. Anoma Gamage, National List Parliamentarian

Syria 48. Arab Socialist Union - Hon. Safwan Alkoudsi, General Secretary - Ms. Baria Al-koudsi, Member of Political Bureau

Tajikistan 49. Islamic Revival Party - Hon. Muhiddin Kabiri, Chairman - Hon. Shamsidin Saidov, Advisor to President on Foreign Relations

Thailand 50. Pheu Thai Party - Hon. Dr. Nalinee Taveseen, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office - Mr. Nopparat Yodvimol, Advisor to Dr. Nalinee 51. Democrat Party - Hon. Chamni Sakdiset, Member of Parliament and Deputy Party Leader - Hon. Prakob Chirakiti, Member of Parliament

Turkey 52. Justice and Development Party - Hon. Ercan Candan, Member of Parliament and member of APA for Turkish 12

Group - Mrs. Ercan Candan, wife of Hon. Ercan Candan - Hon. Mehmet Kasim Gulpinar, Member of Parliament

Vietnam 53. Communist Party of Vietnam - Hon. Hoang Binh Quan, Chairman of the Central Commission for External Relations and Member of the Central Committee, Member of the National Assembly - Hon. Tran Dac Loi, Vice Chairman of the Commission for External Relations - Mr. Nguyen Hong Thach, Department Director of General Studies of the Commission for External Relations - Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tuan, Department Director of Russia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia of the Commission for External Relations - Mrs. Le Thi Thanh Ly, Department Director of Russian, Eastern Europe, Central Asia of the Commission for External Relations - Mr. Nguyen Anh Duc, Secretary of Hon. Hoang Binh Quan - Mr. Tran Quang Huy, Department Deputy Director, Commission for External Relations - Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dung, Expert, Department of General Studies, Commission for External Relations - Mr. Le Thanh Tung, Expert, Department of General Studies, Commission for External Relations - Mr. Chau Van Hung, Secretary, Vietnam Embassy to Russian Federation

Office of the ICAPP Founding Chairman (2) - Hon. Jose de Venecia, Jr., Founding Chiarman and Co-Chairman of the Standing Committee - Mr. Aldwin B. Requejo, Assistant

ICAPP Secretariat (2) - Hon. Chung Eui-yong, Co-Chairman of the Standing Committee and Secretary General - Mr. Lee Chung-min, Program Coordinator

Observers (5) 1. COPPPAL - Hon. Gustavo Carvajal Moreno, Deputy President of COPPPAL and Former President of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) of Mexico - Mr. Luis Antonio Ramirez, Executive Secretary - Mr. Heladio Ramirez Pineda, Representative of COPPPAL in Washington - Mr. Jorge Luis Fuentes Carranza, Youth Leader of COPPPAL 2. National Congress Party of Sudan - Dr. Nafe Ali Nafe, Vice President of Party and Assistant to President of Sudan - Prof. Ibrahim Ghandour, Head of the Foreign Relations Department - Eng. Musa Mohamed Saed, Head of General Asia Department 13

- Dr. Eisa Bashri M.Hamid, Head of Asian Relations Section 3. IESCO - Dr. Jiang Mingjun, Director General - Ms. Niu Shuangmei, Assistant 4. Hanns Seidel Foundation - Dr. Max Georg Meier, Permanent Representative for Central Asia 5. CAPDI - Mr. Itaru Ishii, Executive Deputy Director, CAPDI Japan

Journalists (6) - Mr. Pitan Daslani, Senior Political Correspondent, Jakarta Globe Daily, Indonesia - Mr. Kim Gye-whan, Chief Editor of Multiculture Department, Yonhap News Agency, Republic of Korea - Mr. Paolo Romero, Senior Correspondent, Philippine Star - Mr. Michael Ubac, Senior Correspondent, Philippine Daily Inquirer - Mr. Antonio Lopez, Publisher of BizNews Asia and Columnist of Manila Times - Ms. Maria Christina Apelo, Journalist, Philippines

List of Candidates for the Bureau of the 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP

1. General Assembly

Chairman: - Hon. Ali Javad Ahmadov, Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of the New Azerbaijan Party Vice-Chairmen (6): - Hon. Ms Sujata Koirala, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, and Head of International Relations Department of the Nepali Congress Party - Hon. Tran Dac Loi, Vice Chairman of the Commission for External Relations - Hon. Ercan Candan, Member of Parliament and Member of APA for Turkist Group, Justice and Development Party of Turkey - Hon. Fadi Fawaz, Advisor to the Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Future Movement Party of Lebanon - Hon. Andrey Klimov, Member of the Council of Feration and Member of the Presidium of the General Council, United Russia Party - Hon. Dr. Nalinee Taveseen, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, Pheu Thai Party of Thailand

2. Drafting Committee of the Baku Declaration

Chairman: - Hon. Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Senator and Secretary General of Pakistan Muslim League Vice-Chairmen (3): - Hon. Asaf Hajiyev, Head of the International Department of the New Azerbaijan Party - Hon. Rufus Bautista Rodriguez, Member of the House of Representatives, PMP (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino) of the Philippines - Hon. Hwang Jin-ha, Member of the National Assembly and President of ICAP P Parliamentarians’ Union of the Korean National Assembly, Saenuri Party of Republic of Korea

3. Special Workshop on Young Political Leaders

Chairman: - Hon. Ramin Mammadov, Deputy Chairman of the Youth Union, New Azerbaijan Party Vice-Chairmen (3): - Hon. Suos Yara, Under Secretary of State, Office of the Council of Ministers, Cambodian People’s Party - Dr. Rajan Bhattarai, Member, International Department and former Advisor to Prime Minister, Communist Party of Nepal (UML) - Hon. Mahdi Soli, Vice President of the Center for International Affairs and 15

Advisor on International Affairs to Former Vice President, Islamic Motalefeh Party of Iran

4. Special Workshop on Women Politicians

Chairperson: - Hon. Malahat Ibrahim qizi, Member of Parliament, New Azerbaijan Party Vice-Chairpersons (3): - Hon. Anoma Gamage, National List Parliamentarian, United National Party of Sri Lanka - Hon. Dr. Park In-sook, Member of the National Assembly, Saenuri Party of the Republic of Korea - Hon. Ms. Ng Miow Hia, Deputy Chief of MCA National Legal Bureau cum t he Central Committees of MCA Women Section of Malaysia

Conference Procedures for the 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP (Baku, November 22-23, 2012)

1. The official language of the 7th General Assembly (GA) of the ICAPP shall be English. However, if any delegation or observer provides its own interpreter, who can simultaneously interpret its native language into English, the New (New) Azerbaijan Party (YAP), which is the hosting political party of the GA, will provide facilities for simultaneous interpretation.

2. A Chairman and five Vice Chairmen of the GA will be elected by the GA at the Opening Ceremony. The list of candidates for the bureau of the GA will be prepared and submitted by the Standing Committee (SC) for its adoption at the GA. In this regard, Chairman of the 7th GA will be nominated by the YAP in accordance with the ICAPP tradition. Five Vice Chairmen will be nominated by the SC in consideration of geographic balance of the region. The Chairman, and Vice Chairmen upon the request from the Chairman, will preside over the plenary sessions of the GA.

3. Heads of Delegations, and Heads of Observer Delegations, will be invited to deliver their keynote speeches on the main theme of GA, “Security, Peace and Reconciliation in Asia,” at the plenary sessions. Their speeches, however, should not exceed five to seven minutes each for the smooth conduct of the conference. The list of speakers will be prepared and circulated by the ICAPP Secretariat at the beginning of each plenary session.

In this regard, all delegates are requested to take note that, at the 13th Meeting of the ICAPP Standing Committee held in Kunming in July 2010, an understanding was reached that all representatives of the political parties at ICAPP meetings should refrain from raising any issues directly related to bilateral conflicts or disputes among the countries in the region.

The copies of speeches, in English, should be submitted electronically (by email) to the ICAPP Secretariat at [email protected] for publication of the report of the 7th GA. Otherwise, the copies of the speeches will not be included in the final report.

4. Heads of Delegations with positions higher than Speaker of their respective national parliaments or Prime Minister of their respective national governments will be invited to designated seats on the podium during the Opening Session of the GA.

5. Two workshops, on women politicians and young political leaders, will be held separately on the sidelines of the GA. A Chairperson and three Vice Chairpersons each for the two workshops will be nominated by the SC.

6. The Baku Declaration will be adopted and read at the Closing Session. The first draft of the declaration will be prepared by the Drafting Committee and circulated among all the delegations at the beginning of the GA. The final draft will be circulated prior to the Closing Session for its adoption.

Recommendation to the 7th General Assembly by the ICAPP Standing Committee to Amend the ICAPP Charter (Baku, November 22, 2012)

The 18th Meeting of the ICAPP Standing Committee, held in Baku on November 21, 2012, decided to recommend to the 7th General Assembly to be held in Baku during November 22- 23, 2012, to amend the Paragraph 1 of Article 9 of the ICAPP Charter, which currently reads “A Standing Committee, composed of the representatives of eighteen (18) members from an equal number of countries, shall be established” to “A Standing Committee, composed of the representatives of not exceeding twenty-two (22) political parties from an equal number of countries in the region, shall be established.”

The decision was made in consideration of the requests from some political parties from the countries in the region that are not currently represented in the Standing Committee, and in recognition of the need for wider participation of major political parties in the ICAPP activities.

List of Speakers at the Plenary Sessions of the 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP (Baku, Nov. 22-23, 2012)

Opening Session (10:00-12:00, November 22) 1. H.E. Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan and Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party, delivered by Hon. Ramiz Mehdiyev, Chief of Presidential Administration, Office of the President of Azerbaijan 2. Hon. Ali Javad Ahmadov, Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of the New Azerbaijan Party, and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP 3. H.E. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations (Video Message) 4. Hon. Jose de Venecia, Jr., Founding Chairman of the ICAPP and Co-Chairman of the ICAPP Standing Committee 5. Hon. Du Qinglin, Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) 6. Hon. Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia and Senior Leader of the Cambodian People’s Party 7. Hon. Hussain Muhammad Ershad, Former President of Bangladesh and Chairman of Jatiyo Party of Bangladesh 8. Hon. Madhav Kumar Nepal, Former Prime Minister and Senior Leader of CPN(UML) 9. Hon. Wilfred Martens, Former Prime Minister of Belgium and President of the European People’s Party (Video Message) 10. Hon. Chung Eui-yong, Co-Chairman of the Standing Committee and Secretary General of the ICAPP (Election of Bureau of the 7th GA and Amendment of the ICAPP Charter, Report on the Activities of the ICAPP 2011-12)

1st Plenary Session (12:30-13:45, November 22) Chair: Hon. Ms. Sujata Koirala, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, and Head of International Relations Department of the Nepali Congress Party 11. Hon. Natik Aliyev, Minister of Energy Industry of Azerbaijan 12. Hon. Gennady Zyuganov, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Russian Federation (CPRF) and Head of the CPRF Faction in the State Duma 13. Hon. Hoang Binh Quan, Chairman of the Central Commission for External Relations and Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam 14. Dr. Nafe Ali Nafe, Vice President of National Congress Party and Assistant to President of Sudan 15. Hon. Prof. Dr. Hassan Ghafouri Fard, Former Vice President of Iran, and Member of the Central Committee of Islamic Motalefeh Party 16. Hon. Hwang Jin-ha, Member of the National Assembly and President of ICAPP Parliamentarians’ Union of the Korean National Assembly, Saenuri (New Frontier) Party, Republic of Korea

2nd Plenary Session (15:00-16:30, November 22) Chair: Hon. Tran Dac Loi, Vice Chairman of the Commission for External Relations 17. Hon. Gustavo Carvajal Moreno, Deputy President of COPPPAL and Former President of 19

the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) of Mexico 18. Mr. Happy Bone Zulkarnain, Vice Secretary General, GOLKAR Party, Indonesia 19. Hon. Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman President of JUI-F and Member of Parliament, Pakistan 20. Hon. Muhiddin Kabiri, Chairman of Islamic Revival Party, Tajikistan 21. Hon. Keo Puth Reasmey, Chairman of the FUNCINPEC Party and Advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia with the rank of Deputy Prime Minister 22. Hon. Mukhtar Yermen, Deputy Head of Central Office, People’s Democratic Party “Nur Otan” of Kazakhstan 23. Hon. Ms. Sujata Koirala, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Head of International Relations Department of Nepali Congress Party 24. Hon. Dr. Chua Soi Lek, President of Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) 25. Hon. Sabir Rustamkhanli, Chairman of Civic Solidarity Party of Azerbaijan 26. Hon. Mel Senen S. Sarmiento, Member of the House of Representatives and Secretary General, Liberal Party of the Philippines 27. Dr. Jiang Mingjun, Director General of International Eco-Safety Cooperative Organization (IESCO)

3rd Plenary Session (17:00-18:00, November 22) Chair: Hon. Ercan Candan, Member of Parliament and Member of APA for Turkish Group, Justice and Development Party of Turkey 28. Hon. Prakob Chirakiti, Member of Parliament, Democrat Party of Thailand 29. Hon. Rauf Gurbanov, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Communist Party 30. Hon. Safwan Alkoudsi, General Secretary, Arab Socialist Union of Syria 31. Hon. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Member and Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Vice Chairman of Lakas-CMD Party of the Philippines 32. Hon. Ali Karimli, Chairman of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party 33. Hon. Daya Dharmapala Kilittuwa Gamage, Member of Parliament and National Organizer of United National Party of Sri Lanka 34. Hon. Dato Seri Shahidan bin Kassim, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister for the Northern Region Economic Growth, Member of Supreme Council of UMNO, and Chairman of the ICAPP Youth Wing 35. Hon. Yasuo Ogata, Vice Chairperson of the Executive Committee and Chairman of the International Commission of Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 36. Dr. Max Georg Meier, Permanent Representative for Central Asia, Hanns Seidel Foundation 37. Mr. Ghodrat Ali Heshmatiyan, Member of the Central Council, Iran Parties House

4th Plenary Session (09:20-11:00, November 23) Chair: Hon. Fadi Fawaz, Advisor to the Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Future Movement Party of Lebanon 38. Hon. Raffi K. Hovannisian, Chairman of Heritage Party of Armenia 39. Hon. Awiz Aliboda, Co-Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Azerbaijan 40. Hon. Dr. Nalinee Taveseen, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, Pheu Thai Party of Thailand 41. Mr. Asim Nazim Mollazade, Chairman of Azerbaijan Democratic Reform Party 42. Hon. Abdul Matin Khasru, Former Minister of Law, Justice and Placement Affairs, and Secretary for Legal Affairs of the Central Committee, Bangladesh Awami League 20

43. Hon. Mubariz Gurbanli, Member of Parliament and Deputy Executive Secretary of the New Azerbaijan Party 44. Mr. Ilyas Ismayilov, Chairman of Adalet Party of Azerbaijan 45. Hon. Sevinj Fataliyeva, Member of Parliament and Deputy Chairperson of the Youth, New Azerbaijan Party 46. Hon. Anwar Faraj Sadoon, Member of Leadership, Islamic Group in Kurdistan of Iraq 47. Hon. Ercan Candan, Member of Parliament and Member of APA for Turkish Group, Justice and Development Party of Turkey 48. Hon. Mustafa Ali, Secretary General of Pan Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and Former Deputy Minister, Malaysia 49. Mr. Agamali Elchin, Deputy Chairman for International Affairs, Motherland Party of Azerbaijan

Special Workshop on Young Political Leaders (09:20-11:00, November 23) Chair: Hon. Ramin Mammadov, Deputy Chairman of the Youth Union, New Azerbaijan Party 50. Hon. Suos Yara, Under Secretary of State, Office of the Council of Ministers, Cambodian People’s Party 51. Dr. Tee Ching Seng, Counselor to the President of FUNCINPEC Party, Cambodia 52. Mr. Jorge Luis Fuentes Carranza, Youth Leader of COPPPAL 53. Mr. Itaru Ishii, Executive Deputy Director, CAPDI Japan 54. Mr. Mustafa Hyder Sayed, International Youth Representative, Pakistan Muslim League- Q 55. Dr. Rajan Bhattarai, International Department and former Advisor to Prime Minister, Communist Party of Nepal (UML) 56. Mr. Mahdi Soli, Vice President of the Center for International Affairs and Advisor on International Affairs to Former Vice President, Islamic Motalefeh Party

Special Workshop on Women Politicians (09:20-11:00, November 23) Chair: Hon. Malahat Ibrahim qizi, Member of Parliament, New Azerbaijan Party 57. Hon. Dr. Park In-sook, Member of the National Assembly, Saenuri Party, Republic of Korea 58. Hon. Ms. Anoma Gamage, National List Parliamentarian, United National Party of Sri Lanka 59. Dr. Ms. Anis Byarwati Burhanuddin, Head of Women Division, Prosperous Justice Party of Indonesia 60. Dr. Eisa Bashri M.Hamid, Head of Asian Relations Section, National Congress Party of Sudan

5th Plenary Session (11:30-12:40, November 23) Chair: Hon. Andrey Klimov, Member of the Council of Federation and Member of the Presidium of the General Council, United Russia Party 61. Report on Women Politicians Workshop by Hon. Malahat Ibrahim qizi, Member of Parliament, New Azerbaijan Party, and Hon. Dr. Park In-sook, Member of the National Assembly, Saenuri Party, Republic of Korea 62. Hon. Avaz Temirkhan, Chairman of Azerbaijan Liberal Party 21

63. Report on Young Political Leaders Workshop by Hon. Ramin Mammdov, Deputy Chairman of the Youth Union, New Azerbaijan Party 64. Hon. Rufus Bautista Rodriguez, Member of the House of Representatives, President of Centrist Democratic Party, Philippines 65. Hon. Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Member of the National Executive and Political Associate to the National President, Bharatiya Janata Party, India 66. Mr. Mohamed Imthiyaz, Member of the Council and Register General, Jumhooree Party of Maldives 67. Dr. Ms. Anis Byarwati Burhanuddin, Head of Women Division, Prosperous Justice Party, Indonesia 68. Dr. Barun Kumar Mukherji, Member of Parliament and National Secretary and Chairman of Bengal Committee, All India Forward Bloc (AIFB)

6th Plenary Session (12:40-13:40, November 23) Chair: Hon. Dr. Nalinee Taveseen, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, Pheu Thai Party of Thailand 69. Hon. Andrey Klimov, Member of the Council of Federation and Member of the Presidium of the General Council of the United Russia Party, Russian Federation 70. Hon. Upendra Yadav, Chairman of Madhesi People’s Rights Forum, Nepal 71. Hon. Fadi Fawaz, Advisor to the Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Future Movement Party of Lebanon 72. Hon. Somawansa Amarasinghe, Leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (People’s Liberation Front) of Sri Lanka 73. Mr. Moosa Fathuhee Adam, President of Shaviyani Atoll Council, Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party of Maldives 74. Hon. Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Deputy Head of the Committee for External Relations of the Central Committee of Lao People’s Revolutionary Party 75. Hon. Khuldorj Buren-Erdene, Member of the Conference, Mongolian People’s Party

Closing Session (15:00-16:00, November 23) 76. Hon. Ali Javad Ahmadov, Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of the New Azerbaijan Party, and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP (Closing Remarks) 77. Hon. Asaf Hajiyev, Head of International Department of the New Azerbaijan Party and Secretay General of the Organizing Committee of the 7th GA of ICAPP (Report on results of the 7th GA) 78. Hon. Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Senator and Secretary General of Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Special Rapporteur of the ICAPP Standing Committee, and Chairman of the Drafting Committee of Baku Declaration (Adoption of Baku Declaration) 79. Hon. Chung Eui-yong, Co-Chairman of the Standing Committee and Secretary General of the ICAPP (Vote of Thanks)

New List of the ICAPP Standing Committee (Baku, November 23, 2012)

1. Australia - Liberal Party

2. Azerbaijan - New Azerbaijan Party

3. Bangladesh* - Bangladesh Awami League - Jatiyo Party**

4. Cambodia - Cambodian People’s Party - Funcinpec Party**

5. China - Communist Party of China

6. India - Indian National Congress

7. Iran - Islamic Motalefeh Party

8. Indonesia - GOLKAR Party

9. Japan - Democratic Party of Japan - Liberal Democratic Party**

10. Kazakhstan - People’s Democratic Party “Nur Otan”

11. Korea, Republic of - Saenuri (New Frontier) Party - Democratic United Party**

12. Lebanon* - Future Movement Party - Free Patriotic Movement Party**

13. Malaysia - United Malay National Organization (UMNO)

14. Mongolia* - Democratic Party - Mongolian People’s Party**

15. Myanmar* - Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) - National League for Democracy (NLD)**

16. Nepal - Communist Party of Nepal (UML)

17. Pakistan - Pakistan Muslim League-Q

18. Philippines - Lakas-CMD Party

19. Russia - United Russia Party

20. Thailand* - Pheu Thai Party - Democrat Party**

21. Turkey - Justice and Development Party (AK Party)

22. Vietnam - Communist Party of Vietnam

Notes: (*) represents newly invited members of the SC (**) represents alternate members in the SC.

Presentations by Speakers

Welcoming Remark by H.E. Ilham Aliyev President of Azerbaijan and Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party, delivered by Hon. Ramiz Mehdiyev, Chief of Presidential Administration, Office of the President of Azerbaijan

Dear Forum Participants,

I heartily congratulate you on the occasion of the start in the Azerbaijani capital Baku of the Seventh General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties and wish this important international event every success. I think that holding of this event on the subject of peace, security and cooperation in Asia in Baku is an indicator of the growing authority and credibility of Azerbaijan in the region.

This authoritative structure uniting more than 300 political parties of Asia and Oceania is a successful platform for the development of cooperation between our countries. From this point of view, I think it is commendable that the International Conference of Asian Political Parties is paying special attention to the challenges facing the modern world.

The role and importance of Asian countries in the emergence of a modern political situation in our globalizing world are enhancing every day. Asia is currently becoming the economic center of the world. The assertion of new economic models underlying the dynamic development of leading Asian countries forms major trends in the global economic system. With its rich culture, great economic potential and human resources, the modernizing Asia contributes to the future of humanity. Azerbaijan, which is marking the 21st anniversary of its state independence with a great economic and social recovery, has also developed the “Azerbaijani model” of economic development.

Along with these positive trends we are pleased to observe, we are seriously concerned about poverty, instability, ethnic and religious conflicts, terror and separatism, local conflicts and confrontations in several Asian countries.

From this perspective, the unresolved status of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is one of the key factors impeding economic stability, security, cooperation and development in the region. As a result of Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan, 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territory – Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts – have been under occupation for over 20 years. A policy of ethnic cleansing has been carried out on the Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani territories, more than a million people have become refugees and IDPs. Ancient cultural monuments, schools, museums, mosques in these territories have been destroyed, cemeteries desecrated, unique masterpieces of world civilization razed to the ground.

There are four UN Security Council resolutions on the settlement of the conflict, decisions and resolutions of the UN General Assembly, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, NATO, the European Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other international organizations. But Armenia ignores them all. For this reason, Azerbaijan’s efforts aimed at a negotiated settlement of this conflict, which poses the biggest threat to sustainable peace and security in the region, within the framework of international law remain futile. 26

Dear Forum Participants,

I am sure that you will have a fruitful exchange of views during the Seventh General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties, make important decisions to ensure and strengthen international peace, security and cooperation. At the same time, I have no doubt that member-states of the General Assembly, drawing on each other’s experience, will properly assess the new opportunities in the field of international and regional cooperation and make a worthy contribution to the solution of urgent problems of our time.

I wish the General Assembly success again and all of you good health, happiness and the best of luck in your efforts towards a broad dialogue on the path of peace and cooperation.

Welcoming Remark by Hon. Ali Javad Ahmadov Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of the New Azerbaijan Party, and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP

Ladies and gentlemen, Dear friends,

I`m greatly honored to welcome you in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. I congratulate each of you on the opening of the 7th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties, and wish it successes.

The International Conference of Asian Political Parties is developing at a rapid pace. Problems facing the Asian region and the world as a whole are high on the organization`s agenda. It is with great pleasure that we note that ICAPP has become an organization which strongly influences the political life of a large region, and supports decision-making with its recommendations and advice.

Rapid development of the countries of the Asian continent, the world`s largest region for its human and natural resources, can be considered a remarkable feature of our time. Fast growing economy of this region is changing the economic and political picture of the world. Many Asian countries record stunning economic growth, offering mankind new directions and forms of economic and social evolution. The Asian region is a vivid example for current generations to see how the global balance of power is shifting.

However, Asia surprises everyone with its confrontations as well. Its rapid development, rich human and natural resources are accompanied by poverty, instability, destructions and conflicts. And it`s obvious that Asia needs another quantum leap to shift to a completely new stage of development.

Dear participants,

Azerbaijan restored its independence just 21 years ago. In this short period of time, Azerbaijan`s economy has more than tripled, with a lot of considerable changes happening in all spheres of life. We managed to have reduced the poverty level from 50 per cent to 7 per cent in the last 10 years. Hundreds of thousands of jobs are created in the country on a yearly basis. A diversified modernization policy has completely changed life standard in Azerbaijan. However, Azerbaijan has another reality too – the occupation of 20% of our lands, which has continued for 20 years, as well as nearly one million refugees. I think that it is inevitable that the international community as well as the International Conference of Asian Political Parties, which enjoys a growing role on the international scene, increase attention towards ensuring the settlement of unfair conflicts.

The 7th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties brings together more than 210 delegates from 33 countries. I would like to thank all our dear guests who have travelled a long distance to come to Azerbaijan. And I believe that it is the attention they attach to the work of ICAPP as well as their sincere and good attitude to Azerbaijan that

brought them to Baku. I assure you that the people of Azerbaijan are deeply committed to friendship and partnership.

We believe the 7th General Assembly of the International Conference Asian Political Parties will be a success story, and that it will give a considerable impulse to future activities of the Organization. By joint efforts we are capable of turning ICAPP, which brings together political parties of the world`s largest region, into an influential international organization. I'd like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to some of the initiatives on this front. The International Conference of Asian Political Parties has recently set up its Youth Wing. It was a remarkable event given that youth make the majority of the population of the Asian region. At the same time, it would be interesting and fruitful to organize a youth festival under the patronage of ICAPP in order to support the unity of the Asian youth. The New Azerbaijan Party would be honored to organize such a festival in Azerbaijan. In this context, we also propose establishing a Women`s Wing of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties. And there is no need to prove how much important the creation of such an organization is for the Asian region. I think that initial agreement to establish a Women`s Wing of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties can be reached at a meeting of women delegates at the 7th General Assembly.

Dear friends,

Under the Charter of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party Mr. Ilham Aliyev is elected the chairman of the 7th General Assembly. By ICAPP tradition, representative of the chairman of the 6th General Assembly, Cambodia`s deputy Prime Minister Sok An, symbolically hands over the presidency to the Azerbaijani President by shaking hands with his representative, head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev.

Congratulatory Message by H.E. Ban Ki-moon Secretary General of the United Nations (Transcript of video message)

Your Excellency President Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Honorable Jose de Venecia Jr., Founding Chairman and Co-chairman of the Standing Committee of the ICAPP, Ambassador Chung Eui-yong, Co-chairman of the Standing Committee and Secretary General of the ICAPP, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I’m pleased to send greetings to the International Conference of Asian Political Parties. I thank the Yeni Azerbaijan Party for hosting this important meeting. Since its inaugural meeting in 2000, ICAPP has grown to become an important forum for dialogue and coordination encompassing diverse government, opposition and independent voices from across the region. Your theme at this year’s gathering, Security, Peace and Reconciliation, is timely.

Throughout Asia, conflict and misunderstanding among faith and cultures remain significant obstacles to progress. This makes it harder to mobilize the global cooperation, we need to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, protect the human rights and address common threats such as extremism and climate change. This meeting is opportunity to build bridges of mutual understanding that can lead you towards future of stability, prosperity, freedom, and opportunity. As you travel that road, I encourage you to empower women, youth, and civil society in keeping with the democratic tenet of our times.

The United Nations for its part is active across your membership. I will continue to be your partner from energy to education, from conflict prevention to disaster risk reduction. I wish you a productive meeting and every success as you strive to build better lives for all the people of Asia.

Thank you.

Opening Remark by Hon. Jose de Venecia, Jr. Founding Chairman of the ICAPP and Co-Chairman of the ICAPP Standing Committee

Excellencies, Friends and Colleagues,

This historic city of Baku by the Caspian Sea, a strategic bridge between Asia and Europe on the Silk Route, makes a picturesque setting for our Seventh General Assembly. On behalf of all our membership, I thank the New Azerbaijan Party under its able and visionary Chairman, President Ilham Aliyev, and Vice Chairman Ali Ahmadov, who heads the Organizing Committee, for this splendid reception to its capital city.

ICAPP has come a long way from the founding members that met in Manila in the year 2000. We now count 318 member-parties, ruling and opposition parties, from 52 Asian states. And our newest members include Myanmar’s key political parties: the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi’s oppositionist National League for Democracy.

Another welcome sign is the increasing engagement of our Eurasian and Central Asian brethren in ICAPP’s activities.

Cambodian Deputy Premier Sok An, Chairman of the Council of Ministers, has personally flown here to turn over the chairmanship of Cambodia, began in Phnom Penh on December 1, 2010 under the capable Premier Hun Sen, who has just presided at the successful ASEAN and East Asian Summits in Phnom Penh, to the new Chairman, Azerbaijan President Aliyev.

BAKU’S INCLUSIVE MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY

We applaud as well all of Azerbaijan’s political parties for your active presence today, symbol of Azerbaijan’s successful inclusive multi-party democracy.

Perhaps Azerbaijan’s single biggest achievement under President Aliyev, succeeding the late visionary President Heydar Aliyev, which our governments and political parties must emulate, is its success in bringing down poverty from 49.85% to 7.6%, creating a predominant middle class society in the heartland of Central Asia and Eurasia, a dream most nations can only aspire to achieve. Having created more than a million jobs, Azerbaijan, a member in the Security Council, is the leader in the South Caucasus. We note its prudent management of oil and gas resources and the building of new pipelines from the Caspian Sea to the gates of Europe.

WE CAN ALL TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT WE’VE ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR

Certainly we can all take pride in what we in ICAPP have been able to do so far. Our founding goal was modest: until now, ICAPP is first and foremost a fraternal association of groups collectively engaged in directing and administrating states and civil-society groupings.

Our member-parties represent every shade in the political spectrum, parties of the left, parties of the center, and parties of the right, and independents. We do not distinguish our member- parties by their ideologies. We ensure only that they belong to the mainstream—that they aggregate a significant portion of political opinion in the states they represent, from Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, and the Arab World, Australia, New Zealand, and the small island states of the Pacific.

Until now, our main effort is directed toward bringing the Asian political parties—both in power and in opposition—into a collegial whole. We share a vision of ‘One Asia,’ but we also realize, we can only approximate that ideal.

ICAPP HAS ALSO HELPED TO ESTABLISH STRATEGIC SUBSIDIARY / AFFILIATE GROUPINGS THAT FOSTER SPECIFIC GOALS THAT SUSTAIN ASIAN SOLIDARITY

Directly or indirectly, ICAPP has also helped to establish subsidiary or affiliate organizations meant to foster specific goals of Asian solidarity.

Among these groupings is the unique CAPDI—the Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International, perhaps the only organization that brings together political parties and the organizations of flourishing civil society, which traditionally are in tension or in conflict. We are proud of CAPDI’s two most recent eminent persons: Democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and former East Timor President and Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta, both Asian Nobel Peace laureates.

A second ICAPP affiliate is the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council (APRC), which we initiated, founded in Bangkok last August, and nominated former Thai Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai as its first Chairman with headquarters in Bangkok.

ICAPP and CAPDI first created APRC’s forerunner, the CAPDI Peace Initiative, with offices in Phnom Penh, provided by the Cambodian People’s Party under Premier Hun Sen and Deputy Premier Sok An and which promoted with ICAPP the government-of-national-unity talks on Nepal, still pending, still elusive; however, on the sidelines of ICAPP meetings, we helped push the turnover of insurgent weapons to the Nepalese Army.

APRC AND IESCO: PEACE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

APRC is designed to advise and assist Asian governments ruling in the aftermath of internal conflicts. APRC’s special mission is to bring to every region of Asia the message of reconciliation, thus as pointed out by our hardworking colleague, parliamentary and party leader, Dr. Asaf Hajiyev, head for international relations of the New Azerbaijan Party, Azerbaijan chose the theme of our conference, “Security, Peace and Reconciliation in Asia.”

We have a dynamic environmental partner—the International Eco-Safety Cooperative Organization (IESCO). One of its objectives is to ensure that Asian governments “govern green.”

IESCO’s goal is to see to it that the interests of the environment are represented in every public policy decision. It monitors proposed legislation, party platforms, and civil society charters for their sensitivity to climate change and environmental protection. IESCO, with offices in Beijing, New York, Hongkong and St. Petersburg, has been granted Consultative Status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and has been designated by ICAPP partner on climate change issues and recently, by the Latin American-Caribbean political parties under COPPPAL.

WE’RE ALSO EXTENDING OUR FRATERNAL TIES TO THE POLITICAL PARTIES OF LATIN AMERICA AND AFRICA

ICAPP also has growing ties with COPPPAL, the organization of Latin American and Caribbean parties, represented here by the senior Latin American statesman, Deputy President Gustavo Carvajal of the newly-triumphant PRI party in Mexico. Also with us in Baku is Argentina’s Francisco Cafiero, grandson to Argentina’s respected statesman Antonio Cafiero. Most recently, in Mexico, we agreed to organize an Asian-Latin-American Business Council—to complement our political exchanges with economic initiatives.

Not only are ICAPP and COPPPAL working toward our shared ideal of continent-wide party partnerships since our first joint meeting in Argentina. Today, we also envision interaction with assembled parties of the African Union.

And the process has begun. Our historic Joint ICAPP-COPPPAL Meeting in Mexico last October 13-14, 2012 was attended by African political parties and today we have the beginnings of an unprecedented Asian-Latin American-African tri-continental alliance, which we hope to formalize in Beijing next year on invitation of the Communist Party of China.

LIMITED ACHIEVEMENT IN DEBT RELIEF

The outcome we seek is a fraternal association of all the political parties of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. We hope to enable the states of the developing world to speak with one voice in global councils—for example, in the trade negotiations still stalemated in the World Trade Organization. In an increasingly globalized world, we in ICAPP seek strength in unity and in a sense of shared purpose, born out of our common history.

We in ICAPP are happy to report that our continued efforts to achieve debt relief, debt swap and a modicum of debt reduction for the most heavily indebted middle countries have achieved modest results: Germany and Italy have agreed to limited debt conversions whereby debt repayments are instead use to finance anti-poverty and environmental projects in the debtor countries.

However, our Asian Anti-Poverty Fund proposal, despite encouragement from U.N. Secretary –General Ban Ki Moon, has not made progress so far.

THE NEW MULTILATERAL BALANCE IN THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM

On a much larger scale, the same kind as our coalition building—we seek solidarity and strength in union— with most every region of the world. 33

The whole of the international system is shifting from unilateralism—under American leadership—to a multilateral balance, with no state clearly in command. New power centers in the G-20 and BRICS are rising—in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. The United States and China are perhaps the ‘Big Two”—the unintended rival poles of this emerging global power balance.

In a sense, the European Union still suffers from its artificial community. Note how the euro zone crisis threatens its fragile unity. Only China—a continental country, also a self- contained civilization—has perhaps the cultural confidence to face up to the American superpower.

The United States still wields the strongest influence on global affairs—whether militarily, economically, or culturally. But even America cannot act unilaterally any longer.

During these last six decades, China’s leaders have restored their country to its rightful place in the concert of powers— after 150 years of its weakness, disorder, and conflict. They have made China a center of gravity in today’s multilateral power balance.

GROWING FASTER THAN THE WORLD HAS THOUGHT POSSIBLE

Economically, China has grown much faster than the world has thought possible. Now only the United States is ahead in GDP terms, and even that may change before 2020.

Meanwhile, China’s strategic reach is growing. Already it is ranging into every continent— reaching out to raw-material sources and potential markets, invigorating regional economies everywhere. Signifying China’s financial power, and as we noted at our last Standing Committee meeting in Baku, Beijing has just lent the IMF $43 billion for relending to the crisis-stricken countries. Our young country, the Philippines, under reformist President Benigno Aquino, after 35 years of IMF tutelage, and borrowings from the IMF, has now lent $1 billion to the IMF.

TIME NOW FOR A “GRAND BARGAIN” BETWEEN BEIJING AND WASHINGTON

We in ICAPP believe the time has come for Beijing and Washington to enter into what observers call a “grand bargain” or what we would call a ‘grand settlement’ indeed a strategic compromise to settle their geopolitical, economic, and cultural differences.

There can be no peace; there can be no stability; there can be no prosperity in the twenty-first century world except under their joint leadership with support of the European Union.

We in Asia are especially proud of the great Indian and Chinese civilizations, the peaceful industrial power of modern Japan and its major contributions to Official Development Assistance (ODA), Russia’s and Kazakhstan’s push to create the Eurasia Union, APEC, the expanding roles of ASEAN in Southeast Asia and in the ASEAN Security Forum, SAARC, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization with Russia, China and the states in Central Asia.

Political transitions in both the U.S. and China make the present a good time for such a grand bargain or settlement.

In Washington, his re-election has invigorated President Barack Obama and strengthened his hand against the American right wing.

In Beijing, a once-in-a-decade changing of the guard has just raised to power the fifth generation leadership of the ruling Communist Party (CPC), led by Vice President Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, and Liu Yunshan who will take over the leadership as President, Prime Minister, and Vice President of China, respectively.

The new Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have both insightfully said the Pacific is big enough for all powers.

THE AGE OF IDEOLOGICAL CONFLICT IS OVER

For us in Asia, the age of ideological conflict is over. We want no new Cold War in the Asia Pacific. Nor do we wish any state in our home-region to play either the “American Card” or the “China Card.” And we, Asia’s ruling and opposition parties see no reason the relationships between the great powers should be adversarial. We see no differences between them that diplomacy cannot resolve.

Reconciling these two great powers is the key problem of the international system. And I believe the Joint Statement of President Hu Jintao and President Obama of January 2011 offers the two sides a solid foundation for rebuilding their historical ties.

In that declaration, the two leaders affirmed that the United States welcomes a strong, prosperous, and successful China that plays a greater role in world affairs; and China welcomes the United States as a Pacific nation that contributes to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

POVERTY IS THE REAL ENEMY

For most of our peoples—as President Hu Jintao reminds us—poverty still is the true enemy. And, in East Asia, our greatest shared need is to preserve the bubble of stability that has made our region the fastest growing in the world. This is why we, the political parties in ICAPP and our fraternal counterparts in Latin America, believe there is no substitute for dialogue in dealing with regional problems and to augment government-to-government efforts. We recommend easier, more flexible party-to-party Track 1.5 or Track 2 diplomacy to assist governments resolve regional conflicts or work out negotiated political settlements.

Ironically, poverty becomes more difficult to bear as society prospers—because poverty then becomes the product, not of material scarcity, but of social inequality.

Everywhere in Asia, globalization is widening the social distance between the few who are rich and the many who are poor. Our governments and political parties should demarcate the moral limits of the market—to ensure that the least of our peoples possess the human and material capital they need to pursue opportunities to improve their lives.

Peter Drucker has said: There are no poor countries in the world. Only poorly managed countries.

SPECIFIC PROBLEMS FACING THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY—AND HOW ICAPP IS WORKING TO HELP RELIEVE THEM

Excellencies, friends: let me turn briefly to specific problems facing the Asian community, and how ICAPP is working to help relieve them.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS TODAY

In recent months, people everywhere have come through enough calamities to remind us that global warming is not the theoretical problem of some distant future, but today’s gravest threat to humankind. Climate change is today.

Now we also realize climate change is not the work of Providence but of ourselves, in our human arrogance and heedlessness. Yet man is not licensed to inflict all he wills on all Creation. We must return to the doctrine of human beings as stewards of the Earth.

Most urgently, the international community needs to set more rigorous—tougher—standards against which to measure—and penalize—carbon emissions. And we in ICAPP appreciate fully IESCO’s efforts on the Earth’s behalf—because our continent has been among the most devastated by our wanton despoliation of the environment. IESCO is represented here by its President-Director General, the outstanding scientist Dr. Jiang Mingjun. IESCO is inviting ICAPP members to its large IESCO Assembly on Climate Change in Bali, Indonesia on December 9-12, 2012, barely two weeks from now. Remember, IESCO is our Climate Change partner.

ICAPP’S EFFORT TO SET UP A GLOBAL SUMMIT ON DRUG TRAFFICKING

In recent weeks, ICAPP has also started promoting a Global Summit to stem the worldwide spread of narcotic drugs.

All our peoples realize the extent and gravity of this social threat. And, as we all know, any effort to make trafficking more difficult in one locality—one region—or even one continent— simply shifts drug production and trafficking to another locality, another region, another continent.

Currently, anti-drug campaigns in Mexico and Central America are driving Latin-American drug lords to West Africa as a transit point for smuggling cocaine into Europe.

Even in the Philippines, we increasingly intercept transshipments by African and Asian ‘drug mules.’ And already the United States is training elite counter-narcotics police in Ghana, while planning similar units in Kenya and Nigeria.

But police measures aren’t enough. In the new nations, weak states themselves must be strengthened, and social institutions built up, to prevent trafficking groups from embedding themselves—and turning transit countries into consumer countries.

STAND-ALONE POLICES AGAINST THE DRUG TRADE ARE NO LONGER ENOUGH

In sum, stand-alone national programs can no longer suffice. The global war on narcotic drugs—cocaine, heroin and the new chemical amphetamines—now requires group effort that only a supranational body focused on resolving the problem can provide.

The key to an effective anti-narcotics effort is global coordination. Hence, we in ICAPP have suggested to both United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Mexico’s new President Enrique Peña Nieto, who will assume office next week December 1, that they convene a Global Summit in Mexico City, to unify and coordinate national strategies, policies, and programs to counter the world-wide spread of narcotic drugs, whose production and distribution are worsening.

ICAPP STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING WITH SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI- MOON

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was supportive of a new global push against narcotics when he received our Standing Committee in New York last month. Last July, four months ago, on the eve of his victory, Co-Chairman Chung Eui-yong and I met with H.E. Enrique Pena Nieto with COPPPAL Deputy President Gustavo Carvajal. We then subsequently wrote to President Peña Nieto proposing such a Summit, which was unanimously supported by the Asian, Latin American/Caribbean, and African political parties which gathered in Mexico, October 13-14, led by Mexico’s ruling party and COPPPAL, PRI President Pedro Joaquin Coldwell.

To Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, we also pointed out that now is a good time to renew the Inter-Faith Dialogues the UN had held in key countries after the September 11 (2001) terrorist attacks. ICAPP and its leaders had a small part in getting the Inter-Faith Dialogues endorsed by the U.N. General Assembly.

We pointed out the liability of the international community’s facing a renewed and subtle campaign of religious terrorism from provocateurs.

THE ASIAN PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COUNCIL

We also briefed the Secretary General on the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council that ICAPP helped to found with elder statesmen from both Asia and Europe. Secretary General Ban welcomed the possibility of having APRC “friends of the court” help think through Asian peace initiatives.

In our work of peace-making, it is our earnest hope that ICAPP and the newly-formed Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council might perhaps contribute in a modest way to a peace and reconciliation between Azerbaijan and Armenia relative to the occupied territories and Nagorno-Karabakh and the implementation of the U.N. Resolutions. Our colleague Dr. Asaf Hajiyev brought this up directly in our talks with the U.N. Secretary General.

We in ICAPP endorse the initiative of the Presidents of the U.S., Russia, and France and the work of the three countries co-chairing the OSCE Minz Group and call on Azerbaijan and

Armenia to work on and finalize the basic principles of a peace settlement of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict.

RECONCILIATION: RED SHIRTS AND YELLOW SHIRTS

We should soon have some practical indication from forthcoming Track II diplomacy how the APRC might fare. Thailand and Cambodia have rival claims on the eleventh-century Preah Vihear temple on their border region. Thai Premier Yingluck Shinawatra is hopeful the APRC and ICAPP might contribute to parliamentary resolutions on amnesty and reconciliation for “Red Shirts” and “Yellow Shirts” in Thailand and the ethnic Buddhist-Muslim conflicts in Southern Thailand. The ruling Pheu Thai Party and the opposition Democratic Party, both represented here in Baku, could lead in this effort at reconciliation since both are loyal to the much beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

As you know we have written to the 10 political parties in Syria earlier this year to support the Syrian National Council and the efforts of the U.N. –Arab League special envoys but like all the other efforts, we have so far failed and the tragedy and bloodshed continues.

TALKS WITH TALIBAN

We support the faint beginnings of talks between the U.N. Forces, the Afghan government and Pakistan with the Taliban. We also hope that our member parties in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel can make a contribution in the peacemaking efforts in these critical areas.

We should encourage and promote direct talks between the U.S. and Iran. And today, we pray against a major explosion in the Gaza.

ASIAN, LATIN AMERICAN, AFRICAN PARTIES ENDORSE MANILA AGREEMENT

Manila itself has just signed a Framework Peace Agreement with separatist groupings within its Muslim minority community, endorsed in Mexico by the Asian, Latin American/Caribbean and African political parties. But Muslim-Buddhist enmities in Southern Thailand and Myanmar continue to fester; and territorial disputes still roil the strategic and resource-rich China Sea.

ENDORSE DENG XIAO PING FORMULA IN CHINA SEA

In previous ICAPP meetings, we have endorsed Deng Xiao Ping’s formula for the claimant nations in the China Sea to shelve their differences over sovereignty to make way for joint exploration and development of oil-gas resources, and which should include equitable profit- sharing of the fruits of production among the claimant nations. I believe this plan should include designation of fisheries corridors to avoid dangerous confrontations and arrests in the sea. Eventually, we hope the parties could demilitarize the disputed areas and pull out the armed garrisons, and thus convert a zone of conflict into a Zone of Peace, Friendship, Cooperation and Development.

In all of these disputes, the APRC and ICAPP could maybe lend a helping hand. And certainly its intercession will be most effective only where it is solicited by the contending parties—where ICAPP and APRC work behind the scenes—and when it seeks no more than to create space for dialogue.

CREATING SPACE FOR DIALOGUE

“Creating space for dialogue” in fact sums up what ICAPP has tried to do during these past 12 years; and our increasing number, as well as our growing solidarity, indicates to us how well our fraternity has worked, during its first dozen years.

Yet we realize the economic failures in the Communist East European states in the 1980s, which brought down the Berlin Wall and ushered in new democracies, and the ongoing economic difficulties in Europe and the U.S. are still raging today. Perhaps as food for thought we should consider studying merging the best elements of capitalism and socialism, avail of Germany’s social market economic system, while ensuring free markets, free elections, human rights, and free media. I believe that the East Asian concept of the market and the state not as competing but as complementary operating systems could become the basis of a new Asian economic model— particularly for the poor countries just entering the global economy. The emerging new “Arab Spring” governments, in search of new platforms, systems and structures of governance might consider a synthesis of the best of capitalism and socialism.

I do not know in detail what specific ideas and ideals will shape this new economic ideology. I only know we need to find a way out of our seemingly endless, trageic cycles of boom-and- bust.

I also know we in the political parties should respond to the needs, wants, and hopes of ordinary people the world over – whether those in the Arab Spring or emerging countries or in the failed states or those peoples in advanced countries suffering from grave financial crisis – who desire no more than jobs and secure employment, adequate incomes, and decent livelihoods.

This, I believe, should be the task of our political parties in Asia and in the world.

On behalf of our Standing Committee, let me thank you all for your friendship, your trust, and your support.

Thank you and good day.

Opening Remark by Hon. Du Qinglin Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)

Your Excellency, Co-Chairman Jose de Venecia of ICAPP, Co-Chairman Chung Eui-yong of ICAPP, Ladies and gentlemen, Dear friends,

It is a great pleasure to attend 7th General Assembly of ICAPP in the beautiful city of Baku. On behalf of the Communist Party of China and in my own name, I’d like to extend warm congratulations on the opening of the conference, sincere gratitude to our host, the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), and best regards to all representatives here.

ICAPP remains committed, since its inauguration in 2000, to facilitating consultation, cooperation and common development in Asia, trying to promote mutual understanding, expand convergence of interests through finding common ground and explore ways to common development on the basis of mutual benefit. It is in turn welcomed by Asian political parties and leaders and has attracted more and more attention from the rest of the world. We are indeed heartened and encouraged.

Ladies and gentlemen, Dear friends,

Peace, development and cooperation remain the underlying trends of our times. Against this background, the sustained and rapid growth in Asia and the significantly improved living standards of people here have made this Continent one of the most vibrant and most promising regions in the world. But Asia still faces a number of challenges to regional stability and development. It remains a daunting task for us to ensure security and uphold peace in this part of the world.

The choice of the theme for this year’s General Assembly i.e. “Peace, Security and Reconciliation” reflects our shared concern and expectation and highlights our sense of duty and obligation for the times. Political parties of different countries should join hands to build a harmonious and stable environment with the spirit of cooperation, a responsible attitude and a commitment to development, progress, equality, mutual trust and mutual benefit.

Development and progress are the foundation for peace and security. A shared development in Asia helps remove factors disrupting stability and peace. With lingering impact of the international financial crisis, economic and financial security becomes a more acute issue. We should devote more effort to growth and well-being of the people so as to realize common development and prosperity in Asia.

Equality and mutual trust are the important prerequisites for peace and security. Only when nations respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity of each other and the right of the people of different countries to choosing their own social system and 40

development path, can we expand political consensus and mutual trust and can the political foundation for peace and security be consolidated in Asia.

Win-win cooperation is the fundamental means to realize peace and security. In the face of the various conventional and non-conventional security challenges, political parties of different countries should intensify dialogue, exchanges and consultation and seek peace and harmony through win-win cooperation to effectively resolve regional conflicts and international hot-spot issues.

Ladies and gentlemen, Dear friends,

Having gone through harsh times in modern history, the Chinese people are deeply aware of the preciousness of peace and security and the importance of development. Since the founding of the new China, especially since reform and opening-up started over 30 years ago, China has successfully found the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics which suits its national realties and has made remarkable social and economic progress. Nevertheless, we are keenly aware that ours is still the largest developing country in the world. China still has a long way to go to realize modernization and prosperity for all its people.

The Communist Party of China has just concluded its 18th National Congress, a congress of great importance for China’s long-term development being held when China has entered the decisive stage of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. It has therefore attracted a lot of foreign attention.

The underlying theme of the CPC Congress is unequivocal, which is to hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, follow the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development, free up the mind, implement the policy of reform and opening up, pool our strength, overcome all difficulties, firmly march on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and strive to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. It clearly points out the banner we will hold high, the road we will follow, the state of mind we are in and the goals we need to achieve on our way forward.

At the Congress, the historic position of the Scientific Outlook on Development was established as a guideline the Party must follow in the long-run together with Marxism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the Important Thought of Three Represents. It is a new advance of the guidelines of the Party in keeping with the times. We will continue to put people first and be more active in promoting economic and social development in a comprehensive, balanced and sustainable manner and with a holistic approach.

The Congress holds high the great banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. We should remain true to the path, the theories and the system of Socialism with Chinese characteristics. They are the greatest accomplishment and the most extensive consensus of China since the founding of the People’s Republic especially since the launch of the reform and opening-up over 30 years ago. This is a path of reforms and opening-up, of national prosperity, of people’s happiness, of democracy and the rule of law and of a peaceful development. It is in line with China’s reality. The Chinese people must have every confidence in our path, theories and system. 41

At the Congress, a blueprint of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020 was made. This means that China should maintain sound economic development and double 2010 GDP and per capita income for both urban and rural residents. People’s democracy should be expanded. The country’s cultural soft power should be improved significantly. Living standards should be fully raised. Major progress should be made in building a resource conserving and environmentally friendly society. These goals are a boost to the confident and determination of the Chinese people as they strive to create a better life for all.

At the Congress, a general approach to develop Socialism with Chinese Characteristics was put forward. It is to promote economic, political, cultural, social and ecological progress. This approach is more balanced and reflects the shift in the ideas and models of China’s development. It will boost the comprehensive economic and social development, balance the development between urban and rural areas and restore harmony between man and nature. Plans are also made at the Congress to ensure that Party building is more scientific in all respects.

Ladies and gentlemen, Dear friends,

As a member of the Asian community, China is committed to safeguarding peace and promoting development in Asia and beyond. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government are serious about cooperation with other Asian parties and will, as always, support the development of ICAPP. China hopes that ICAPP will evolve with the current trend in Asia and in the world, answer to the new calling of Asian political parties and new aspirations of the Asian people, build consensus, promote cooperation, and make unique contribution to peace, development, cooperation and prosperity of Asia.

I wish this conference a full success!

Opening Remark by Hon. Sok An Deputy Prime Minister and Member of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People's Party

Excellency Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Excellency Ali Ahmadov, Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of the New Azerbaijan Party, and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 7th General Assembly, Honorable Jose de Venecia, Founding Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the ICAPP, Honorable Chung Eui-yong, Co-Chairman of the Standing Committee and Secretary General of the ICAPP, Honorable Senator Mushahid Hussein Sayed, Special Rapporteur of the ICAPP, Honorable Members of ICAPP Standing Committee, Excellencies, Distinguished Speakers, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, it is my great honor and pleasure to address the opening ceremony of the 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP on “Security, Peace and Reconciliation in Asia.” On this auspicious occasion, I would like to express my congratulations to the New Azerbaijan Party for efficiently hosting this 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP here in the great city of Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan.

I cannot fail to extend my heartfelt congratulations and thanks to Honorable Jose de Venecia, Founding Chairman and Co-Chairman of the ICAPP Standing Committee, for his great vision and initiative in establishing and leading this very successful forum since its inauguration in September 2000 in Manila. May sincere appreciation also goes to Honorable Chung Eui-yong, Co-Chairman of the Standing Committee and Secretary General of the ICAPP, for his dedication in running the ICAPP Secretariat in a very efficient manner.

Today’s gathering is another bold step for furthering the original thrust of the ICAPP in strengthening cooperation between Asian political parties with different ideologies and in enhancing mutual understanding and trust among peoples and countries in our home continent. More specifically, through the unique role of the ICAPP, this 7th General Assembly will heighten the exchange of views and experiences in attaining and maintaining security, peace and reconciliation as well as in strengthening democracy and promoting socio-economic development in their respective countries and collectively in our region.

Seizing this opportunity, I would like to recall that in December 2010, with active participation from about 100 Asian political parties, Cambodia successfully hosted the 14th Meeting of the Standing Committee and the 6th General Assembly of the ICAPP under the theme of “Asia’s Quest for a Better Tomorrow”. During the period of the 6th General Assembly, we had also organized the 10th Anniversary of the ICAPP so as to mark its historic foundation a decade ago in the Philippines. At the conclusion of the Assembly, a historic "Phnom Penh Declaration" was unanimously adopted and it is viewed as a testimony to our commitment, as political parties, to ensure a better tomorrow for all people based on peace, 43

security, stability with inclusive economic prosperity, poverty reduction, energy security and environmental sustainability. In the Declaration, we also reaffirmed the importance of the ICAPP’s initiatives such as the establishment of Asian Anti-Poverty Fund, the Asian Micro- Finance Fund and the ICAPP Medical Emergency Forum (IMEF).

Furthermore, through the channels of the ICAPP and CAPDI, we had another opportunity to host the International Forum on “Asian Century: Challenges and Prospects” in Phnom Penh in September 2011 with active participation of many distinguished speakers and respectable guests who have shared their invaluable views and experiences regarding peace building and maintaining in order to bring about national reconciliation, political stability, security, and social order, which are the main pillars for our regional development and prosperity of our peoples. In my capacity as Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 6th General Assembly of the ICAPP and on behalf of the Cambodian People's Party, the Royal Government and the people of Cambodia, I once again express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all dignitaries, distinguished speakers and guests and other eminent persons for your valuable support and kind collaboration in making all the ICAPP’s events in Cambodia such a resounding success.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I strongly believe that the theme of this 7th General Assembly “Security, Peace and Reconciliation in Asia” is rightly chosen given the current global context. It will certainly benefit our political leaders, senior diplomats, women politicians, young political leaders and experts from various backgrounds who are present here and will serve as a lead for them to share and exchange their experiences and ideas concerning security, peace, reconciliation and development in their respective countries as well as for our region.

You may recall that a similar theme was chosen for the ICAPP-CAPDI Joint Conference on “Promoting Reconciliation: Quest for Peace and Prosperity in Asia” held in last April, in Dili of Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. The conference was well participated by eminent persons and distinguished speakers and guests from different countries who had shared useful experiences and lesson-learned of the episodes of social conflicts and their quest for political settlements and reconciliation. The Timor-Leste Declaration has touched on many successful experiences of peace and reconciliation in the region but also pointed out a number of ongoing conflicts and crisis that need to be urgently resolved in a peaceful manner. Among which, the Declaration did raise the situation in the Caucasus region (the question of Nagorno-Karabakh) and express appreciation to the position of President Ilham Aliyev and the New Azerbaijan Party in promoting peace, reconciliation, and development in this region.

I am sure we all believe that peace, security and political stability are the most crucial prerequisites for socio-economic development and prosperity. In view of this, the ICAPP has embarked on an ambitious journey to help create a lasting peace, prosperity and happiness throughout our continent. The ICAPP’s purpose is to facilitate a process of fraternal consultations and dialogues among political parties in order to promote a culture of cooperation and mutual understanding in our region as well as in the world. Evidently, in the Phnom Penh Declaration, we reaffirmed as our end-goal the mobilization of all political groupings for global peace, reconciliation, mutual understanding and trust among Asian nations and beyond. 44

For Cambodia, we strictly adhere to the world peace policy and international cooperation. Internally, we firmly uphold the spirit of peaceful settlement of disputes and national reconciliation. With these principles, the Royal Government led by Samdech Prime Minister HUN SEN successfully launched the win-win policy in 1998 that resulted in full peace, security, political stability and social order – forming the cornerstone for us to rehabilitate and rebuild our war-torn country into a new prosperous society. Through this policy, we effectively had put an end to the Khmer Rouge’s political and military organization and its ideology without bloodshed. Such a successful model was well praised by various distinguished delegates during their deliberations at the 6th General Assembly as well as comprehensively shared during the Dili Conference earlier this year.

Upon achieving peace, security and political and macroeconomic stability, Cambodia has managed to impressively accelerate economic growth and poverty reduction over the past decades. With political and macroeconomic stability, we have also been able to carry out reform measures in all sectors in order to foster institutional capacity building, to improve socio-economic infrastructures, and to create a favorable environment to attract both domestic and foreign investments. As a result, Cambodia is able to engage significantly in the regional and global economic integration as well as in a number of humanitarian missions in the world.

However, up to present, we still witness a great concern of security problem and political instability in various countries, most notably in the Middle East which is next door to Azerbaijan. Moreover, we have observed various acts of provocation and armed aggression being inflicted by a particular group or country on another. Such acts have resulted in tragic loss of human lives and jeopardized the security and stability in the region and in the world.

Furthermore, we all may agree that Asia is still facing a number of security challenges, including territorial disputes, proliferation of weapons, terrorism and cross border illegal activities, human and drugs trafficking, natural disasters and other incidents. In addition, the ongoing tension and social and political turmoil in the East and Southeast Asia, Middle East and North Africa is resulting in political instability, internal armed conflicts and civil war which threaten regional and global security.

Therefore, in order to ensure security, peace and reconciliation in Asia, all states and governments should strengthen national mechanisms and promote bilateral, regional and international cooperation and adhere to the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter in order to successfully counter these challenges. In this context, all disputes and armed conflicts shall be settled through peaceful means and based on international legal instruments. As political leaders, we have to work in a constructive manner with our respective governments and among our political parties so as to avoid internal problems and people uprising by upholding the spirits of maintaining security and peace and promoting national reconciliation and development for our countries and region.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In order to achieve the above goal, we should encourage individual and collective responsibility to create a peaceful and stable political environment; respect human dignity and human rights; respect each other’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity; and to maintain the diversity of our cultures, while harmonizing our region through close 45

dialogues and cooperation and by sticking to the culture of peaceful settlement of disputes that might arise. These are all important aspects of our endeavors to realize the “Asian Century”.

Furthermore, we all should promote and strengthen cultural cooperation and exchange. Learning and appreciation of culture, custom and dignity of each nation will lead to mutual understanding, respect for sovereignty, and will greatly contribute to the protection of cultural heritages, which constitute invaluable assets of each nation and all human beings.

Before concluding, I would like to take this opportunity to share with honorable members of the 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP that Cambodia successfully hosted the 21st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits last week under the theme “ASEAN: One Community, One Destiny”.

The 21st ASEAN Summit successfully launched the regional comprehensive economic partnership, ASEAN institute for peace and reconciliation, ASEAN information center for humanitarian aids and ASEAN regional mine action centre. The Summit also adopted the ASEAN human rights declaration.

Among the Related Summits, the 7th East Asia Summit in particular was attended by leaders of ASEAN member states and Prime Minister of Australia, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Prime Minister of India, Prime Minister of Japan, Prime Minister of New Zealand, President of the Republic of Korea, Foreign Minister of Russia Federation and President of the United States of America. The Summit discussed a wide range of issues including the review and future direction of EAS cooperation regarding environment and energy, education, finance, global health issues and pandemic diseases, natural disasters, migration and ASEAN connectivity. At its conclusion, the Phnom Penh Declaration of the EAS Development Initiative was adopted.

Finally, on behalf of the Cambodian People’s Party, I once again express my sincere thanks to the leadership of the New Azerbaijan Party for their warm welcome and hospitality. I wish you all a productive assembly and a pleasant stay in this beautiful city of Baku of the great land of fire.

And on behalf of Samdech Prime Minister HUN SEN, I would like to handover the chairmanship of the ICAPP’s General Assembly to the leadership of the Republic of Azerbaijan from now on.

Thank you.

Opening Remark by Hon. Hussain Muhammad Ershad Former President of Bangladesh and Chairman of Jatiyo Party of Bangladesh

Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Assalamaualaikum.

Thank you very much for inviting me to this Grand ICAPP Conference. I am delighted to be part of this august gathering of distinguish participants in this Conference Hall gathered in this historic city of Baku.

I salute your Great son of Azerbaizan Poet Nizami Ganjavi. His philosophy, and poems posters the theme of this Conference known to you and me - “Security, Peace and Reconciliation in Asia.” I will briefly touch the core of Peace, Security and Reconciliation in Asia.”

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Continent of Asia is the emerging point of Peace, Security and Reconciliation. I warmly congratulate President Obama and his recent trip to Myanmar, which unfolds the reconciliation after years of lapse of Security and Peace. The Political orbit in search of Peace and Security has thus begun and we are now in right track.

China has played great role to work-out peace, security & stability with its neighbor and the region. CPC deserves all credit and I congratulate the new Leadership of the CPC, and am sure will continue to put its all effort for peace, security and stability of the region.

The Russian Federation under able & wise Leadership of President Putin has proved its sincerity & total commitment towards Peace, Security and Reconciliation.

The volatility in the Middle East recently rocked again, bringing now the fresh initiative to foster peace, retain security and work in unison for reconciliation.

I firmly believe that the people of Palestine suffered too long a period and deserves all justice & support from its neighbor, in order to live in peace & self determination. International Community and ICAPP should condemn recent escalation of force by Israel as well as condemn act by a small unruly group inside Gaza. The people of Israel also deserves to live in peace.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Like you I am hopeful that Peace and Security will prevail not through divisive means but through reconciliation.

I thank you Mr. Chairman and distinguish Representatives of member countries for making ICAPP a visionary path in Peace, Security and Reconciliation. ICAPP has done a tremendous job, and we must be proud to be a part of this process of Peace and Security.

In my country Bangladesh, and in our region South Asia, I am happy to notify that Peace and Security is pressed in to action through reconciliation. Pakistan and India, talking peace burying their past difference, extending hands of support to Afghanistan for ensuring Peace and Security in the nuance of fellowship through reconciliation. Extremism is being negated by all the stakeholders of nations in South Asia region. Reconciliation with Taliban in Afghanistan is in progress, not through force but through understanding and commonality of purpose, respecting emotion and ensuring Peace and Security for our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan.

My country Bangladesh and India are in friendly terms, working up Peace and Security to our people, and rationalizing the spirit of trade and commerce that will benefit our people, and reduce poverty, empower our women with best of education, gender parity, ensuring human right, press freedom, and motivate our young generation, to be best equipped for meeting challenges of 21st century and be successful in all sphere of life. Our young generation deserves credit for making the momentum of progress for a bright and economically beneficial future.

Mr. Chairman, I once again thank you for your dynamic leadership. Our youth must derive the best to be the best.

Finally, I summon my thought to this august gathering, and extend my heartiest congratulations to all present, and a warm Thank you.

I thank Leaders & Members of the New Azerbaijan Party and the people of Azerbaijan for warm welcome & great hospitality.

Let this Conference in Baku, be the stepping stone for uniting the theme of PEACE & SECURITY FOR ALL.

Thank you.

Opening Remark by Hon. Madhav Kumar Nepal Former Prime Minister of Nepal and Senior Leader of Communist Party of Nepal (UML)

Chairperson H.E.Mr. Ali Ahmadov, Hon. Mr. Jose de Venecia, Co-Chair of ICAPP, Hon. Mr. Chung Eui-Yong, Co-Chair of ICAPP, Distinguished Guest, Delegates, Excellencies, Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to convey cordial felicitations of the Nepali people and on my own, to all distinguished delegates and guests participating in the 7th General Assembly of the International Conference of the Asian Political Participant (ICAPP). It is gratifying to note that the ICAPP is getting mature combined with increasing participation of political parties. At this moment, I have still recollections of ICAPP's first conference in Manila where all of us envisioned unity and solidarity among the Asian political parties through this forum for a prosperous and peaceful Asia. We are forging ahead towards that destination. This grand 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP, convened in the beautiful city of Baku, signifies that very orientation.

Distinguished Participants,

Our contemporary world is compounded with multiple challenges associated with the living of people and sustainability of human being on this beautiful earth. Theme of peace, security and reconciliation is very relevant to that regard. Frantic race for nuclear and other types of sophisticated armaments is not only gulping scarce resources but also posing serious threat to the world peace on the other. In fact, most of the people aspire a peaceful and prosperous world. There is a growing danger of misuse of those armaments not only by war mongers of countries but also by terrorists, and various kinds of fundamentalists and fanatics. World peace is intricately linked with justifiable distribution of wealth and resources both within countries and at the international level. This requires active role and mutual cooperation of political parties- which are responsible for policy decisions, for reshaping the world order towards social security and peace.

Mr. Chairperson,

The widening gap between the rich countries and least developed ones; between the rich and poor people within countries has been one of the major reasons of contradictions and conflicts. Negative impact of climate change and degradation of environment is also largely falling on the least developed countries and poor people of the world. It is jeopardizing livelihood of the common people. Global warming, melting of Himalayas, droughts, and hurricanes and storms are some of the manifestations of the climate change that has been seriously threatening human being on the earth. Mutual cooperation and concerted efforts of both of countries and political parties is required to work in unison to minimize the threat of 49

the climate change. We can revisit the decisions and declarations made so far at the international level regarding the mitigation of the negative impact of climate change.

In Nepal we have carrying out our best efforts to creating awareness about the adverse results of the climate change and to taking necessary steps at the policy level. However, our efforts are facing stumbling blocks due to the continuing political instability. Despite the nearly completion of the peace process- the integration and the rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants, the constitution making process has been installed because of the dissolution of the elected Constituent Assembly under the incumbent government led by the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). Now, we are making all efforts to bring back the political process to the normal democratic course through the formation of new government of national unity, calling for a new election for a new Parliament/Constituent Assembly. Only then We can accomplish the unfinished task of constitution writing and it's promulgation, which has to institutionalise and consolidate all the achievements of 2006 Historic movements i.e. Republic, Federalism, Social Justice and Inclusiveness.

Excellencies,

The ICAPP has been expanded beyond Asian continent to bring consolidated efforts together for a safer and peaceful world. Efforts of obtaining observer status in the United National General Assembly may also contribute to brining political parties more close and to draw attention of the international community towards its agenda. The focus on women's cause and the role of young political leaders also add more vigor to future endeavor of the ICAPP. I appreciate all these activities of the ICAPP.

I would like to extend my cordial thanks to all engaged to make this General Assembly a grand success and thanks to the leaders of the New Azerbaijan Party and to all involved in the organization of this events. My heartfelt thanks to the government of Azerbaijan for extending warm hospitality to our delegation. I wish a complete success of this General Assembly.

Thank you.

Keynote Speech by Hon. Raffi K. Hovannisian Chairman of Heritage Party of Armenia

Mister chairman, Distinguished colleagues:

I shall speak but once, so let it be crystal clear.

In a critical but good-faith search for peace, security, and reconciliation in Asia, I came to this beautiful city of Baku, where hundreds of thousands of Armenians once lived before they were forcibly dispossessed and expelled in January 1990 and whose erstwhile presence has been reduced to one remnant church which has been shut down and transformed to foreign purpose. Virtually none remains today, and although our Azerbaijani colleagues make reference to the existence of several thousand ethnic Armenians, I have seen no evidence of that claim. I have asked the authorities here to arrange for me a meeting with even one Armenian who dares to identify himself as such in current-day Baku.

I came here with a different, dialogue-driven spirit and intent, but have immediately faced a stark but expected reality of partisanship, selective propaganda, repetitive rhetoric, unparalleled xenophobia, and an untruthful presentation of parochial positions—not only in society and political circles but also at the presidential level. Everything that stands against the precepts and principles of ICAPP.

There can be no peace, security and reconciliation in our region as long as:

1) An ICAPP member-state, in this case Azerbaijan, launches a failed war of aggression against Mountainous Karabagh and its freedom-loving people, as well as against its own minorities living in its midst, and then blames the self-defenders for that failure;

2) Azerbaijan pursues an official policy of intentional destruction of cultural heritage, and most particularly the daylit destruction in December 2005 of thousands of hand-crafted khatchkars (cross-stones) at the medieval Armenian cemetery at Jugha, Nakhichevan—not as collateral damage of war, but 11 years after the ceasefire and hundreds of miles away from the conflict zone—and ever since has blocked all international missions to the site of this shameful desecration;

3) Azerbaijan continues to release and glorify convicted axe-murderers for the sole reason that the victim is Armenian, without even one voice of condemnation of this cowardly act of hatred in what the founder of ICAPP has referred to as “this inclusive democracy”; and

4) Azerbaijan, in a redundant war of words and terminologies, throws about at meetings such as this the loaded language of “occupation,” when in reality it was liberation, decolonization and everybody’s right to self-determination, and when “occupation” in fact applies most appropriately to Azerbaijani and Turkish control—through genocide, ethnic cleansing, and then the shame of official denialism—of large swathes of the Armenian patrimony from Shahumian and Nakhichevan to the western reaches of the Armenian Plateau.

Peace, security, and reconciliation are possible, however, when we all live by the same standards:

1) Achievement of good, self-critical governance, public accountability, and the assumption of responsibility for safeguarding the equal civil rights and human dignity of our own constituents, opposition parties, non-governmental organizations, and minorities;

2) Empowerment of the average citizen, civil society, and true democracy, not rule by dynasty or dictatorship;

3) Recognition of the liberty, sovereignty, and integrity of all states, old and new, including the Republic of Mountainous Karabagh, whose return to the status quo ante is impossible, but rather whose recognition within its constitutional frontiers will enable a simultaneous, multilateral, and reciprocal right of return for all refugees of all nationalities—not only the displaced Azerbaijanis, but also the more than half million Armenian deportees from Shahumian, Nakhichevan, Artsvashen, and Azerbaijan proper, together with the descendants of the victims and survivors of the great genocide and national dispossession of the Armenian people;

4) Protection of all cultural heritage and condemnation of all desecration of that heritage, whether Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, or other;

5) Prevention and punishment of all genocides and crimes against humanity; and

6) The exercise of humanity and upholding of the common understanding that pain and suffering are universal and, in this connection, due remembrance of the thousands of righteous Turkish neighbors who demonstrated these virtues in saving Armenian lives, including my grandmother’s, during the Genocide of 1915, as well as the hundreds of Azerbaijanis of good conscience who attempted to do the same during the anti-Armenian pogroms in Sumgait and Baku decades later.

For this I am grateful. And hopeful for a better day for the sake of our generations to come.

I thank you for your kind invitation, hospitality, and attention to the whole truth, however terrible or uncomfortable it might be.

Keynote Speech by Hon. Natik Aliyev Minister of Energy Industry of Azerbaijan

Dear chairman! Dear conference participants! Dear guests, ladies and gentlemen!

First of all, on behalf of myself and the Ministry of Industry and Energy, I cordially greet all the participants of the 7th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties and express my deep gratitude to the guests for coming to Azerbaijan. I consider your interest in the conference as the evidence of respect to our country and people. Availing myself of the opportunity, I congratulate the leadership of the New Azerbaijan Party including esteemed Ali Ahmadov who is present here as well as all the YAP members on the 20th anniversary of the YAP, and wish new successes and achievements to our party`s activity and policy towards prosperity and welfare of or people.

I am honored to participate in such a prestigious event and to make a presentation for high- level representatives of Asian political parties about the existing situation of the Azerbaijan`s energy sector and its role in global energy problems.

Today, as a result of accomplishments achieved by Azerbaijan during 21 years of independence, Azerbaijan has grown into the rapidly developing country in the Caspian- Caucasus region and one of the world`s petroleum centers. Our country`s industry and fuel- energy complex played an important and decisive role in boosting Azerbaijan`s economic power and international prestige. Presently, 54.9% of GDP is produced in various sectors of industry, of which 78% is manufactured in extractive industries, 17% in reprocessing, 4.4% in power energy, gas supply ones. Looking back at the past, we can see that first years of independence were very difficult for our country. Dissolution of the Soviet Union, occupation of 20% of the country`s territory, displacement of over a million people from their homes as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and breaking of traditional production ties had a negative economic impact on plummeting oil and gas production.

National leader Heydar Aliyev proved to the world countries that our country possess huge and rich oil and gas reserves and that Azerbaijan is the reliable country to work with. Successful realization of the Heydar Aliyev`s oil strategy, first of all, is associated with Azerbaijan`s being open to all oil companies, no discrimination and the fact that relations and cooperation are mutually beneficial and just. It is the result of the Heydar Aliyev`s forward- looking and wise policy that oil companies from the world`s most developed countries, hundreds of firms are operating in Azerbaijan.

By signing oil contracts, experienced politician Heydar Aliyev increased the number of friends of Azerbaijan in the world. The geographic coverage of foreign oil companies representing their countries in numerous international oil contracts signed to this end was expanded year after year, and interests of the United States of America, United Kingdom, Norway, Russia, Turkey, Iran, China, Japan, France, Spain, Belgium, Canada and other powerful states rose towards Azerbaijan. Investments worth USD 45 billion were placed in the oil industry as part of about 30 production sharing agreements connecting our country 53

with foreign companies. It resulted in dramatic increase in oil and gas production in Azerbaijan, and for its part, it paved the way for export of huge amounts of hydrocarbon resources and ensuring our country`s energy security.

Beginning from 2003, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has skillfully continued national leader Heydar Aliyev`s political and economic strategy, course of reforms and as a result, foundation for new stage for dynamic development of Azerbaijan was laid. Attraction of huge volume of foreign investments, formation of favorable business climate constitute the priority for economic policy of the country.

The New Oil Strategy successfully continued under leadership and with hard work of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev resulted in Azerbaijan`s wining great prestige and becoming a leader in the region. The idea behind esteemed President Ilham Aliyev`s center of activity is underlined by him as "Our aim is not to produce, transport oil and get revenues from it only. Our aim is to divert oil revenues, all political and economic revenues to future interests and welfare of the people of Azerbaijan ."

Application of modern technologies and huge investments in oil and gas industry resulted in 5.5-fold increase in oil production in comparison with early 1990s and 4-fold in gas production. Our country extracts 45 million tons of oil, 26 billion cubic meters of gas yearly. The throughput of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline exceeded 1 million barrels. The country transports 40 million tons of crude and 7 bln cm of gas yearly through three oil and four gas export pipelines.

Azerbaijan is today compared with the world` most important oil exporters. Achievements in the fuel-energy complex give ground to say that our country with its export potential has leading positions in ensuring the world`s and the region`s energy security. It is not accidental that OPEC keeps a close eye on the progress achieved in the oil industry of Azerbaijan, cooperates with our country and granted an observer status to Azerbaijan along with the Russian Federation, Egypt, Mexico.

Our country is already recognized as a gas exporter. Azerbaijan discovered the new big global scale gas field - Umid field in 2010. Determining reserves of the Absheron field is one of the greatest accomplishments achieved. The estimated reserves of the Absheron field makes up 350 billion cubic meters. With discovery of this field, proven gas reserves of Azerbaijan reached 2 trillion 650 billion cubic meters.

A number of energy agreements were signed as part of the European Neighborhood Policy in order to assist the global energy security. The successfully implemented projects designed for transportation of the Caspian energy resources to Europe play an exceptional role in a more balanced integration into the world community for Azerbaijan, which sits on the crossroads of West and East. Presently, Azerbaijan plays a key role in ensuring the Europe`s energy security and has grown into the major supplier by creating oil and gas corridors in different directions and joining transregional projects.

Friendship and cooperative relations between Azerbaijan and Asian countries are based on historical roots and a number of important facts and serious aspects. Economic and trade relations have existed among our countries in the energy field for centuries. These ties have developed extensively since Azerbaijan's regaining its independence. Azerbaijan closely 54

cooperates in this area within TRACECA, Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation program (CAREC) as well as on implementation of the important Euro-Asia oil transportation corridor, TransCaspian gas pipeline projects in order to create TACIS, TEMPUS, Eurasia transportation corridor .

I would like to note that political dialogue between Azerbaijan and Asian countries has continued actively and successfully in recent years in the spirit of strategic partnership and mutual understanding. Within short time, Azerbaijan and Asian countries have gone a long way from official contacts to sincere relations based on mutual trust and friendship, and today, we highly appreciate the existing state and prospects for this cooperation.

As a result of our flexible oil diplomacy and practical work, the Azerbaijani state has grown into the integral part of the regional economic cooperation as initiator, participator and major executor of global projects in the Caspian-Black and Mediterranean seas regions. It opens up new opportunities for the national economy. The Kazakh government officials already stated their intention to transport oil from the Kashagan field as part of the second phase through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. As part of the ninth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan intergovernmental commission held in September this year in Kazakhstan's capital of Astana, these issues were thoroughly discussed with 500 thousand barrels of oil daily, i.e 35.36 million tons per year scheduled to be transported through the TransCaspian system in the starting stage.

In later stages, this volume is expected to hit 35-36 million tons yearly.

The joint declaration on the South gas corridor signed between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barrosso in January 2011 determined new prospects for shipping of Caspian gas to Europe. Constructive and business ties exist between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on this issue. The European Union gave a mandate to the European Commission to hold talks with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on September 7 last year with respect to the TransCaspian project.

Turkey and Azerbaijan signed a memorandum of understanding on December 26, 2011, on construction of the Trans Anatolian pipeline to ship natural gas from Shahdeniz field via Turkey to Europe. The preliminary agreement on construction of this pipeline was reflected in gas deals signed between Azerbaijan and Turkey on October 25, 2011, in Izmir including the framework agreement on conditions and rules for transit of the Azerbaijani gas via Turkey. An agreement was reached in December last year to form a new consortium for construction of the pipeline running from eastern to western borders of Turkey. I would like to highlight the political importance of these projects first. After implementation of these projects, Azerbaijan will access European markets as an independent supplier for the first time. I do not doubt that soonest realization of these projects and issues discussed at the conference will play a special and exceptional role in strengthening and expanding existing relations and cooperation between our nations. The conference will remain in memories as a historical event with its positive results. Azerbaijan has an exceptional role in strengthening friendly relations and beneficial ties between Azerbaijan and Asian countries, and will lay a solid foundation for their comprehensive development.

Thank you for your attention.

Keynote Speech by Hon. Rauf Gurbanov Chairman of Communist Party of Azerbaijan

Dear participants, Dear Guests!

Let me as a host country greet you on behalf of the many communists of Azerbaijan and thank the organizers of the conference. Conducting such an important event in Baku, the capital of the independent Azerbaijan plays an important role both for the opposition and the governing party. I must admit that in the recent years, Azerbaijan has become one of the main cities in the world. There are organized the numerous political, economic, cultural and sports events of the international level. And it is the source of pride for every Azerbaijani, regardless of the party affiliation. And the fact that today the 7th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties is held here has a positive impact on the political environment in Azerbaijan, as well as the activities of the parties that operate in other countries. Today, the world in which we live is undergoing the major changes. The events taking place in the Middle East, Europe and other parts of the world is a clear evidence. But there is the trend toward the positive changes in connection with the development in all aspects. And today, taking an opportunity that there are a lot of political parties of different spectra,

I want to say that the governing party has the great responsibility. It plays a great role in making changes in the society through peaceful means, through reforms. By this, I don’t want to insure the liability of the opposition parties. Of course, in any process taking place in society, each opposition party is responsible. But the each step of the opposition regulated by the political and economic policies, pursued by the government. The desire of each of us is to create a just and democratic social environment, improving the material well-being, the rule of the existing laws and the inadmissibility of such negative acts such as corruption, bribery and arbitrariness. As the great Carl Marx said, “Life is not a native, everything changes depending on the development of society”. In this regard, the adoption of the new laws to protect the interests of the majority, even a change of economic course peacefully is a vital factor. Otherwise, if there is no the dialogue between the government and the opposition, it will lead society to a political cataclysm. And after that only the people will be suffered.

Dear friends,

The agenda of the conference focused on a very topical issue, "Peace, security and cooperation in Asia". This is a very important approach not only for Asia but for the whole world. Do the people need the local wars, occurring today, arm race? Of course, no! All people, regardless of their religion, nationality or race, want to live in a peaceful, free and secure environment. The ordinary people want to live in peace and mutual cooperation. They are not interested in created artificial conflicts, territorial claims. But their voices are not heard, the views are not considered. A group of people in order to increase their capital for their individual interests jeopardizes the human security. Let's just think about it, unless is there a necessity in the wars with the numerous victims, the territorial claims of one state to another, in its aggression, arm race, in the invention and manufacture of the new- technological weapons of mass destruction? If we consider that people live in fear in the 56

occupied lands or they don’t live at all, then who needs these empty territories? Are these actions conducted to enable for people free, equal, happy life? It must be remembered that the several nuclear warheads can withdraw the globe from its axis and destroy it.

But what purposes do the leading countries of the world serve, seeking to arm race, and other countries to acquire them? To ensure the integrity of the national security and a peaceful future for their people? I do not think so in the both cases. And I think that there are a lot of people, who think like me. If some people want to build their prosperity on the misfortune of another nation, it is not desirable. If the each country with arm race wants to ensure the safety of its national security, then the world can be destroyed. If yesterday only a few countries had nuclear warheads, but now this list is even more enhanced. This "development" in the future may result in an irreversible process. Then logically it can be concluded, that each state regardless of the territory and its population, will initiate to acquire this type of weapon to ensure the safety of its national security. It will be its constitutional right. Then imagine, what danger will the world be faced.

Dear participants,

Today our main task is to protect the world from danger. Our countries are separated from each other by the borders. I really wish that these boundaries are not open to the military aggression, but for tourism. We need to protect our planet and transmit it to the future generations. Today, there should be one slogan for all the world. "Peace, security and cooperation!"

Thanks for attention!

Keynote Speech by Hon. Asim Mollazade Chairman of Azerbaijan Democratic Reform Party (As submitted)

Azerbaijan does not call for revenge, it does not need revenge, it needs only justice for the Khojali genocide. Azerbaijani MP Asim Mollazade made this statement at the Seventh General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties held in Baku on Thursday.

“Khojali city of Azerbaijan was absolutely destroyed, a lot of children, woman, elderly people were cruelly killed and burned. If military criminals, who committed these crimes, would not come to international court, they will repeat it,” Mollazade said.

He said Azerbaijan expresses its appreciation to the parliament of Pakistan and parliament of Mexico for recognizing this genocide, Trend reported.

“We need help from politicians of all around the world to stop this type of genocide. We have to unite our efforts and create a system of justice in the world,” he added.

At the same time, Mollazade said Azerbaijan has great experience on cooperation of culture, as well as cooperation of civilizations.

“Right now independent Azerbaijan has huge projects on restoration of silk roads and transport system. Because Azerbaijan is investing hundred millions of dollars for transport system uniting China and Europe, hundred millions of dollars in international communication system and creation of information hub in the region. We unite Europe and Asia. We need building peace, security and prosperity in our part of world,” he added.

Armenian military forces committed genocide in Khojaly on Feb. 26, 1992. Some 613 people were killed, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old men. A total of 1,000 civilians were disabled during the genocide. Eight families were annihilated, 130 children lost one parent, and 25 lost both. Additionally, 1,275 peaceful residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 remains unknown.

Keynote Speech by Hon. Abdul Matin Khasru Former Minister of Law, Justice and Placement Affairs, and Secretary for Legal Affairs of the Central Committee, Bangladesh Awami League

1. Introduction

Honorable Founding Chairman and Co-chairman of the Standing Committee, Jose de Venecia, Distinguished Participants and Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you all.

It is my privilege and great pleasure to be able to join this august gathering and I like to extend my heartfelt thanks to ICAPP secretariat for inviting me as the Chief Guest of the 7th General Assembly (GA) of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP). I am delighted and convinced that representatives from the Asian Political Parties choose ‘Peace, Security and Reconciliation in Asia’ as the main theme of the conference, which is, I see as the right and timely response for some of the paramount concerns of the Asian countries. Briefly these paramount concerns are emanated from the common peace and security related problems of the Asian Countries.

2. Asia as the birth place of four religions and Asian Values:

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent of the World. The continent covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 4.1 billion people of the world. At present it hosts almost 60% of the world's population. Asia was a home to some of the world's earliest known civilizations like the civilizations in Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and the Huanghe.

With forty-seven countries, innumerable tribes, and thousands of distinct languages, Asia is a home to more ethnic groups than any other parts of the world. In addition, the geography and climate of Asia are as diverse as its nations and people. From the lush rice paddies of the Philippines to the crowded Tokyo metropolis to the rainforests of Indonesia, there is a staggering variety of fruits, foods, and spices in this extraordinary part of the world.

The continent has affluent, prosperous and distinct cultural traits and histories among the regions in Asia, which are most popular to known as the East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the Central Asia. It was a home to the major religions; these are Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism and Islam. These religious thoughts have helped to develop Asian values among the people in Asia. Today, we cherish particular loyalty towards the elder, the family, the corporation and the nation. We have strong preference for social harmony and consensus; we concern with collective well-being of community people and have respects for the teachers and government. In a nutshell, being Asian people we are longing for stability and prosperity for the country, society, family and the individual; pursuit of academic, scientific and technological excellence and sustaining economic prosperities, work ethics and social development, empowerment of poor, women

and the marginalized people and above all promoting peace and stability in and between the countries.

However, achieving peace and security at the state level is not an easy task given the complex matrix of the power politics and heightened competition across the countries all over the world, Asian people have proved their endurance and ability to fight against poverty, environmental degradations and conflicts. We could see that in a few short decades, hundreds of millions of people in Asia have been lifted out of abject poverty by a combination of hard works, good policies, benefits of mutual respects, exchange of ideas and technology with the global north, regional and sub-regional cooperation and open trade.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Yes, there have been problems…remember the Asian Financial Crisis but the truly remarkable thing is that most of the Asian economies have bounced back from them. Asia is now a political miracle by practicing democratic values and principles. There is a great swathe of democracy in Asia's east, from Japan in the north down to Indonesia in the south. Add in Australasia, which has been democratic for far longer, and the long-standing democracies of South Asia, proudly headed by India and Bangladesh.

I am proud to state that compared to the rest of the world most of the Asian countries have so far enjoyed the highest economic growth rates since the end of the Cold War. One can attribute this achievement to the consensus shared by most leaders in the continent that as long as every country commits to developing its economy and trade. Immediate threats to peace and security across the region are diminished.

In spite of these remarkable developments, Asian people are confronting with new problems that challenge the very concept of what constitutes security, peace and reconciliation process in Asia. In this forum, I would like to mention some of the problems and challenges for Asia to maintain peace and security and to accelerate reconciliation process.

3. New Threats for Security and Peace in Asia:

Slightly moving from the traditional threats originated in inter-state relations, hardcore military concerns and arms race, new kinds of threats like poverty, crisis of nutrition, climate change, water scarcity, ethnic tensions and public health epidemics are now considered as major threats to the peace and security in Asia. In this regard, I would like to mention some of the new challenges to the peace, security and reconciliation process in Asia.

A. Poverty Trap in Asia

In some areas of Asia, despite rapid economic growth and development, poverty still remains in some of the Asian countries. People in Asia have seen different shadows of poverty. Rapid industrialization, urbanization, absence of land reforms are in fact diminishing prospects for livelihood in rural areas. People have been attracted to the mega cities and other such causes are changing the economic and demographic landscape of many Asian cities. Poverty in some Asian countries seems largely due to the pressure of excessive population growth on limited resources. However, many Asian countries are gradually moving out from the poverty

situation. This is possible as the governments of Asian countries are more concerned about improving socio-economic conditions of the people and to achieve human development.

B. Nutrition Challenges in Asia

Apart from poverty, there is a common challenge for the Asian people to tackle malnourishment. More than 40% of children under the age of five are malnourished in most countries in South Asia and a few countries in South-East Asia, i.e., Viet Nam, Laos, and Indonesia. Myanmar, Cambodia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and the Philippines have around 30-39% malnourished children; Malaysia is reported to have 20-29%; while China, Mongolia, and Thailand reportedly have between 10-19%. The prevailing gender discrimination in Asian societies restricts women access to proper nutrition. More than 80% of pregnant women in India and Bhutan are anemic. In Nepal, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China, over 50% of pregnant women are anemic. As a consequence, unfortunately there are millions of low birth weight babies born each year. Thus, the malnutrition problem is perpetuated from one generation to the next in Asia.

The encouraging factor is that grounded with a primary health care philosophy, adoption of technology for mass awareness and strong management skills many Asian countries over the past decades have put massive efforts to improve the nutrition condition. In many Asian countries, iodized salt had been used as a means to combat iodine deficiency disorder. Vitamin A interventions have also been implemented to improve nutrition levels of adolescent girl, women and children in many countries in Asia.

C. Water Scarcity

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Although the battles of yesterday were fought over lands, but the battles of tomorrow may be over water, which will disrupt peace and security in Asia. Extensive irrigation, pollution, population pressure and global warming add massive strains to water resources in Asia. It is the continent of most water-scarce continents of the world on a per capita basis. Water stress is set to become Asia’s defining crisis of the twenty-first century, creating obstacles to continued rapid economic growth, stoking interstate tensions over shared resources between the countries and also exacerbating long-time territorial disputes, and imposing further hardships on the poor. Many of Asia’s water sources have cross national boundaries, and as less and less water is available, international tensions will rise.

D. Major Environmental Challenges in Asia

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Throughout the Asia, people are facing consequences from environmental problems. Currently there are many factors that accelerate environmental challenges to the countries of Asia. The shift from rural to urban Asia will accelerate in the coming century; aggravating urban crowding and increasing the risk of environment as this problem also arise from the urban by-products of transport, industrial activities, and the overcrowding of human habitation.

Food security for the Asian people is threatened by global warming and related deforestation and desertification. More than a third of the arable land in Asia is at risk. Nearly 75% of Southeast Asia’s original forest cover has been destroyed at an annual loss rate that is the size of Switzerland. Regardless of motive and method, the loss of workable land hurts not only the harvester, but also has broad consequences for his neighbors in terms of erosion, downstream flooding, and pollution.

Rising ocean temperatures and melting polar caps due to global warming is also a serious concern for Asian people. A rise of 15 to 85 CM of sea level in future could submerge 17% land of Bangladesh. Several island nations such as the Maldives and Tuvalu will become uninhabitable or disappear due to the rise of sea level in future.

4. Solutions to Tackle New Challenges for Promoting Peace, Security and Reconciliation in Asia:

In search of the way to maintain peace, security and reconciliation in Asia, we want that all countries should cooperate on building peaceful relationships of mutual benefits. It is now time to abandon realist and self-interest based policy in Asia because misery, insecurity and threats in any corner of this continent affect the peace, security and well being of everyone else in this continent. I can justifiably use a quote of the American Peace maker Martin Luther King Jr., who famously said that “injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere”. When the problems are insurmountable, conflicts remain as conflict and continue for centuries. The people in Asia are still experiencing forces that focus on a division, cultural egoism, ethnic tensions, historical events, divisive concept and views that fuel threats to peace and security in this region. Here we have people from all the political parties in Asia all coming together to sincerely looking for a process of maintaining peace and security. Because we want lasting peace, prosperity and development for our people. To this end, I would like to mention few points/areas where we should focus more to achieve and continue peace and security.

A. Increasing People to People Contact and Dialogue

I would like to propose that disputes between countries should be settled through negotiations rather than the use of force generating more conflicts. Therefore, we should increase cooperation, people to people contact, inter and intra state dialogue and transnational investments within Asian countries. I hope, through people to people contacts and intensification of bilateral and multilateral dialogue, we can bring together leaders, political parties and government in a platform to involve in mediation efforts in the region, to facilitate the dialog that is necessary and explore novel approaches to bring lasting security, stability, development, peace and reconciliation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Through dialogue we can also recognize the crisis in Asia and the urgent need for good governance for promoting stability in this region. And also we can articulate and explore the shared values and faiths, which offered, by our common traditions, religions and philosophy for settling contemporary social and political problems for fostering peace and development in Asia. In this regard reconciliation of historical differences among the Asian nations is a fundamental requirement for successful cooperation in future.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, a significant foreign policy motto has been taken by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to follow “friendship to all malice toward none”. I would like to state that this should be a fundamental principle of foreign policy for the Asian nations. The present government in Bangladesh led by the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina is also trying to reduce diversity and differences as well as promoting mutual interests in the region. The present government of Bangladesh wants to promote economic inter-dependence among the Asian nations. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the recent ASEM conference held in Laos that "We should strengthen our resolve to act collectively”. This is inherently important for us to act collectively to fight many challenges such as climate change, economic and financial crisis, high prices of food and energy, natural disasters and outbreak of infectious diseases

Therefore people to people contact and dialogue remains relevant and should be continued in Asia to share their thoughts, exchange of views and explore ways and means in promoting better understanding among the Asian countries.

B. Building Future Alliance for Environment and Development

There was a tendency in the past that environmental issues had been often neglected as cause for conflicts, disasters, or dislocations. But given the recent environmental risks in Asia, countries in this region should increasingly participate in global and regional conventions on atmosphere and oceans, protection of wildlife and habitat, and the handling of hazardous substances. Therefore I would suggest that Asian nations should engage in a dialogue for resolving contentious issues by discussing environmental management; nature conservation; industrial, marine, and urban settings. I would like to propose that the ASEAN, the South Asia Cooperative Environment Program (SACEP), the South Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP), and the Lower Mekong Basin Development Environment Program (LMBDEP) need to play active roles for fostering environmental protection, ensure economic cooperation and development, management of food security and water resources in Asia.

C. Change of Mindset Among the People of Asia

For the sake of lasting peace, security and reconciliation, Asian countries should change the mindset of their people. People in Korea, Kashmir, Palestine, East Timor, Syria and in many conflict prone areas want peace and prosperity for their future generations. Therefore, we would say that countries in Asia should seek win-win cooperation in the spirit of peace and tolerance. They should discard the realist and rivalry mentality and explore fruitful interaction processes. They should achieve their self-confidence and sense of human dignity. Asian people have gaining their respect for human rights and want to demand freedom, justice and rights from the authority.

D. Promoting Education in Peace and Sports

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is right to mention that impacts of violence affect all countries. Although I can say that conflict is unavoidable, but violence is not. Therefore we need to direct energy stemming from conflict towards achieving positive change through promoting peace education and practices in sports and games among the youth people in Asia. Young people need to be taught of alternatives in resolving conflict and develop their sound body, soul and muscle rather than violence and competition to achieve their goals. It is obvious that peace education and promotion of sports and games raise awareness of the roots causes of conflict and also channel youth’s energy into different programme that strengthen the bond between communities. Peace education and sports also can inspire young people to look to the future for a better tomorrow. It can stimulate and revitalize morale and work towards developing the infrastructure of Asian countries.

E. Empowerment of Women

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Any initiative without the active participation of women and which do not make any impact on women’s lives is never sustainable. Therefore I would like to draw your attention to work together to ensure the right of women to meaningful political participation, and protection from all forms of violence; and the right to equal opportunity and non-discrimination in social and economic activities in the Asian countries.

The present government of Bangladesh led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina firmly believes that gender equity is more than a goal itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance. Bangladesh is currently achieving substantial progress in women empowerment.

One of the key objectives of Bangladesh government's development plan is to eliminate gender discrimination and establish women's equal rights for over all progress of the country. The Constitution of Bangladesh is the basis for women rights and advancement. After independence of Bangladesh in 1971, a significant number of initiatives and institutional measures have been taken by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to eliminate gender discrimination in every sector of the country.

In continuation to those initiatives, the current Awami League government is working for eradicating poverty, reducing gender disparity, providing health-care facilities, human resources development and incorporating women in the mainstream economic activities. The National Women Development Policy-2011 and the National Children Policy 2011 have also been formulated in this connection.

F. Promoting Information Communication Technology as Tool for Promoting Cooperation among Asian Countries

It is worth mentioning that the spread of information technology has changed the way people live and work and made relations among countries and civilizations which are more beneficial. By using the blessings of science, Asian nations can develop commutation across the boundaries that help to share mutual respects, ideas and learning from one another.

I am confident that ICT can strengthen mutual communications, dialogue and cooperation among ourselves and can be used as powerful instrument of development and be able to push them to a higher growth trajectory for years to come. Given the importance of ICT development, the present government in Bangladesh adopts vision-2021 to implement “Digital Bangladesh” to leverage ICTs in all spheres of government to ensure delivery of services to those who are the least served. E-administration has been strengthened in Bangladesh in various sectors like healthcare, agriculture, administration of land, water resources, social safety nets, law enforcement and judiciary and disaster management.

The ICT industry in Asia has grown rapidly and performed as a tremendous source of supply for the rest of the world. But to ensure sustainable development and peace we should require both domestic and regional policies to ensure access to the greater application of ICT within Asian economies, especially in the poorer and inadequately serviced regions. Given the fact that different countries of the region have expertise in different parts of this new technology, greater application of ICT provides an opportunity for greater economic co–operation within Asia.

G. Promoting Inter-Party Dialogue

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Inter-party dialogues are essential approaches to addressing conflict in Asia. In this regard foundations for a just and sustainable peace are laid when parties involved in conflict agree on how to resolve the issues that have divided them and how they will live together peacefully in the future. Thus Asia should adopt a process of Inter-party discourse and dialogue to promote a peaceful approach to the resolution of conflict with justice and equity and the eventual goal of reconciliation and peace process.

H. Promoting Democratic Governance

I would like state that equal and democratic society is essential for the creation of sustainable peace not only for the nation but also for the region as well. For ensuring peace and security in Asia, all the parties and government must have fundamental commitment to provide all members of society with a peaceful environment. Therefore democratic government is highly required for all of us to offer equal opportunities for all through economic, political, social and cultural aspects of people’s lives. Democratic governance in Asia should aim for the benefits of all, towards sustainable development, ensuring the elimination of poverty by creating employment opportunities

5. Conclusion

At the end, I firmly state that the essence of peace; security and reconciliation in Asia will be achieved and maintained only when our political parties and government understand our common problems and solutions. This is the time for the Asia to rise up to new and old challenges and to do so Asian governments should use their political wisdom to properly handle their disputes and differences and safeguard the fruits of regional cooperation. Therefore we have to work together to resolve for conflicts and struggle for justice non- violently, live by international standards of human rights and equity, appreciate cultural diversity, and respect the faith, the Earth and each other. 65

We must admit that all countries in Asia have a role to play in creating this future and all countries must actively take part to make certain achievements in promoting peace and security. Because, I believe that regional peace and stability have been the cornerstone of flourishing development, peace and cooperation among the people in Asia.

I profoundly wish the success of this international conference, which I am sure, will be able to make some pertinent recommendations and suggestions that will help us to take effective steps for promoting peace, security and reconciliation in Asia.

Thank You

Keynote Speech by Hon. Keo Puth Reasmey Chairman of the FUNCINPEC Party and Advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia with the rank of Deputy Prime Minister

Honorable chairman, Distinguished guests, Excellencies , Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all my delegation the FUNCINPEC Party is deeply honored to be here today amongst the distinguished attendants of the 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP which is being held here in the beautiful city of Baku. The Yeni Azerbaijan Party along with the Government of Azerbaijan have successfully hosted two important ICAPP meetings this year , the standing committee meeting of last June, in Baku, and now this grandiose and significant Assembly. This clearly shows solidarity commitments on the part of the Yeni Azerbaijan Party 's Leaders to the cause of the ICAPP . I am pleased to extend my congratulations to those noble leaders and am confident that this assembly will be another occasion to further promote the ICAPP's future objectives including cooperation among world political parties.Our ICAPP is developed more and better and better thanks in large part to tireless efforts and sharp intelligence of its current leaders.

Two years ago, "Asia's Quest for a Better Tomorrow" was the theme of our ICAPP General Assembly, held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Today, here in Baku, our assembly seeks to highlight peace, security, reconciliation, as prerequisites that Asia should have for continuing this Asia 's quest . And it is right to do so, given that our largest and most populous Asian continent, on one hand, needs to develop more and better yet in a world beset with uncertainty ,and on the other hand, having become the world's economic center of gravity, must avoid at all cost to be used as the future epicenter of clashes.

1. First of all, Asia continues to be affected by the global crisis without precedence and without immediate solution, strained and weakened by the Eurozone crisis, the slow economic recovery in America and the global climate change. These phenomena could derail the global recovery and consequently threaten Asia's nascent economic upswing, thus exercising a direct influence on the peace, stability that Asia has enjoyed remarkably decades ago.

But Asia lives not only under the pressure of these crises, it has also, at all times, its individual and collective challenges as well.

2. Individually, Asian countries are still inflicted by the specter of deeply rooted conflicts specific to their respective history, culture, economy and ecological system.

These countries remain socially vulnerable so long as they are less conscious about the values, ideals and goals which are common to the development of mankind, such as democracy, rules of laws, justice, liberty, equality... Some have in fact shown in favour of those universal values, yet without serious promotion of them. As result, the country's stability cannot last, 67

“reconciliation” is but simple speech, and “peace” is merely a slogan. Although democracy may not be the perfect approach, it is nonetheless a peaceful means for conflict management and settlement through pacification between winning majority and losing minority.

This is a subject which related rightly to new emerging countries like Cambodia that went through five (5) regime changes during 50 years of its history after its Independence from Colonial French power. It's the saddest history of contemporary Cambodia with US' intervention, mass killing committed by Pol Pot-Khmer Rouge's regime, Vietnam's occupation, UN's transitional Authority and lastly the return back of the old kingdom of Cambodia .There are those who praised for the role model of Cambodian National Reconciliation. But the final peace was able to be brought about only after the 1991 Paris International Conference on Cambodia with the support of the four reconciled Cambodian Factions, members of the UN's Permanent Security Council together with other participating countries. My delegation cannot forget the vital role of the United Nations in the Cambodian Peace Process along with the world community, the other members of ASEAN. The last 21 years of the country's peace development had seen its ups and downs in term of political conflicts and conciliations. Despite a yearly growth of more than 6% GDP there is some room for improvement, especially in the field of democracy that is intrinsic to conciliation process ,security and peace ' s maintenance .

3. As a grouping, Asian countries may have common goals but not necessarily common means. All have sought to achieve peace, security, stability, economic integration, conflict reduction in their region, however their strategies and approaches remain (politically, culturally, economically, geographically) diverse. Border, territorial and water issues, military and strategic alliances, nationalistic fervor have often disrupted the perspectives of cooperation and regional securities.

Now, despite the "good" news that American interests have switched into the Asia- Pacific region, there is yet little room for complacency. The rivalry between China, a rising power and America, another established yet , perhaps, declining power, will certainly dominate the politics of 21st century. Asian countries are going to witness a "duel of the century" between two political and military rivals and two economic, commercial, financial partners of reciprocal needs.

It is in these contexts that we question the common strategies of peace, security and growth of the countries of the region. Will they be ready to face the difficult obstacle of finding a voice for a solidarity-based Asia instead of suffering individually?

4. Economy and politics are necessary to organize a stable and peaceful Asia, however not enough to design it for long-term sustainability. Other orders are required to take into account the complexity of the world Asia is heading into.

In the 20th century, wars were played between ideologies where the question was ultimately "which side are you on?" The two world wars were of Western civil wars, all like the Cold War. Since the beginning of the 21st century, Samuel Huntington spoke of clashes between civilizations where the question is "who are you?" But we can avoid such "psychological determinism" to keep a relatively sustainable peace between civilizations, if around the world, political leaders admit that the overall policy has become multi-civilizational and cooperate to preserve this state of facts. 68

5. Today, if this war remains imaginary, it is the time of confrontations for strategic resources that becomes reality. The stakes are getting higher than ever, because commodities are becoming scarce. The course of accumulating the rare earth elements of all sorts becomes a life-or-death struggle to secure the resources. Great, powerful nations or civilizations will have little chance of surviving without securing massive amount of commodities. In worse- case scenarios, resource scarcity could bring about global resource wars, different from the traditional warfare Asia has had.

Recent developments in Asia, and elsewhere, confirm this frantic race towards the scarce resources of the planet. Ultimately this has led many Asian countries to increase their military budget to strengthen their capabilities, which attracts arms producing countries, and therefore making the South East Asia, Asia's biggest potential military flashpoint.

6. Asia is not immune to terrorist threats. It is the certainty of having no chance to take the victory by means of classic confrontation that leads to terrorism.

This fight is different from the one Asia used to endure, because what terrorism does claim to symbolize, it is not the same alternative (socialism v/s capitalism) , it is other values, other ideals , other rules - not an another socio - economic system, but other moral or even another civilization. This is to pass from a strictly political question to a rather moral or civilizational question (which opposed secular and liberal Western values to those of Islamist fundamentalism). Besides, terrorism is far from being fully charged because it is merely the instrument: not only the weapon of the weak, but also the instrument of the strong, the powerful States.

For now the terrorism has not won, but nuclear, bacteriological and chemical elements flow in the most dangerous areas of the planet. The Middle East is more dangerous and unstable than ever. The gap between the Western world and the Muslim world has widened. The future of international security is still played in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Asia must be together in voice, strong and sustainable in economy, equitable in development and high in morale so that it can contribute to stop the gear that threatens to lead the world to ruins.

7. Peace, along with social, national and regional security are affected by the unhealthy and vulnerable planet on which we are living. The rampant race for energy, raw materials, and greedy developments lead our planet to ruins. For centuries, nature was always considered as an object, an instrument for the scope of the needs and desires of men.

The Promethean progress is inevitably based on the rape of nature. Today the original crime resurfaces, as public opinion realizes that nature is not infinite and inexhaustible resource, but a delicate, fragile balance which man is a part. Climate change, biodiversity and air and water pollution jeopardize the very survival of the human species.

Many have been told, and discussions have taken place in conferences, summits, roundtables, and forums on this subject. It is about time to concretely take and do things seriously and sustainably before it is too late. Regional and international cooperation become urgent so that responsible countries do not pass their personal interests before the ecological balance of the 69

planet, so that the scientific, sustainable development , centered to the man, his well-being , be the starting and final point of the project, so that the economy reconciles with the ecology; man with the nature .

When we speak of peace in Asia, we mean one that must be made to benefit the whole world. It must be planetary, in other words, common to all life creatures. Peoples in Asia and those from other continents are experiencing different and diverse ways of life and beliefs, but surely in the same desires and aims of being able to live safely in peace, physically and spiritually, at home, in their native villages or in their respective countries. When one country seeks to promote and preserve a good neighboring policy, it is too, for this ultimate end.

Conclusively, peace, security, reconciliation are never realized by a slogan. Those, and nations that advocate these watchwords, must also implement these universal values by themselves. If interpreted according to double standards, with a geometrical variable, or worse yet, appeared as cunning to hide power politics, power, it is certain that these values are called into question.

We are at the beginning of one of these major problems or confrontations and crises, which has shaped the condition of the men since long ago. Unfortunately, the threats are accumulating. At the turn of the 21st century, other threats exist: a Middle-East more dangerous than ever, a possible breach of the European construction, or a nationalist stiffening of the emerging countries. It is therefore an emergency to take up a common destiny. It is a matter of building a community of free men on the ruins of a resolved past, our collective destiny , not only at the national level but that of the globe.

The site is immense because it is to find, with a new eye, which may today be the general interest for the world. This one continues to assert itself in crisis and cannot be reduced to the sum of the individual interests of States. In order to defend this embryonic general interest for the world, it needs to restore a spirit of responsibility of the pillars of peace, justice, solidarity and independence, so that a real dynamic can be set in motion at the level of the States, regional groupings and, ultimately, the entire planet.

Last but not the least, I wish to reiterate my heartfelt thanks to the kindly Host party for the warm hospitality and friendship extended during my memorable and fruitful stay in this pleasant place .

Thank you.

Keynote Speech by Hon. Dr. Barun Mukherji Member of Parliament and National Secretary of All India Forward Bloc

Honorable Chairman, Respected delegates and my dear brothers & sisters,

I am extremely happy to join the 7th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) which is being held at the beautiful city of Baku, the capital of the wonderland Azerbaijan. The representatives of all the major political parties of the very big continent of Asia are present here to discuss the important issue of 'Security, Peace and Reconciliation in Asia'. We have assembled here not only to discuss, but also to find a way out to reach our ultimate goal of Peace and Development, which I believe would be adequately expressed through the outcome document of the conference.

The Asian continent is not only big in its geographical area, it is big as well in its rich cultural heritage and diversity in religion, language, food habits and clothing patterns. We are all here to reach 'Unity in diversity' and there lies the real strength of Asia. I have firm conviction that the ICAPP is aiming to reach this goal through its year-long various vibrant activities.

Urge for Security is universal. Every individual or family wants security in life. Same is the urge for a nation as well. But for conflict of interests security is jeopardized every now and then. There are threats for security against the smaller ones from the bigger ones due to their greed for wealth and power. We have seen such imperialist invasions and aggressions, resulting in loss of millions of innocent lives. By and large such colonial aggressions have emanated from the West against the East. Mostly, Asia stands to suffer due to such aggressions, Asians are the victims in majority of the cases.

The situation has now started to change. Asians are now rising and smaller units are now consolidating to form bigger unions within Asia. Organizations like ICAPP are thus born in the process, who are ready to face the challenges to ensure peace and growth, to implement security and reconciliation in Asia. It is our challenge for peace and development, not for aggression against others to grab wealth and power. We need to meet the challenges for disarmament and creating a nuclear weapon - free world.

The great revolutionary leader Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Founder-President of our party All India Forward Bloc, gave clarion call from the soil of Asia to fight against imperialism and all other forces of aggression, oppression and exploitation. He said, 'Salvation of India, and the world as a whole, lies in Socialism.' In our urge for Security and Peace we need to fight against poverty and hunger, unemployment and malnutrition mainly for the interests of the poor and the downtrodden people.

It is indeed a hard task. But I believe ICAPP can take the lead. Unity of the Asian Political Parties is the urgent need of the day. We must shed off all the barriers and border disputes, develop free inter-State trade and communication, consolidate education and cultural relationship. The 21st century can thus be the 'Century of Asia' __ a modern, scientifically & technologically developed Peace-loving Asia. 71

As pronounced by the national poet of India and the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, we pray that we may rise to the level where "the head is high and the mind is fearless".

Our clarion call of the day: "Unite together to meet the threats and challenges for Peace and Development in Asia".

Thank you all.

Keynote Speech by Hon. Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe Member of the National Executive and Political Associate to the National President, Bharatiya Janata Party of India

Brothers and Sisters,

As representative of the Bharatiya Janata Party or the BJP, which is India’s principal opposition party, I consider it a great privilege to have been given an opportunity to share the view of my party about the central theme of this conference, ‘Security, Peace and Reconciliation in Asia.’

At the outset, I will spend a minute or two in introducing my party to all of you. BJP is not only the principal opposition party in India but we also are running provincial governments in eight different states of India. We are a truly democratic party where succession of leaders on dynastic basis is not at all a set practice. Nationalism, Development and Social Harmony, Good Governance and finally emancipation of the weakest of all sections of the society are the cornerstones of my Party’s philosophy. We believe in genuine secularism and genuine non-alignment in international affairs. In the international sphere, greater thrust on regional cooperation and emphasis on close interactions for forging people-to-people as well as party- to-party relationships are some of the key ingredients of our functional policy.

It must be borne in our mind that whether one likes it or not, whether one recognizes this or not, the sheer demographic character of Asia, with the largest number of youth as compared to any other continent, calls upon us to prepare to play an important role in shaping global future.

Political parties are central to the idea of participative democracy. Parties are vehicles of popular participation. Parties, whether ruling or opposition can just not be the mute spectators when security and peace are threatened. Happily, as compared to the past today the view that growth and development cannot be realized without a secure and stable environment is gaining greater momentum. Previously, discourse on peace and security was considered the sole preserve of the military, and not civilians. And security was seen largely in the narrow sense of defending a state from external threats. Conflicts causing insecurity besides human misery and slow pace of development across not only Asia but the entire world, which resulted partly from poor governance have compelled new thinking on what security is all about. A state is secure when its people are truly free from fear and anxiety. To achieve this, we require greater popular awareness and participation as well.

No effort to achieve peace and security and to strengthen governance, will succeed without the commitment and active participation of the national stakeholders: the executive, the legislature, the security forces, and political and civil society. The active participation of local stakeholders can only be realized if there is a shared understanding and knowledge of all aspects of peace and security issues among them. Needless to say, Political parties become an important non-State actor in this process.

Pillars of Global Future

When it comes to challenges in our path of ensuring security and peace, I would say that they are in no way different than those being faced by the Humanity world over. The key areas on which we will have to concentrate to meet these challenges are Globalisation, Development, Culture and Democracy. They are the pillars of Global Future and hence, further crystallization of the Vision of all the participants assembled over here, who are the key players in shaping the Future of Asia, becomes extremely important.

These issues underscore the fact of the modern life that nothing in today’s world can remain un-connected with the outer world and none of us can afford piece-meal thinking on issues that are so very closely intertwined with the future of the entire mankind. A necessarily holistic approach towards the various challenges faced by the world has to be the bottom line of our approach. It would not be wrong to interpret that if the Global Future truly hinges upon the Asian Vision, Asian political parties have a responsibility to grasp the manifold intricacies of the overall situation and remain in the vanguard position by focusing upon a set of key issues such as Globalisation, Development, Culture and Democracy.

Fifty years ago, many renowned scholars doubted whether Asia would ever experience social development and economic growth. Asia, it was argued, lacked many important prerequisites to growth and economic development—in particular the ability to develop by increasing its role in the international economy. Therefore, UN agencies, the World Bank, and other institutions advocated a model of protectionism, population control and increased state intervention in general. Today, Asia is an economic world power. The ‘Asian tigers’, the ‘miracle economies’ in Southeast Asia, and fast-growing China and India all provide evidence in favor of the liberal development based on a sound socio- cultural foundation. Today, Asian countries have improved welfare and the quality of life in a way that very few could imagine forty years ago.

Globalisation

We are living in a globalised world today. Multi-polarity, multilaterality and plurality are the three basic elements of the process of globalisation. Economic liberalisation coupled with technological advancements has altered the contours of the global scenario. Ideally, globalisation should have helped the poor as well as the developing countries the most. But this certainly has not happened. Globalisation is here to stay. One cannot prevent it from happening. However, globalisation has to be accepted without undermining the local context. Joseph Stiglitz has very forthrightly observed that global financial institutions such as IMF and WTO allowed the Western countries to mismanage the processes of liberalisation and globalisation, and as a result, “ many Third World countries and former communist states are actually worse off now than they were before.” Stiglitz further says, “ Today, few defend the hypocrisy of pretending to help developing countries by forcing them to open up their markets to the goods of the advanced industrial countries while keeping their own markets protected, --policies that make the rich richer and the poor more impoverished—and increasingly angry.” (From Globalisation and Its Discontent, by Joseph Stiglitz)

One can reasonably expect that equality and justice remain at the centre of the process of Globalisation, giving it a more Humane dimension. It is high time that forces of Globalisation stop any attempts of straight jacketing economic governance with total disregard of local 74

needs. It is also required that the process of Globalisation is made more democratic, transparent, participative and intelligible to the commoners.

Development

Human development, as has now been widely accepted is concerned with the basic development idea: namely, advancing the richness of human life, rather than taking into consideration only the economic advancement.

Logically, development should lead to prosperity and prosperity to happiness. However, several Happiness Surveys so far have established the fact that economic prosperity need not always lead to enrichment of Human Life and therefore to happiness. With Euro-centric ideas and concepts firmly rooted in the minds of those who are manning the world economic bodies, any attempt to challenge the already set indicators of development has met with stiff resistance. Mindless consumerism appears to be at he core of our basic developmental thinking today. It has become a fashion to look at any attempt of evolving an appropriate development model, with utter contempt. Just as in the case of terrorism, democracy or Human rights, several developed countries are indulging in applying double standards when it comes to ecological issues. The general impression that has gained ground is that natural resources from the developing countries are being exploited to the advantage of the developed world.

Regardless of the fact that developing countries are being ranked high on the Happiness Indicators, it cannot be denied that developing countries are far too slow in facilitating overall economic development, including basic infrastructure development. Without aping the West, developing countries will have to internalize the development culture simultaneously without diluting high Human Dignity quotient.

If economic aspect is also an integral part of security, deprivation and also the feeling of being deprived both need to be done away with. In this context it is also necessary that the young intellectual leadership of the developing world takes up the onerous task of challenging the established notions of indicators of development, if that is genuinely required. As it goes without saying, it has to be followed up by establishing new, universally applicable and scientifically evolved set of indicators of development. It is high time that a meaningful and serious debate on these issues is evolved so as to bring about a paradigm shift on development issues. Who else, but the youth in Asia can suitably lead this debate?

Culture

Any discussion about culture today has to start with the question of identity. Culture and identity are inseparable and the moment we talk of identity, the question of religion also comes in. Gone are the days when identity was considered as something very primordial. Sociologists today accept that identity can serve as a very effective driving force. However, in a largely pluralist world, the question of identity requires dexterous handling. It was only after realizing the supreme importance of identity that the social scientists started using the term salad bowl in place of a melting pot while describing a plural society. This change was also indicative of recognizing the need to respect and preserve one’s cultural or community identity while making one realise hat his identity is a part of a wider, collective national identity. 75

Asia happens to be cradle of almost all the ways of worships in the world and a shining example of their peaceful co-existence. This very fact underscores the need for evolving a replicable model of sustainable pluralism. Acceptance of the fundamental equality of, and hence equal respect for all religions and all the ways of worship is the cornerstone of such sustained pluralism. India’s glorious history of several centuries where the spirit of accommodation has naturally resulted in the institutionalization of what can be rightly described as Spiritual Democracy, which, as we understand is the cornerstone of Sustainable Pluralism.

However, culture just cannot remain confined to faith and religion. Culture is a comprehensive concept touching upon all aspects of Human lives. Life styles, eating habits, music, performing arts, literature and folk arts, all contribute to the cultural evolution of a society and on this count, I believe; richness of Asia is just incomparable. This richness of our cultural heritage has its roots in our spirituality. From Bamiyan in Afghanistan to Ajanta in India or Angkorwat in Cambodia, our ancient monuments are the symbols of the element of divinity that our artistes have been attributing to any creative task. This was also indicative of the distinct work culture of the ancient era. It is a matter of grave concern as to why we should not be able to carry forward the same legacy and cultivate a modern, result-orientation centric work culture across our continent with the same perception of an element of divinity in the same?

Democracy

Democracy can best be described as a fundamental philosophy of Human Life. However, during the last half a century, it has been seen more in a narrow perspective, only as a system of government. As a result, technical, formal and structural aspects of democracy gained more prominence than the core of the concept. Stakeholders have, by and large; failed to bring in issues like efficacy of democracy and result orientation of the democratic process. With little or no attempts on the part of the political science and governance fraternity to critically evaluate, both the performance of as also the perception about democracy, it has just remained a sacrosanct idea. Today, nobody quite understandably dares to question the concept of democracy. Having realised this, several autocratic regimes too are claiming that they are democratic politics.

In addition to this, failures of well-entrenched democracies world over in demonstrably establishing that democracy alone can deliver or at least it also can deliver, has greatly encouraged skepticism about democracy. This has also afflicted popular confidence in the concept of democracy, making a section of the masses feel; at times, as to what is wrong with autocracy if it is really going to deliver. As Political Party functionaries, we cannot forget that it is the youth, who naturally expects speedy results, is more likely to be drawn in this trap underscoring the question mark before the universal and unquestionable acceptability of democracy.

What is urgently needed is to strike a balance and take the whole set of Asian values, like respect for family ties and the elderly, frugality, filial piety, hard work and team spirit, to our stride and look at them as the foundation for delivering democracy. One can also say that Asian youth, with Asian values imbibed in him since his formative age; can effectively provide leadership through some structured efforts for creating an atmosphere where people 76

reassert their faith in Democracy. For this greater participation of the people in the entire democratic process has to be viewed seriously. Amrtya Sen had once very rightly observed that the main point to appreciate is that what we make of democracy depends to a great extent on how much we are ready to put into it. He had further said, “One of the really big issues for me in India is that the intellectuals who could play a big role in the democratic political system tend, by and large, not to go into politics. They often regard that as a shady affair. To some extent that is changing, but it requires a much more dramatic change and much greater engagement to make a fuller success of democracy in India." What Sen has said about India, I am afraid is applicable to many democracies in Asia as well.

Let’s develop an ICAPP Capacity Building Regime

This kind of structured efforts should also include preparing the youth to play the role of an active citizenry and also as members of political parties contributing to the process of making democracy a delivering democracy. It is also required that young leaders in political parties are groomed to shoulder greater responsibilities. We are happy that Participation of Women in politics has also been figuring high on ICAPP agenda. In the context of ensuring greater participation of women as well as youth, we propose that the ICAPP establishes a Capacity Building Regime and promote shared avenues for building the capacities of these sections so as to get quality recruitment in politics, which alone can help achieving Good Governance. In this context, let me tell you that my party, the BJP is the only political party in the entire South Asia that has provided 33% quota to women in all organisational bodies of the Party. We have also included issues like ' Changing the Traditional Male Mindset in order to facilitate greater participation of Women' in our training syllabus. Let me propose that some of the political parties gathered here can join hands and evolve a combined training mechanism in this regards.

Threats to security

Friends, coming back to our main theme of security, peace and reconciliation, deficits in economic self-dependence, balancing cultural autonomy and tolerance as well as development mainly due to the failure of democracy on the count of governance are bound to add to the existing threats to peace and security.

To Mahatma Gandhi, the father of Indian nation, security and freedom meant keeping intact the genius of our respective civilizations. His aspiration was to borrow from the West only that what he could return with decent interest. The characteristic genius of the Asian mind is not to alter the beliefs of the citizenry but to lead them by stages to the understanding of the deeper philosophical meaning behind them. But many in the Western world ignore the genius of the Asian mind. They normally tend to make a final statement about a region where the flow of the rivers has never ever stopped.

We have to build on this and move forward towards essential unity of human beings. We are confident that parties in Asia would work unitedly towards achieving the goal of universal fraternity because only that can provide the guarantee of lasting peace, enduring security and a true reconciliation leading us to what Swami Vivekanand had described as Universal Brotherhood.

Keynote Speech by Mr. Happy Bone Zulkarnain Vice Secretary General, GOLKAR Party of Indonesia

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me take this remarkable opportunity to extend my sincere appreciation to our gracious hosts as well as to the people and the government of Azerbaijan for their warm welcome and magnificent hospitality that have been accorded to our delegates since our arrival at this remarkable city of Baku.

The delegation of Golkar Party is confident that we have all come together to find a common solution to a very crucial problem that is "Security, Peace and Reconciliation in Asia". Here, today, we have colleagues from various political parties are sincerely looking for a solution with one simple sentence that an everlasting peace should be established.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The World is currently facing serious challenges of peace and security. We might experience our true concern over traditional threats, among others extremism, violence, ethnic conflicts or even wars among countries. We are also confronting the non-traditional threats such as transnational crimes, economic disparity, poverty, impact of climate change and many others.

As politicians, we are determined to expand our roles in preparing our nations in answering to those threats. We need to shape our political parties to be able to strengthen democracy that provides opportunities of our people to enjoy sustained economic growth and attainment of welfare. It is our belief that when we have established our democracy and welfare, that will be our time to diminish conflict and to formulate working strategies to establish peaceful post-conflict reconciliation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In many occasions, the Golkar Party feels honored to share Indonesia's experience in working toward security, peace and reconciliation. Our past conflict with our neighbor Timor Leste is a truly lesson learned in this regard. As you might be aware that since the independence of Timor Leste in 1999, Indonesia has a great expectation to help in the evolution of a democratic and peaceful Timor Leste.

Indonesia, I believe, has and will continuously conduct efforts to assist Timor Leste to become more prosperous. Golkar Party, as one of the most influential political parties in Indonesia, is confident that both countries have already removed the psychological barriers that could have prevented them from working together by forming the Truth and Friendship Commission to address and resolve all remaining contentious issues from the past.

We do not want to deny that Indonesia and Timor-Leste shared a painful history and difficult historical baggage, however it is not our choice to halt both countries from forging a future that blends opportunities and partnership with plenty of goodwill, that secures pragmatic solutions to preserve peace and reconciliation for our people. 78

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Interestingly, there have been critics and pessimistic tones form other parties concerning the Truth and Friendship Commission including from the United Nations. Though, the Golkar Party has no doubt that Indonesia and Timor Leste will continuously uphold the Commission's terms of reference, including on an amnesty to pardon those sincerely helping the process by cooperating, because it was the only acceptable way for both countries to overcome their differences.

On this remarkable occasion, let me state that the Truth and Friendship Commission is a reconciliation process and not a prosecutorial one. We have established terms of reference to find out the truth and we are committed to not prosecuting perpetrators. We are certain that as long as the process is credible and consistent with the terms of reference set, we will find out the truth. It is our position that we have never forced Timor Leste to agree, but Timor Leste has realized that it was important to solve our past problems without sacrificing our friendship and cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

From the experience of Indonesia and Timor Leste within the framework of the Truth and Friendship Commission, it is crystal clear that peace and reconciliation in Asia, the region that has unique past conflict times, should be well supported by all involving parties. Common understanding, the same vision to look forward and confidence in shaping future partnership and friendship will be the keys to establish a true peace and reconciliation.

I thank you.

Keynote Speech by Hon. Dr. Anis Byarwati Burhanuddin Head of the Central Executive Board for Women Affairs of the Prosperous Justice Party of Indonesia

His Excellency, Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev, The President of Azerbaijan Republic and Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), Honorable Jose de Venecia, Jr., Co-Chairman of the ICAPP Standing Committee, Honorable Chung Eui-yong, Co-Chairman of the Standing Committee and Secretary General of the ICAPP, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Asia is a strategic region of the world that, when considering its natural and human resources, history and culture, has a promising future. Furthermore, democratization, stability and good economic growth in Asian countries make Asia as a region with really a bright future. Security, peace and reconciliation of the region are important factors to ensure the realization of Asia’s bright future. Therefore, the theme of the 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP is indeed important and appropriate.

In fact, security and peace are the common concern and also responsibility of every one of us as the citizen of the world. However, they are traditionally approached in the context of macro relations between countries with state actors, inter-governmental dialogues, cultural exchange missions, bilateral and multilateral agreements and efforts to build understanding between countries. Therefore, allow me before this noble forum, to submit a proposal to create security, peace and reconciliation that can be more enduring in Asia.

Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In order to create a sustainable peace and security, we need to make security and peace as the basic attitude of every citizen of the world, and it requires a family as a vehicle for its initial and fundamental seeding. This is the core of my proposal. Families, as the smallest unit in society, will be able to effectively instil awareness and peace and reconciliation skills since the early stage of human’s life. The family is the medium in which the interaction between its members will greatly affect their social attitude in the future. With the embedded values of peace and reconciliation in the family, the future generation will make it part of their character and the people whom they build later.

A strong philosophical foundation is, of course, required to plant the value of peace and reconciliation to our younger generations for building harmonious society and world. That foundation is love and caring in the family, and those are our human DNA. When a child grows up in an environment rich in love and caring, then we are blessed. Then, we can put our trust to them that the world will have leaders whose value peace and respect for humanity, and uphold values of humanity and human rights.

Therefore, it is time we give a more serious attention to the quality of our families. We need to build harmonious and loving families, present opportunities to increase family economic 80

capacity, prevent divorce and family disintegration as an increasing trend, and ensuring that children receive quality care from their parents and the society. As agreed in the Doha Declaration which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 6, 2004 and accepted by 149 countries, it is also time to enhance cooperation between countries with programs for strengthening the family institution.

Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let us resolve our families while improving their welfare. Let us teach our children about peace, tolerance, appreciation, and as well as reconciliation, based on the intrinsic value of love, which they obtain from the most fundamental source: the family. Family is the value of Asian, Asian cultural heritage and identity of Asia. From there, security, peace and reconciliation get its powerful meaning and its latent energy.

With this addition, I appeal to all political parties, as a strategic element of society, to work together to support and encourage a pro-family public policy, both for regulatory and budget. Let us encourage everybody so that pro-family public policy gives a clear impact for strengthening and improving the quality of family in Asia. And my hope, of course, it becomes the spirit of cooperation in Asia.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Finally, when we sit together now listening how Asia can perpetuate the security, peace and stability for the region, our eyes had also witnessed the humanitarian tragedy in Palestine, particularly in Gaza. People in different parts of the world had condemned the barbaric actions of the Israeli Zionists, prayed for liberation of Palestine, and hand in hand provided humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. World leaders also had deplored the crisis in Gaza and urged that the crisis in the Middle East can be terminated immediately. Thank God, two days ago a ceased fire was declared. As part of our commitment, as political parties in Asia, for the establishment of security, peace and reconciliation on the face of this earth, I urge this honorable forum to adopt a firm resolution on humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, and to conduct concrete actions to follow-up the resolution.

Thank you very much.

Keynote Speech by Hon. Dr. Anis Byarwati Burhanuddin Head of the Central Executive Board for Women Affairs of the Prosperous Justice Party of Indonesia (Presented at the Special Workshop on Women Politicians)

Thank you very much Madame Chairperson. Honorable participants and friends,

We are witnessing a very promising positive trend is Asia region towards society empowerment, economic development and improvement of political practices by political actors and institutions. I hope Asia as a strategic region can have a really bright future. This is my second time attending the General Assembly of the ICAPP, and the Special Workshop on Women Politicians, after the 2010 General Assembly in Cambodia.

Engagement of women in politics, as well as in other areas of our life, is important. Because, we are an integrated part of the society, can contribute for the betterment of and share the responsibility in building the society. Therefore, I would like to witness more women to participate and engage in ICAPP activities to present their concern and thought in order to make the outputs more representable and the impacts more comprehensive.

In my country, Indonesia, the representation of women in politics has come to force since the last election in 2009, where at least 30% of party’s committee and candidate for Member of Parliament should be women. In the early stage, during the 2009 general election, only very few political parties could fulfill this requirement and no consequences were implied. However, for the coming 2014 general election, the requirement has come to affect and the National Election Commission really checks its fulfillment. Any political party that cannot comply with the requirement is not eligible to be registered for the election.

This is good news regarding the engagement of women in politics in terms of quantity. However, this could be alarming if quality is neglected. The problem is political parties put forward popularity and electability before quality. So, they prefer to recruit popular women figures, such as women artists and celebrities in order to fulfill the requirement and get as many votes as possible. When they managed to get seat in the parliament, or become mayors or governors, they cannot really play important roles and contribute significantly through their positions. Even, some of them are just ‘puppets’ or tragically trapped in corruption cases. Therefore, we really need to select and elect qualified women for their engagement in politics. We need to select from the society qualified women with firm integrity and excellent education and experience, and elect them to take up position in the legislative and executive branches of the government so they can constructively contribute towards the betterment of the society.

Honorable participants and friends,

The other issue needs our paramount attention is about family mainstreaming. We are a member of society. And, the smallest unit in the society is a family. When we shared and discussed about the role of women in politics and how we should constructively contribute to

the society, we need to also put in mind that we are not just individuals, but each one of us is a member of a family.

Somewhere in the world, a society now is perhaps just a loose crowd of individual and merely bonded by rules and regulations. Families, if really exist in that society, have similar meaning, and can easily disintegrated anytime. However, family in our region is the value of Asian, Asian cultural heritage and identity of Asia. Our children, and the future generation, learn about love, affections, caring for others, peace are from their families. Therefore, it is of paramount important for us, women politicians, to support and encourage pro-family public policies that can make the future of the society and the world more meaningful.

Thank you very much.

Keynote Speech by Hon. Prof. Dr. Hassan Ghafouri Fard Former Vice President of Iran and Member of the Central Committee of Islamic Motalefeh Party

In the name of our Lord Allah, The most gracious, The most merciful. Your Excellencies, Mr. Chairman, Madam Chairperson, Distinguish Members of the Standing Committee, Honorable Delegates, Ladies and Gentleman, Dear friends,

I have the honor to be here to represent the Islamic Motalefeh Party the most influential political party in Iran.

I first like to thank the government of the republic of Azerbaijan. Mr. Ali Ahmadof the deputy chairman of new Azerbaijan party. Mr. Asif Hajiyev the head of the international department for hosting the very important meeting of the standing committee in June and this seventh general assembly of ICAPP now here in Baku.

I also like to congratulate ICAPP for the newly founded ICAPP Youth Wing which was originally suggested by the Islamic Motalefeh Party in the sixth general assembly and confirmed there and in the meeting of the ICAPP leaders in Kuala Lumpur.

This is a great and very important foundation for the greater involvement of the young leaders in our organization which has been finalized and has been moving forward.

We are pleased and thankful to see our suggestion was taken very seriously and put in to effect so soon.

I am sure and positive about the role of ICAPP Youth Wing and I am certain that it will have a positive and important role in shaping the future of this lovely continent, because it is today's Asian Youth who will live and lead in the future of great Asia.

We are putting forward some more ideas and suggestions to this highly important meeting of the seventh general assembly, which we think if adopted and implemented will move ICAPP forward, and will make it more effective with more impact in the world affairs, so we ask for your attention and your help.

Firstly, we want to ask ICAPP to establish a "news office" and information center for the Asian countries and political parties to inform them about all the news of this highly important continent and also about the world as a whole.

We, I mean the Islamic Motalefeh Party, propose and we are ready to establish the central office for this news agency in Iran, and give good services to ICAPP and all other political

parties of the Asia and the world under the name of ICAPP news agency. We are ready to take care of all the expenses and all the problems it might have.

Secondly we are offering our services and our readiness to hold the next ICAPP standing committee meeting in Tehran, Iran to discuss the above mentioned proposal and other ideas and if possible to open the news agency headquarter and information center in Tehran, Iran at that time.

Since ICAPP has started an anti poverty fund and also Asian development fund we propose to establish a chamber of commerce for the economical and trade for commercial activities. We think cooperation between members of the ICAPP is a very important subject at this time of history:

As you are all aware, the destructive impacts of the west sanction on the growing and developing countries of the Asian continent are the new ways of the Colonization and this will force us to have more domestic(I mean intercontinental) cooperation in the field of economy and trade and commercial affairs.

Again we are ready to open the headquarter or central office of the ICAPP chamber of commerce in Tehran, Iran. I have talked to the Iran Chamber of Commerce, and they are ready for all kind of cooperation. It is a nongovernmental organization with great capacity and intention for cooperation.

We think the cooperation and partnership of ICAPP with other Asian and world organizations such as Asian Parliamentary Assembly(APA) and our counterpart in Latin America COPPPAL or in Africa will help us to work toward a world with justice and without war or blood debts.

We think we can start to have an international project to build a data base for the Asian political parties which in near future will grow to a data base for world political parties.

Last but not least important, we the member of the ICAPP and all the politically oriented people of the world, and also all the people who follow the world news are all painfully aware of the unprecedented magnitude of the killing of the innocent people (especially women and children) of Palestine by Zionist regime of Israel.

The world is suffering a lot from this disaster that caused not only eliminating civilian people, but also destroying cities and damaging holy places mosque, shrine and even the farms and houses of the civilian people and all the historical heritage of the great nation of Palestine.

Even though the brave Palestinian are having an admirable resistance against the aggression, and we have learned about the power of resistance of the great people of Gaza who stand firmly against the attack and aggression of the Zionist tank and air attack but we know that innocent civilian especially women and children are perishing and we have the obligation to voice our objection to this ungodly destructive aggression and also to help Palestine especially those who live in Gaza, by all means.

I suggest that this great assembly not only condemn the aggression of the Zionist, but also-for the sake of peace and the security of the continent of Asia and the whole world ask the UN 85

and all the political parties of the world to condemn the aggression against Palestine, Syria and Sudan and take step to stop the war everywhere.

Keynote Speech by Mr. Mahdi Soli Vice President of the Center for International Affairs and Advisor on International Affairs to Former Vice President, Islamic Motalefeh Party (Presented at the Special Workshop on Young Political Leaders)

In the name of God. Honorable administrative board, Honorable participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the beginning, as the representative of the Islamic Motalefeh Party, I should like to thank for the hospitality and good organization of this meeting.

Today, we as representative of the Asian political parties, gathered here to discuss about the issues and problems of Asian people through regional cooperation, and present recommendations for them to have a better life and security, peace and reconciliation in the future.

In this opportunity, I am willing to explain as deputy Middle East of ICAPP YOUTH.

The youth as part of the society are always changing; Future makers, who always wish for a better life in future.

In Middle East, the best part of the population pyramid consists of the fifteen to twenty nine years old youth; the dynamic, creative, talented, and moralist youth who seek development in all aspects of international relationships to attain peace, justice and friendship.

In glory history of continent Asia, the youth have done brilliant jobs in different historical sections with their ambition to achieve great objectives.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In my opinion, the obstacles for better planning regarding the youth and their future which threat their peace and security are as follows:

First, negligence of the common spiritual heritage and ethics,

Second, negligence in promoting Asian models in the economy, security and culture,

Third, imposing unjust discriminations,

Fourth, negligence on the interaction and exchange of experiences among Asian youth,

Fifth, warfare and threats of terrorism, imperialism and Zionism,

Sixth, increasing racial and religious disputes,

Seventh, environmental degradation,

Eighth, injustice in having opportunities.

Unfortunately, some countries at present, instead of giving help to other and multilateral development, along with imposing sanction and harshness are damaging general progress of humanity.

The spiritual heritage without paying attention to the religious values and ethics is considered a threat for the society, especially the youth.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

,Stability and security, economy and culture of Asia is at risk، Because in the present world the culture and stability and economy of a country belongs to all, and all of us must try for preserving it.

As Iranian poet Saadi Says:

“All the children of Adam are like the members of a body; because all are of a unique jewel in creation.”

My dear friends!

Are we attending this conference for a goal other than making attempts for paving the way for progress and development of the youth who are the future makers of the Asia? Asian countries as countries with a great civilization have been able to act as a successful sample of transferring them spiritual heritage to their youth and is now the political parties of Asia are capable for transferring this valuable experience to each other. And ICAPP is a begin to achieve the valuable goal.

Honorable participants ,

Let’s put our hands in hands today for the future of the Asian youth.

Keynote Speech by Mr. Ghodrat Ali Heshmatiyan Member of the Central Council of the Iran Parties House

In the name of God,

President,

First, I would like to express my congratulation on my behalf and on behalf of other members of the mission of Islamic Republic of Iran to you and other esteemed members of presidium.

Meanwhile, thanks to the government, people, and political parties and formations of Azerbaijan for hosting the 7th Conference of Asian Political Parties.

President, Secretary General of Asian Political Parties and Formations,

I, as the head of the mission of Iran Parties House, member of central council of parties house, Secretary General of Independent Society of Islamic Republic of Iran and also as a previous representative of parliament in Iran, announce that Islamic Republic of Iran has always abetted the development of civil organizations and participating all the society groups in making decisions.

Existing of various presses as well as political and trading formations in the present community of Iran indicates the severe resolution of Islamic Republic authorities in facilitating public participation, particularly young people, in managing the society.

Iran’s university students are jointed in management of the country, universities and political problem within the framework of political formations and according to laws and regulations.

It is obvious that a society which admits the exchange and difference of opinions have always encountered with inevitable disputes also, in Iran political parties and formations have had differences and disputes.

Unfortunately, some of countries, by enjoying the power of communication technology, have made these differences and disputes as negative propaganda; they inform the people about the world news as they like rather than the real news. We regard this action as a kind of authoritarianism policy and burdening a particular culture and interfering in internal affairs of other countries, which is imposed in independent countries.

President,

I hereby beg to inform you that the world community is in conflict with old and new crisis. One of the oldest mentioned crises of the world particularly Middle East have been Palestine problem which always concerned by the political parties and formations in the sensitive zone along Persian Gulf.

We believe that in order to achieve peace and entire security in Asia and even in Middle East and the world, the rights of Palestinians including all the occupied areas especially the Hold 89

Qods, and returning all the Palestinians evacuees and their sovereignty (right) in their ancestors territory should be recognized officially, This should be concerned seriously by the Asian political parties.

Respected Representatives of Asian Political Parties,

In the sensitive zone along Persian Gulf, the cooperation among the countries along the Persian Gulf will lead to collaboration among Asia countries which will cause peace, stability and economic development.

The presence and interference of foreign forces in the countries will be never an appropriate way for achieving a common objective for the existence of peace and security in the countries.

President, Secretary General of Asian Political Parties,

For bringing about international peace and security and achieving the real democracy, the following points are recommended.

1. To attach value to the participation principle in international relations 2. Mutual understanding of cultures and respect to values. As well as religious and tribal customs. 3. To beef up civil and public organizations and cooperation in safe political competitions. 4. Cooperation in combating against terrorism and atrocity. 5. Cooperation in abolition of massacre armaments and arms reduction under international supervision and control. 6. Non-interference in internal affairs of countries and respect to others rights.

Thank you.

Keynote Speech by Hon. Yasuo Ogata Vice Chairperson of the Executive Committee and Chairman of the International Commission of Japanese Communist Party (JCP)

Esteemed Chairperson and Distinguished delegates,

It is my pleasure to attend the 7th ICAPP general assembly in Baku, a city famed for its beauty facing the Caspian Sea. The warm hospitality by the organizer is very much appreciated. At this general assembly, the ICAPP will make another leap forward based on the past 12 years of activities. It is a body unparalleled in the world, with both ruling and opposition parties of all political spectrums from conservative to progressive participating in discussion and also contributing to resolution of various problems in the regions.

The theme of this meeting, “Security, Peace and Reconciliation in Asia,” is a very timely one because, although we have already built up significant experiences in this field, there remains much to be done to solve existing problems.

During the past 10 years, I have attended the Summits and the Ministerial Meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement as a guest. Recently, at the 16th NAM Summit held in Tehran this August, I witnessed the emerging and developing countries becoming more confident and more influential in international affairs. On the other hand, the developed countries are reeling under the economic crisis, losing its dominant position in the world.

According to the IMF, the total GDP of developing countries amounted to 51% of the world GDP last year, exceeding the total GDP of developed countries. It is forecast that the share of GDP of developing countries will grow to 56% in five years, expanding the gap between the developing and developed countries in the share of the world GDP. Such economic development lies behind the political confidence of the developing countries.

The structure of the world is dramatically changing. The say of developing countries in the decision-making process in world politics and economy is growing, especially since the Lehman Shock in 2008. It was not long ago when the countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America were not able to decide various sovereign matters without experiencing interference by developed countries.

Today, however, the countries in these regions are not only taking their fates back into their own hands, but also making an important contribution to creating and maintaining regional peace and stability. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in ASIA (CICA), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and other regional communities devoted to establishing peace, are developing and connecting with each other to form a global network for peace.

Among these regions, Asia is marked by its dynamic economic growth with a rapidly increasing share in the world GDP, presently reaching 25%. A continent formerly acclaimed for its abundant potential is now an undisputed growth engine of the world with bright prospects for future development. 91

Southeast Asia once was known for military alliances, wars, and permanent foreign military bases. However, all of those have gone. The region has developed into a peaceful region based on the United Nations Charter, establishing a nuclear weapons free zone and calling for peaceful resolution of disputes. ASEAN, through its 45-year history with many twists and turns, has been tackling intra-regional disputes and conflicts, thus developing as a regional institution to maintain peace. The ASEAN serves as an important pathfinder for us from Northeast Asia, where building peace and stability is still an unfinished task.

Among various rules governing peace, resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means without resorting to force is of paramount importance, which the U.N. Charter champions as a fundamental principle.

In Japan, contrary to the peaceful trend in the world where outdated military alliances that assume imaginary enemies outside have been disappearing, the Japan-U.S. military alliance is being further strengthened, while the massive presence of 50,000 U.S. personnel at more than 100 U.S. military bases still remains. Especially in Okinawa where 75% of U.S. military bases in Japan are concentrated, the residents continue to suffer from the burden of the military presence. A recent gang-rape of an Okinawan woman by U.S. servicemen is just the tip of the iceberg. We are striving to get rid of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, the root cause of all the suffering, replacing it with a Japan-U.S. Friendship Treaty, and to take part in the Non-Aligned Movement. I believe this would contribute to peace and progress in Asia and the world.

Friends,

Last September, the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Rule of Law at the National and International Levels adopted a declaration that stipulated, in essence, that the U.N. Charter and other international instruments should be fully implemented in order to prevent conflict, to maintain international peace and security as well as to bring about a prosperous and equitable world. It also emphasized the utmost importance of upholding the resolution of disputes by peaceful means.

We make the following proposal to create a peaceful environment in East Asia, which should be acted on by Japan and others.

First, to reject the mindset that prefers responding militarily while giving diplomatic solution a backseat. Such a tendency certainly leads to a vicious cycle of military responses.

Second, to pursue peaceful and diplomatic solutions to disputes or differences of opinion in regard to territorial issues that exist in this region, based on historical facts and international law. We should strictly refrain from resorting to the threat or use of force and letting political difference hold up economic activities or cultural exchanges.

Third, as for Japan, to come to terms with the past war of aggression and its colonial rule. Only if Japan sincerely reflects over its past wrongdoings, can it build true friendship with Asian nations and pave the way for just settlement of its territorial disputes.

Ladies and gentlemen,

When we talk about world peace, we must not avoid the nuclear weapons issue. The Phnom Penh Declaration, adopted at the 6th General Assembly of the ICAPP, clearly stated its support to the United Nations Secretary General’s five point proposal which includes negotiations on a nuclear weapons convention (NWC). For the past two years since then, the five point proposal and especially a nuclear weapons convention received increased support, now coming from an overwhelmingly majority in international politics as well as among civil society.

At the First Committee of the U.N. General Assembly this month, a resolution calling for commencement of negotiations for a NWC was supported by more than 120 countries. An NGO estimates that 146 countries with 81% of the world population support the start of negotiations of a NWC, including those countries that have not yet voted in favor of a NWC but are supportive of the idea itself.

In Asia, nuclear weapons free zones are established in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Mongolia. Efforts to convene an international conference on a Middle East nuclear weapons free zone is under way. The question of the Iranian nuclear program must be solved urgently through peaceful and diplomatic means. We also have to realize denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through the Six-Party talks. I call on all the political parties in Asia to join hands with the United Nations, national and local governments, as well as grassroots movements so as to bring forth the commencement of negotiations for a NWC, thus opening the door to a world without nuclear weapons.

Friends,

To conclude my speech, I reiterate our gratitude for your support expressed after the massive earthquakes and tsunami hit eastern Japan on March 11, 2011.

Here I would like to share with you the horrendous situation created by the meltdown disaster at the Fukushima No.1 Nuclear Power Plant. The nuclear disaster is far from over and the victims’ anguish is continuing without an end in sight. In Fukushima prefecture, there are still 160,000 evacuees in and outside the prefecture with not a small number of lives lost who are unable to return their hometowns. Radioactive contamination has been spreading all over eastern Japan. So called “hot spots,” localities with relatively high doses of radiation, have emerged in various areas. Agriculture, fishery, forestry as well as tourism and other industries are suffering serious damages as a result of the nuclear disaster.

Once a serious accident occurs at a nuclear power plant and radioactive material is released into the environment, we have no means to contain it. The breadth, duration, and social consequences of contamination will increase without limit. Such extraordinary hazards of the nuclear disaster have continued for the past 20 months. In addition, nuclear waste continues to pile up so long as nuclear power plants operate. We should not threaten the lives and health of our children and grandchildren by leaving this dangerous nuclear legacy for future generations. This is our conclusion drawn from this disaster.

The JCP is demanding the government make a political decision to scrap all the nuclear power plants immediately. The majority of Japan’s public opinion drastically has changed to be in favor of an immediate break with nuclear power generation since the disaster.

Which energy sources a country relies on is a matter of sovereign choice by the country. However, if and when a grave accident occurs, its consequences easily spread across the border causing immeasurable damages. I relate our experience because environmental protection is an important part of the security of all nations. Thank you for your attention.

Keynote Speech by Hon. Mukhtar Yermen Deputy Head of Central Office, People’s Democratic Party “Nur Otan” of Kazakhstan

Honorable Chairman!

Esteemed delegates of General Assembly and distinguished guests!

On behalf of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Peoples Democratic party “Nur Otan”, I cordially greet you to this reputable meeting.

First and foremost, allow me to thank the hosts — our Azerbaijani colleagues from Eni Azerbaijan party, for organizing our work so well.

It is symbolic that our meeting takes place in the capital city of a dynamically evolving Azerbaijan. The city of Baku honorably took the mission from Astana to become the second Turkic capital city to assemble session of ICAPP. This is undoubtedly a testament to the high authority of the founders of modern Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, Geidar Aliyev and Nursultan Nazarbayev.

During the course of the 16th meeting of the Standing Committee in Seoul we had informed our colleagues of the peaceful initiatives of the Kazakhstani leader toward the issues of nuclear disarmament. 20 years ago, we were the world’s first nation to shut down a nuclear testing site. Over the four decades of testing, more than 450 bombs had been exploded, of which 120 had been deployed in the atmosphere.

Kazakhstan was among the first CIS states to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Together with our neighbors, we then signed the Treaty of Semipalatinsk to create the Central Asian nuclear weapon-free zone. And today we are proud to be in the avant-garde of the global antinuclear movement.

The closing of the Semipalatinsk test site has been the first and the only full shut-down of a nuclear test site facility in the world to date.

Essentially, August 29, 1991 heralded the new era of global nuclear history. Correspondingly, 29th of August was proclaimed by UN as the International Day against Nuclear Tests. And we are grateful to all the members of the 5th Assembly of International Conference of Asian Political Parties for supporting out initiative, leading to the drafting of the Astana Declaration.

Speaking at the 66th Session of UN General Assembly, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic party “Nur Otan”, H.E. Nursultan Nazarbayev brought the idea of drafting the Universal Declaration of Nuclear-Free World. With the adoption Universal Declaration we envision the establishment in the 21st century a consistent system of global nuclear security under staunch vigilance of the UN, which will have exclusive authority.

In 2010, Astana hosted the Conference of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism. On October 12, 2011, Astana hosted the “Nuclear-Free World” forum — an important step toward unification of efforts of policy makers and general public in the field of nuclear security, with the participation of the Head of IAEA.

“Twenty years ago, Kazakhstan made a decision not to have nuclear weapons. And not only has that led to growth and prosperity in the country, but Kazakhstan has become a model in efforts around the world to eliminate nuclear materials that could fall into the wrong hands. This is why I would like to thank you for this leading role in giving up nuclear weapons” US President Barrack Obama said to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Nursultan Nazarbayev at the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit on March 26.

Today it is important to create a powerful global antinuclear movement.

Kazakhstan President N. A. Nazarbayev suggests that nuclear security summits should be held every two years. Our country is willing to host such a summit in Astana in foreseeable future.

In this regard I urge my colleagues to support the motion made by the President of Kazakhstan toward prevention of nuclear threat, and reflect this in meeting minutes of Standing Committee, as well as in the text of Declaration of the General Assembly.

Thank you.

Keynote Speech by Hon. Hwang Jin-ha Member of the National Assembly and President of ICAPP Parliamentarians’ Union of the National Assembly, Saenuri (New Frontier) Party, Republic of Korea

His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 7th Assembly of the ICAPP Ali Javad Ahmadov, Founding Chairman of the ICAPP and Co-Chairman of the ICAPP Standing Committee Jose De Venecia, Co-Chairman of the ICAPP Standing Committee and Secretary General of the ICAPP Chung Eui-yong, Distinguished leaders of political parties, ladies and gentlemen!

I would like to sincerely congratulate you on the successful hosting of the 7th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP).

Taking this opportunity, I extend my strongest appreciation to warm welcome and hospitality rendered to delegation from the Republic of Korea.

The theme of this general assembly, “Peace, Security and Reconciliation” is a crucial element for the survival and prosperity of any nation, and thus I have no doubt that all of today’s participants are well aware of its importance. When we are assessing the current global community situation, we’re continuously paying our close attention to the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula as the most two fragile regions in terms of stability, peace, and reconciliation.

In this regard, let me overlook the situation, one of those two regions, the Korean Peninsula. While there wasn’t another regular war between the two Koreas for more than the past half century after the armistice in 1953, North Korea continues to undertake military provocations, and military tensions continue to mount following the alleged attacks of North Korea, such as the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyong Island in 2010. In an effort to achieve denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, which is the prerequisite to establishing peace on the peninsula, six-party talks have been set between the Republic of Korea, China, Japan, Russia, the United States, and North Korea, to accelerate active cooperation of international organizations, including the United Nations. Unfortunately, these efforts could not make a substantial progress yet. In 1991, the two leaders of South and North Korea agreed upon the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, but it has yet to be realized.

Pyongyang asserts its nuclear weapons program as the last resort to maintain its regime security, which is vital to their survival. We should remind North Korea that such strategic thinking will leave them internationally be isolated, instead of bringing prosperity. In this vein, I’d like to encourage all of you to work together to help North Korea, an official member of the U.N. since 1991, meet their due responsibilities as a responsible member of the international community.

Following the death of Kim Jong Il in December 2011, Kim Jong Un made an official appearance as his successor and came into power as the leader of the party, military, and politics. There are growing concerns over the stability of the North Korean regime due to its isolation from the outside world. No nation, including South Korea, wants abrupt regime collapse, or political chaos in North Korea. Of course, there is only so little we can do to prevent these situations. However, we cannot afford to just sit on the fence. Our sincere intention is to support North Korea so that it, as a responsible member of the United Nations, engages in a sincere effort for the stability and peace of the Korean Peninsula through reconciliation and cooperation with South Korea, and further North Korea overcomes political and economic difficulties and moves toward a peaceful unification. To this end, there is no option but North Korea's reform and openness to the international community with pursuing sincere cooperation and communication. I am convinced that we should work side by side to encourage Pyongyang to open up to the outside world as soon as possible for their stability and prosperity.

Establishing peace on the Korean peninsula is a global issue that cannot be achieved by the Korean government alone. The instability of national security on the Korean peninsula is a serious cause for concerns, which can result in grave consequences to the stability of both Asia and the world, not to mention the Korean peninsula. I believe "common recognition" about this fact should be preceded. In this sense, I’d like to put forth the resolution of ICAPP members for settling peace on the Korean peninsula in the Baku Declaration and encourage your cooperation and engagement for respective efforts.

Standing Committee Members of the ICAPP, And, distinguished political leaders here today!

I believe that “peaceful co-existence” is one of the core values of the ICAPP, set forth in the ICAPP Charter, which was adopted in 2006 during the 4th General Assembly of the ICAPP. Since settling peace on the Korean peninsula is the pressing issue that must be resolved for the peaceful co-existence of the Asian region, our concerted efforts of promoting peace and security on the Korean peninsula is directly leading to respect and develop the values of the ICAPP.

The Asian region is transforming into the center of world’s politics and economy. The U.S. recently announced “Pivot to Asia,” and has promoted the re-balance of U.S. diplomacy, military, and economy. In this sense, now is the time when communication and cooperation between countries is more important than ever.

The year of 2013 will be a crucial moment for the Asian region and international peace. In the U.S., Barack Obama claimed victory in the presidential election on November 6th and is preparing for his second term in office. China is also preparing for a new journey with the launch of the fifth generation of leadership on November 15th. In Japan, the lower house of the Parliament was officially dissolved and general elections are set on December 16th. The Republic of Korea is poised to elect the new president on December 19th.

I strongly encourage the ICAPP to take appropriate efforts for the stability, peace, and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula which we believe will have a significant impact on the regional and global peace. At the same time, I wish that new governments of the United

States, China, Japan, Russia, the Republic of Korea, and others will promote cooperation and coordination.

Distinguished delegates from Asia, Latin America, and Africa!

Since the end of the Korean War, South Korea has achieved unprecedented political and economic development. The nation became the seventh member of “the 2050 Club realizing a per-capita income of twenty thousand dollars with a population of more than fifty million.” South Korea has also shown a strong commitment to meet its responsibilities and duties as one of the global leadership through such events recently as the 2008 Seoul G20 Summit Meeting, the 2011 Busan High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, the Second Nuclear Security Summit 2012, and the recent hosting of the Secretariat of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The remarkable growth of the ROK is receiving much attention as a growth model for countries in the Middle East and Africa, as well as Asia. And thousands of representative figures who are willing to learn lessons from Republic of Korea’s success story are visiting the nation every year. We, South Koreans, are deeply appreciating to our many friends around the world particularly Asian countries for their great support and assistance, and are willing to return our debts to those who encouraged us to make this happen.

The peaceful unification of the Korean peninsula is the yearning of seventy million Korean people!

The unification of the Korean peninsula will make a great contribution to the stability and prosperity of the Asian region. No one can certainly predict when the two Koreas would be reunified. In any case, unification comes with a tremendous amount of unification costs, due to inter-Korean economic disparity. This is why “the Unification-Fund Jar” campaign is underway in Korea to raise unification fund from civilian sectors in preparation for peaceful unification in the future.

I would now like to conclude my remarks by urging the political leaders here today to render attention and cooperation for settling peace on the Korean peninsula so that the efforts of Korean people for unification come true.

And, I sincerely hope that today’s gathering will be a significant chance to share our insights about what we should do for “Asia’s new challenges, changes, and opportunity.”

Again, congratulations on the successful hosting and opening of the 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP!

Thank you.

Keynote Speech by Hon. Dr. Park In-sook Member of the National Assembly, Saenuri (New Frontier) Party, Republic of Korea (Presented at the Special Workshop on Women Politicians)

Good morning.

Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentleman,

It is an honor and great privilege for me to join ICAPP and be able to deliver this speech in this beautiful and historic city of Baku. My name is In-Sook Park and I am from Seoul, Korea. I am a pediatric cardiologist, taking care of fetus, babies and children with heart disease until recently. Now I am a member of Saenuri party, the ruling party, I was elected as a member of the National Assembly of Korea 7 month ago.

Now I must tell you that I am thankful for ICAPP for holding this special workshop on women politicians because women’s role and status in politics is far from ideal in most countries including Korea.

Politicians are not very much respected in Korea. Actually and openly people dislike politicians while ironically, most Koreans have a strong interest and knowledge in politics. Previously I didn’t like politicians either and had always complained of them. However, as I practiced medicine and teach at the medical school, while raising my children, I realized that politics is a very powerful and ultimate tool to change the society and to help people.

And this is the very reason why I decided to run for the election and thanks to our Saenuri party, I won.

Korea had undergone a remarkable growth in economy; we call a miracle, during the past 67 years since its liberation from the Japanese occupation and Korean war. We had to rebuild the entire country from the scratch. Korea is the only country in the world so far that has turned from an aid-receiving country to an aid-providing country.

In the meantime, women’s right in Korea has improved significantly. However, women’s representation is still seriously deficient in national leadership and high ranking positions, such as members of the parliament, government officials, business CEO, president of the universities, and so on. Only 15% of the members of Korean National Assembly are women.

Korea is still a very male dominating society and most of Korean bureaucracy is run by men. There still is a glass-ceiling and a tall wall for a woman who is brave enough to break the gender prejudice and intends to enter politics or any high ranking positions. Not only that, women workers are facing significant and widespread discrimination in their jobs.

Korea is ranked very low, almost bottom, according to several international rating surveys on gender-equality, particularly in politics. One of the most worrisome problems that Korea is facing at the moment is the alarmingly low birth rate with a total fertility rate of only 1.22, which is one of the lowest in the world. 100

I presume that one of the reason is the significant discrepancy between a big expectation from modern, young Korean women and stubborn reality of the Korean society.

Having said all that depressing side of gender situation in Korea, I have exciting news in this regard and I believe that what I am going to say is very timely and appropriate for this workshop on women politicians.

In 26 days from today, there is a presidential election in Korea and we Koreans and the rest of the world, I hope, will witness the birth of a woman president for the first time in our history. From the opposition party, two male candidates are struggling to unify into a single candidate at this very moment.

To take advantage of this opportunity, I would like to briefly introduce our candidate from Sanuri party. I don’t think I am breaking the election law of Korea. She is the daughter of late president Park Chung-hee, who is respected by most Koreans as well as leaders from many other countries. He had laid the foundation for our economic achievements.

To mention one example, he had turned almost completely naked mountains of Korea into the world’s best mountains and forests, as many foreign specialists had praised. Most of infrastructures and industry that we have now were designed and initiated by him.

Going back to the story of his daughter, presidential candidate lady Park Geun-hye, I would call her a president by birth. She had witnessed her father building and ruling Korea since age 9 years, and had witnessed her mother being killed by a killer, instigated by North Korea, when she was 22 years old. Then she had functioned as a first lady for 5 years until her father being killed by his insane staff member when she was 27 years old.

Her mother was and still is the most beloved and respected first lady ever in Korea. Presidential candidate lady Park Geun-hye can speak 5 languages and is saying that she is married to Korea. She entered politics at age 46 years, and had won all elections since. She had resuscitated and saved ruling Saenuri party in national elections 3 times, including the most recent one in April this year.

As you know there are many superb women presidents and politicians from many countries and there are more to come. And I believe that candidate Park Geun-hye will add one more name to this honorable list of successful women presidents.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Before closing my talk, I would like to point out two things :

During this two-day meeting of ICAPP, there are about 92 speakers and excluding 5 women speakers designated for this special session on women politicians, there is only one woman speaker out of 87. Please correct me if I wrong. I believe that this is the reality of women politicians in Asian countries.

Second thing I need to mention before closing is that there are still many important women issues such as domestic violence, violence and abuse on children, sex crime, human 101

trafficking, and human right issue of women, particularly women in North Korea. And this gives another reason why more women should enter politics and should all work together, to solve these global issues, by close cooperation, collaboration, and communication through a strong international organization like ICAPP.

Thank you very much for your attention.

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Keynote Speech by Hon. Thongsavanh Phomvihane Deputy Head of the Committee for External Relations of the Central Committee of Lao People’s Revolutionary Party

Honorable Chairman, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Fisrt of all, on behalf the delegation of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and myself, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP) for its warm welcome and hospitality, and want to congratulate the Party on its excellent hosting of the 7th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Party in this beautiful city of Baku.

I would like also to express my warmest greetings to all distinguished delegates present here in the meeting. On this auspicious occasion, I would like to wish the Conference a brilliant success.

Distinguished Delegates,

The changes of the regional and international situation is undergone more rapid and complex. Peace, security and development is still the main will of the people over the world today. The theme of today’s General Assembly: “Peace, Security and Reconciliation in Asia” is timely vital. No peace, security and reconciliation is hard to say about sustainable development. These 3 issues are precondition for the stability and development.

The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (Lao PRP) has experienced the value of peace, security and reconciliation in its history. 37 years after the establishment of the Lao PDR as a new country and more then 25 years of the implementation of the Policy of Renovation, Laos has been maintaining political and social stability with average annual economic growth of 7,9% over the past 5 years.

Laos is the country with multiethnic population. More then 20% of household still living in poverty. Last year the 9th Party Congress has adopted the resolution and the 7th five-year socio-economic development plan, in witch one of its main targets is to reduce nation-wide househole poverty rate to no more then 10% by 2015, shift the country from the LDC status by 2020 and further advance toward the ultimate goal of socialism. Our Party has consistently reaffirmed that enhancement of harmony and solidarity among the people of all ethnic groups, social strata, ages and genders, religions and building of a grand solidarity force of the entire Lao people are decisive for the achievement of our goals.

The Lao PRP will continue to actively pursue its foreign policy of peace, independence, friendship and cooperation, promote international relations in a multidirectional, multilateral, multilevel and multiform manner on the basis of the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit.

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Dear Delegates,

We have been witnessing that Asia is emerging as one of the most dynamic regions with big potential, but there are still both, opportunities and challenges, there are still many factors that can make peace and security fragile. The theme of today’s Conference, that peace, security and reconciliation, is actual and important. But I am confident that based on the good traditions of solidarity, friendship and coordinated cooperation, trust and mutual understanding between all Asian countries and political Parties, Asia can become a region of lasting peace, security and solidarity, thus creating an environment conducive to the development for the prosperity of the people of our broader region.

In my concluding, I would like, once again, to express my deep appreciations to the Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP) and the Organizing Committee of the 7th ICAPP General Assembly for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to our delegation. May I wish all Distinguished Delegates a good health and success in your noble task.

I thank you.

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Keynote Speech by Hon. Fadi Fawaz Advisor to the Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Future Movement Party of Lebanon

A few weeks from now, we will remember a modest yet remarkable figure, a vegetable vendor in the small Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid who, out of despair, set himself in flames on the 17th of December 2010 and by doing so, led an era of unprecedented uprisings in the Arab world, that is far from concluded, often labeled as “the Arab Spring”.

Some in the Arab world, but particularly in Lebanon, feel that the indications of these uprisings go back to as early as March 14, 2005 when hundreds of thousands of Lebanese citizens took to the streets of Beirut, after the assassination of Martyr Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, to demonstrate against an order, a system of governance, they had come to despise.

But as we observe the current dynamics in the Arab world, it would be naive to reduce the reason for these uprisings to an existing struggle for power and influence. We must identify the array of issues that have been accumulated and accrued over the years amongst Arab societies and address each carefully:

1. Clear rebellion against dictatorship:

Arab regimes had been immune to the waves of democratization that had swept the majority of the world over the past decades. Arabs are currently going through a delayed sequel of these waves. Thanks to advanced technology, social media, the world wide web, an Arab dictator is no more able to show an Arab citizen that what he is getting is in fact the best. Arab dictators cannot keep their people blind any longer.

2. Economic situation:

Arab people are fed up with economic measures that gave a narrow, government- affiliated elite the exclusive benefits of the country’s economic growth.

3. Growth:

Unbalanced growth between urban and rural areas have forced more and more of rural young citizens to migrate to the unwelcoming neighborhoods in their cities, which eventually confined and neglected them.

4. Politics and Religion;

As Tribal, Sectarian and Ethnic gatherings have been the main participants in these uprisings; the new leaders are faced with the challenge of maintaining public order, creating jobs, and obtaining the respect of international treaties. With time, they are discovering how easy it was to be a counter-elite and how demanding it is to be a ruling one.

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5. Struggle on government legitimacy;

Through history, there was always a debate in the Arab World on what a legitimate government ought to be. Should this legitimacy be based on origin, founder, representation or achievements? And who should be deciding this, the old or the new generations?

Previous experiences of great Arab and world leaders similar to HE former PM of Lebanon martyr Rafik Hariri and HE former PM of Malaysia Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, has to be utilized and adopted as both leaders had a deep attachment to their faith mixed in with a wonderful will and an infinite energy to rebuilding their respective countries. Both were endowed with a strong will and both were risk takers. Both realized that prosperity is no less important than democracy. Both indefatigably endeavored to bringing their countries to the center of global attention.

Peace and reconciliation in the Arab world should be realized very urgently and this current Arab awakening should materialize to a genuine Arab spring through well-grounded policies that can be based on:

I. Peaceful transfer of the dictatorship regimes to well-educated and democratic representatives of the people.

II. Creation of youth policies and support to allow them to participate in the governing of their countries and help to maintain its freedom.

III. Strengthen and support the role of civil society and nongovernmental organizations and the exchange of civilization with the rest of the world.

IV. Strong and support the role of minorities in these societies

V. Encourage foreign interventions contribution to only influence the well-being and positive growth of local economies. This includes building the capacity of new leaders to create jobs and work on their transitional economic growth equally for all their citizens and to implement progressive development strategies.

VI. Work on establishing an integrated strategy for all Arab states so that they regain their influence in the region. Arab states will have to achieve this as a prerequisite to be able to achieve comprehensive and lasting peace through the realization of the Palestinian state.

Thank You

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Keynote Speech by Hon. Dr. Chua Soi Lek President of Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)

Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. First and foremost, please allow me to express my appreciation for being invited to attend this International Conference of Asian Political Parties conference again.

2. I am indeed happy to see that the ICAPP reaffirms its role as a forum for open and honest dialogues between political parties of various ideologies.

3. It is only in this way that we will be able to ensure many more years of peace and prosperity in which to build a strong and harmonious society, a time for our nations and cultures to grow and flourish.

Reflecting on the current situation

4. Asia has long enjoyed a period of steady economic growth and a relatively stable socio-political environment. Recent years have seen the rise of new challenges as well as the persistence of old issues such as poverty, inequality and the problem of sustainability.

5. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to stress the importance of cooperation, communication and diplomacy amongst us, the Asian nations, in handling new challenges that arise.

No security, no peace

Ladies and Gentlemen,

6. This year’s General Assembly’s theme is “Security, Peace and Reconciliation in Asia”.

7. Political differences have traditionally been the major factor that cause divides in a region, with religious issues not too far behind. Thus, political leaders play an important role in regional reconciliation to ensure peace and security in the region.

8. On that note, leaders must take primary responsibilities for the changes in regional political relationships.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

9. I do believe the East Asian countries achieved one of the highest, if not the highest, economic growth rates since the 1960s, compared to other regions in the world.

10. According to the World Bank’s data, real GDP growth in East Asia was about 8 percent in 2011. East Asian countries’ average annual per capita GDP growth over the

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last 30 – 40 years was in the region of 5% - 7%. This is much higher than the other Asian countries whose average varied between 1% - 4%.

11. This economic achievement is highly commendable. This is primarily attributed to the fact the region was free of major disputes and conflicts over the last 3 to 4 decades.

12. Moving forward, it is therefore imperative that we ensure our region avoids all disputes and conflicts in order to realize healthy economic growth. Time and again, it has historically shown that there is no outright winner in any disputes. Not only those involved will lose out but the other countries in the region as well. The message is very simple. Disputes and unrest affect global trades. Maybe that was what made Confucius said “It is better to live in peace than in bitterness and strife”.

13. The absence of sustainable peace unfortunately is still evident elsewhere outside this region. If this is prolonged, the snowball rolling effect will eventually affect the stability of this region as well. I would like to propose that Asia takes a more active role and help play mediator to reduce conflicts as it is also in our interest to minimise all these unrests.

14. This indirectly also promotes ICAPP’s objectives of reinforcing democracy in the Asian region and subsequently raising the standard of living through the cooperation and efforts amongst all the political parties.

15. On that note, I would like to emphasise here that it is essential that unresolved territorial disputes should be mediated and resolve as soon as possible to prevent the possibility of the dispute escalating into a major international situation. As exemplified by East Asia’s track record, I asked my fellow Asian countries to work together to wipe out menace that challenges the current stability and peaceful state in our region.

16. As long as countries commit to continue developing its economy and trade, immediate threats to peace and security in the region are diminished.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

17. The key ingredient to regional growth is a combination of sustainable peace and stability. Peace in turn is a key element for development. But then, there will be no peace without reconciliation.

18. Asia, being the largest continent, provides the largest potential market for most industries. Asia is indeed a land of opportunities. The pie is large enough for everyone to share. We do not want the harmony to be disrupted by some “trivial” disputes.

19. Reconciliation is therefore a vital key factor in ensuring peace and growth for everyone. For reconciliation to work, all the ingredients needs to be further blended with a tinge of sincerity.

20. This is the time for reconciliation, between nations, between governments and its people. Only through political engagement, dissent may be channelled towards building something worthwhile rather than being turned into a tool of destruction.

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21. Major degree of give and take and consideration go a long way for the benefit of all parties in the region. Lately, there has also been increasing trend of religious intolerance worldwide and the attempts to politicise religion with the aim to create havoc.

22. High degree of tolerance and acceptance are called for especially when it comes to religious issues.

23. In Malaysia, about 60% of the population are Muslims, 20% Buddist, 10% Christians and 7% Hindus. Being such a multi-racial country, we set very high rate of religious tolerance to ensure peace and stability in the country

Conclusion

Ladies and Gentlemen,

24. By the end of this conference, I sincerely hope that we are able to identify and recognize elements that can promote better stability in this region so that we can work towards achieving peace and better political and economic stability in the region.

25. In parting, please allow me to convey my upmost heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the organising committee for inviting me and also once again the honour of having the opportunity to present a paper in this International Conference of Asian Political Parties conference.

Thank you

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Keynote Speech by Mr. Mohamed Imthiyaz Member of the Council and Register General, Jumhooree Party of Maldives

Bismillah Hirahmaa Nihraheem.

I begin In the name of Allah most gracious most Merciful and peace be upon his messenger (Muhammad) and his companions.

First of all I would like to thank all the participants, delegates and the organizer for providing me the opportunity to say a few words to address this assembly.

In this occasion I would like to convey our leader’s (honorable Gasim Ibrahim’s) and Republican Party of Maldives’s sincere felicitations for the participants and the organizer of the event.

Indeed! He is a leader who has served as an example in our country (Maldives) as a stature promoting Peace and Security by way of reconciling and compromising, in the very turbulent political environment that Maldives has gone through within the last couple of years. His commitments on reconciliation at National level conflicts among the parties, by taking the National Interest forefront and compromising on the interest of our party, indeed has brought forth peace among the political parties and restored a secure environment for our people.

Distinguished ladies and Gentlemen,

No country, No Continent or Not even the world will prosper in the absence of Peace and Security for the people living in it and No development in the human livelihood could be achieved with unresolved conflicts and disputes. Hence Peace and Security becomes the very foundation of development that we experience today in the world, or in a continent, or in our countries respectively.

During the last few decades the world had seen a development that has never been surpassed in the history of mankind. We are observing unprecedented achievements in social, economical, science and technological and in political spectrum across the world. Our day to day lives keeps on improving and our rights are getting better protected every day. What we experience is no mere coincidence but the result of a collective understanding among the nations of the world, on the importance of Peace and Security for the people living in our planet. Hence we find today an international body “The United Nations” working as the catalyst to reconcile and resolve conflicts and disputes among the Nations with the objective of preserving the Peace and Security that the world have achieved after two disastrous world wars.

We must not forget that Peace and Security are not as easy to achieve as these words are pronounced, but it is tremendous commitment starting from individuals to societies, and societies to nations and from nations to the world. We should also understand that reconciling and compromising are the least easiest decisions that peoples and nations make, by sacrificing their interest to sustain Peace among the Mankind.

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As for our continent “The beautiful Asia” we should not forget the importance of Peace and Security for any individual need of a country or two, but rather should always consider for the collective betterment of the entire continent. It is us who decides for our parties and for our people, so it is here that we need to talk and understand the great achievement of this Millennium “World Wide Peace and Security”.

No nation is more important than the people living in it, nor is the world we live in more important than the people. We shall not forget that it is our duty to take the interest of the global citizens more than our parties, our country or even a continent that we represent.

Hence in every negotiation, in every conflict resolution or in any political dispute settlement we need to take in to consideration that the people for whom we decide upon, are the most important than the interest that we have vested in us for our party, country or a region. In all our decisions, actions and intentions we should believe the fact that this world is for all of us, Human Rights and Human Dignity can only be protected with the presence of Peace among all the peoples of this world despite of race, nationality, color or religion.

I believe that none of us take the Peace that Prevails in the World for granted, since its continuous dedication and commitment from people to the people.

Thank you. Wassalamu Alaikun.

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Keynote Speech by Hon. Khuldorj Buren-Erdene Member of the Conference, Mongolian People’s Party

Distinguished delegates and colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great honour to address such distinguished audience today. I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to Yeni Azerbaijan party for their kind hospitality and in their assistance in hosting this important event - the 7th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties in this beautiful and historical city of Baku.

The 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP on Security, Peace and Reconciliation will not only allow our fellow parties to address issues of great importance to the international community but also will play crucial role in bringing our members together on the very foundation level.

Mongolia is a landlocked country located between Russian Federation and People’s Republic of China. Mongolia has no socio-political disputes with any nation in the region and we have successfully peacefully transitioned into democracy. We have been irreversibly pursuing the path of democracy for the past 22 years. And our party, the Mongolian People’s Party, led the nation for most of these years, and we are confident that democratic transition in Mongolia is complete and we have established a secure mature democracy. This can be seen not only from our economic achievements but also from our people’s perception of democracy as a way of life and the assessment of the democratic processes in the country by the international community.

The Mongolian People’s Party is the largest and most influential political party in Mongolia which has led the nation for 87 years.

The Mongolian People’s Party has endeavoured hard to deliver the policies that are aimed to allieviate poverty, create new jobs, provide social aid to the needy which is crucial for stability and peace. Mongolia successfully overcame the financial crisis of 2008, succeeded at signing agreements on the development of the strategic mining sites, thus paving the way for further economic growth. And as a result of our policies, the Mongolian economic growth accelerated to unprecedented 17,2 percent in 2011, while this year it is expected to grow at a rate of 16 percent.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Asia has witnessed a remarkable economic advances in recent decades, is currently facing growing challenges such as ensuring equitable distribution of wealth; putting in place an effective social security mechanisms among many others. The recent economic crisis, and current world economic setbacks prove that Asia will play even more important role than ever and sharing experiences and lessons among the political parties and other communities is more vital than ever.

On our part, the Mongolian People’s Party has been actively involved in promoting the values of democracy in the region and the world at large. One of the major accomplishments 112

of the past decade has been our active engagement in the Community Democracies. My Government has successfully applied to lead this movement and Mongolia is now a Presiding nation of the Community Democracies from 2011 to 2013. My Government established a special body within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to liaise with the CD.

As a nation located in the North East Asia, Mongolia has been promoting the stability, peace and security in the region. In this regard, we have been actively involved and took number of initiatives for peace, security and reconciliation in North East Asia. Today, I will share with you only couple of examples that we took initiatives in the past month.

Mongolia has negotiated with Japan and North Korea and conducted the meeting in Ulaanbaatar on the 15th of November 2012, and hosted the Foreign Ministerial – level talks between North Korea and Japan in own territory which is our contribution to normalize the sustainable situation in North East Asia, and moreover bring the relationship between the two countries into new level of mutual understanding.

On September 17, the Permanent Representatives to the United Nations of the five nuclear weapon states (the United States, China, France, Russian Federation, and United Kingdom), and the Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the United Nations, signed parallel political declarations regarding Mongolia’s self-declared nuclear-weapon-free status.

The parallel declarations, represent the final steps to formalize Mongolia’s non-nuclear- weapon status, which was first declared in September 1992, and effectively expands the territory now internationally recognized as free of nuclear weapons. To date, five nuclear- weapon-free zones have been established in Africa, Central Asia, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the South Pacific, all through multilateral treaties. A Middle Eastern zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction is now under discussion.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Asia, a home to the majority of the planet’s population, is experiencing a rapid economic transformation and we believe that there is great potential for ICAPP’s engagement in the region to further promote the progressive agenda through ICAPP and other political mechanisms.

I would like to conclude by expressing hopes that this General Assembly will come up with many fruitful ideas and initiatives, which goes in line with the global developmental path, and will contribute to further expanding of ties among the political parties in the world at large.

Thank you for your attention.

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Keynote Speech by Hon. Upendra Yadav Chairman of Madhesi People’s Rights Forum, Nepal

Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank the organizers for their invitation. I would also like to express our deep appreciations to the host Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party for the gracious hospitality and for the excellent arrangement made for this conference.

Mr. Chairman,

Asia is the birthplace of the world’s major religions and ideologies, and adherents of various religious beliefs cohabited peacefully for numerous centuries. However, the recent rise of fundamentalism and majoritarianism, which is inextricably linked with economic globalization and superpowers' geo-political manoeuvring, has in many instances almost entirely wiped out the respect and tolerance hitherto enjoyed by minority religions, leading to religious intolerance and violence in the name of religion. Numerous governments foster and promote religious extremism with a view to either acquiring or holding onto political power.

The Asia is the geopolitical center of the struggle for world power. Producing 60 percent of the world’s manufactured and agricultural goods, it is the motor force of the global economy. Competition for economic advantage and economic security fuel the region’s conflicts. Here giant powers ambitions, militaries, and insecurities contend. Compounding regional insecurity are:

1) the nuclear weapons programs.

2) the high-tech arms race. In this region intensified economic and interstate competition is fueling military tensions and insecurity.

The continuing dangers of Asian/Pacific nuclear proliferation and war must be addressed. The only way to ensure that Asian/Pacific nations honor the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty is for the declared nuclear powers to honor to eliminate nuclear weapons. The negotiation of a Northeast Asian Nuclear Free Zone, facilitated by regional or multilateral security structures, would be an enormous contribution to Asian/Pacific security. Similarly, a multilateral security structure could facilitate negotiations prohibiting the storage and movement of all weapons of mass destruction and fissionable materials in the region.

The promotion of international peace and security would be possible by reducing global risks from nuclear weapons, fostering cooperation to address security challenges in the Asia- Pacific region. The spread of nuclear weapons to new possessors and the breakdown of global responses require concerted action to bolster nuclear restraint and strengthen the nuclear nonproliferation regime. In addition, globalization and technological innovation are breeding new security challenges, such as nuclear trafficking networks. In this very region, 114

security relationships among states are changing in fundamental ways, offering opportunities for regional cooperation to prevent conflict.

For regional security cooperation the policymakers have to use better multilateral institutions, bilateral relationships and alliances to prevent conflict, manage differences, and foster peace and security.

To resolve internal challenges, the regional cooperation should be stronger to help Asia- Pacific nations manage internal challenges, from increasing domestic demand for scarce resources to violent internal conflict. Recognizing that peace and security in Asia can best be achieved through regional cooperation.

We are impelled by our faith to fully commit ourselves to realizing God’s reign of peace based on justice, an imperative that has assumed greater urgency in light of escalating conflicts that now engulf Asia.

We have deliberated on pressing issues of peace and security in the context of the current interplay of geo-political trends: the dominant Super- power’s economic, political and military role in Asia, the emerging strategic competition between the powers.

Among the critical issues with which countries in Asia are grappling is the problem of political repression and denial of human rights. Although many Asian countries claim to be democracies, the paradox is that they are defiled by frequent cases of illegal detention, torture, custodial deaths, extrajudicial execution and forced disappearances. The common people, particularly minorities and the underprivileged, are made to endure all forms of inhuman and degrading treatment at the hands of armed personnel. This displaces the rule of law creating dysfunctional constitutional legal systems.

We understand human rights as inclusive of economic and social rights. Far from improving the rights of Asia’s teeming population, untrammelled economic globalization has spawned a stream of economic crises. Once again it is the poor, the minorities and other marginalized groups who are excluded from accessing their rights to public services and goods.

A direct result of such exclusion is the continuous migration of the mostly rural poor, seeking better lives for themselves; their dreams and aspirations remain unfulfilled due to unfavourable and often sub-human conditions in which they are required to live and work. Many of them, who are women, are also victims of forced migration and human trafficking.

The growing economic and political power of Asian nations is transforming the world. Yet as the region changes, Asia-Pacific societies will need to find new ways to work together in the interests of peace and prosperity. Although economic cooperation and trade ties are deep, long-standing disputes between states are creating complex security challenges that threaten the region’s continued prosperity. At the same time that Asian countries navigate shifting state-to-state relationships, transnational issues further challenge their ability to provide security for their own populations.

China, India, and other Asian nations are becoming regional and global powers, but security challenges — from competition over natural resources to tensions with North Korea — threaten peace and prosperity in the region. To help address these challenges, “The growing 115

economic and political power of Asia is transforming the globe,” Over the coming decades, the Asia-Pacific will be the world’s economic engine, helping millions in the region to find new prosperity. Yet, in this time of great opportunity, security challenges — from power conflicts to resource scarcity — threaten to undo the region’s many gains. As China, India, and other Asian nations become regional and global powers, Asia-Pacific nations must think anew about how our societies can work together to foster peace and prevent conflict.

I am again reaffirming commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. Considering the growing desire of the people to live in an atmosphere of peace, friendship, understanding, good neighborliness and cooperation.

Reaffirming objective of promoting better relations among themselves and ensure conditions in which their peoples can live in true and lasting peace free from any threat to their security. considering, that better understanding and closer relations among them in all fields in conformity with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the five principles of peaceful co-existence would be beneficial for the strengthening of peace, stability and security in Asia.

Reaffirming, that the diversity of national characteristics, traditions, cultures and values of the Asian States is not a divisive, but a valuable mutually enriching factor of their relations. Emphasizing importance of tolerance in international relations and the significant role of a dialogue as a means to reach understanding, remove threats to peace and strengthen interaction and exchange among civilizations.

Recognizing the close link between peace, security and development in Asia and in the world as a whole, and conscious of the need for each member-state to make its contribution to the strengthening of world peace and security and to the promotion of fundamental rights, economic and social progress and the well-being of all peoples.

Realizing their responsibility for a peaceful and prosperous future of their peoples, Reaffirming their commitment to achieve full, just and lasting relations of peace, openness, mutual trust, security, stability and cooperation in Asia by eliminating tensions, seeking peaceful settlement of disputes.

Recognizing the importance of global liquidation of all kinds of mass destruction weapons and also the effective approach to destabilizing accumulation of conventional armaments, as a way of achievement of the universal, strong and stable peace in Asia.

I emphasize that enhancement of security in Asia should be achieved through cooperation of all states in the interest of peace, stability and prosperity in conformity with purposes and principles of the UN Charter. A comprehensive, non-discriminatory and balanced approach towards international security should be adopted.

There is need of enhancement the process of political consultations and develop cooperation based on mutual interests in the economic, social, humanitarian, environmental, information, and scientific and cultural spheres with each member state making its contribution under conditions of full equality.

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Recognizing the uniqueness and the diversity of the cultures of Asian peoples and the contribution they can make to overcoming past differences. They emphasize their determination to strive for the triumph of freedom and for the protection and promotion of their cultural and spiritual heritage in all its richness and diversity. Attention should be paid to the creation of material, legal, political, economic and other guarantees which will facilitate conditions for peace, harmony mutual understanding and stability in this region.

I Respect human rights and fundamental freedoms of all individuals irrespective of their race, sex, and religion. Respect, protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms contribute to political and social stability and peace, to the enrichment of the cultural and spiritual heritage of the society as a whole and to the mutual understanding and friendly relations between our peoples.

Mr. Chairman,

This 7th General Assembly of ICAPP should concentrate on the deepening cooperation among Asian political parties to strengthen the democratic values, and sharing knowledge and experiences. We also hope that this General Assembly has able to minimizing the differences and searching for common ground for improving security and peace among Asian, and develop reconciliation mechanism of Asian model to strengthening social harmony among the Asian peoples.

Lastly, we call upon Asian voice against all forms of injustice which breed violent conflicts and threaten peace and security in Asia.

Thanks for your kind attention.

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Keynote Speech by Hon. Ms. Sujata Koirala Former Deputy Prime Minister and Head of International Relations Department of Nepali Congress Party

Mr. Chairman, Fellow Delegates, Distinguished Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I feel it an honor and privilege to be here amidst this distinguished gathering. I bring with me hearty greetings from my party-Nepali Congress and the people of Nepal to the people of Azerbaijan, government and fellow delegates and their best wishes for the success of the conference.

I am grateful to organizers for inviting me to the seventh General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP).

I thank the government of Azerbaijan and its people for their warm hospitality and for the excellent arrangements made for this meeting.

Mr. Chairman,

The world attention is on Asia and the Pacific region. The region constitutes about one-third of the world's land area with more than 50% of the global population. Asia's vast diversity is our strength. We have immense possibilities for global partnership, development, and leadership. We are happy to note that the fastest growing economies are in Asia. We have to work together to mutually benefit from the vast potentials for development throughout the region. We, in our respective regions, have been striving hard to promote regional cooperation organizations. I strongly feel that regional cooperation could to be made more actions oriented to improve the quality of life of our peoples in the quest towards building a stable and prosperous Asian community.

The founding objectives of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) remain our guidelines. They call for promoting exchanges and cooperation, enhancing mutual understanding and trust, promoting regional cooperation and creating an environment for sustained peace and shared prosperity in the region. These objectives can be realized only with the comprehensive engagement of political parties and people from across the region in the process of building regional cooperation.

In the light of these objectives, the theme chosen for this Assembly ' Security, Peace, and Reconciliation' could not have been more relevant and timely. The theme is reflective of the ground realities in Asia. The three elements are inseparable and remain pre-requisites for the progress and prosperity of any nation. This demands that we move ahead with greater pragmatism and moderation for promoting their viability as we make transition from conflict to peace, and mistrust to trust towards contributing to peace, security and reconciliation for stability, progress, and prosperity.

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We are happy to note that ever since its establishment, ICAAP has been able to bring together Asian political parties to exchange views, forge cooperation and share experiences on issues of regional cooperation, discuss the contemporary issues of common concerns, and chart out a path to deepen joint efforts for mutual benefit. As we gather here in the midst of ongoing impacts of the economic and financial crises and host of other challenges including the rise of ethnic nationalism, pervasive poverty, rampant corruption, increasing food and fuel crises, and climate change challenges, there is even a greater urgency to formulate policy measures and use our political wisdom to promote cooperation at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels to confront these challenges and ensure security, peace and stability in countries of the region.

It is our firm belief that political parties, parliaments, and peoples have unique roles in carrying out regional cooperation. With them at the center stage, we can widen, deepen and make the regional cooperation more enduring, efficient, and effective in Asia and promote the living standards of the peoples. In the process, we must not overlook the important roles of the youth and women. Large youth population in the region is a big asset. No country can progress and prosper without the empowerment of women and girls. We must address the root causes of their exclusion and deprivation to bring them from the margins to the mainstream of economic, social and political life. We must strive together to make this happen and make it a true global movement.

To strengthen economic cooperation, we need to expand our mutual trade and investment, increase the flow of technology, build professional human resources, address the problems through consultations, sharing best practices, knowledge, and information. It is our unshakeable faith that with only the comprehensive engagement and involvement of political parties, parliaments, and people, we can strengthen the mechanisms of coordination and cooperation in forging regional cooperation.

We need to maintain close linkages and networks in furthering the voices of moderation, peace, and reconciliation. The use of modern advanced technology can help us better transmit the message of hope and bright future to our people not just at the leadership level, but right down to the grassroots.

Mr. Chairman,

Before I conclude, let me briefly touch on the current situation in my country.

After over a decade long armed conflict in Nepal, we entered into a peace process in 2006. Having fought severe forms of authoritarianism in the country several times, my party Nepali Congress strongly believes that it is only the dialogue, engagement and negotiations within the framework of universal democratic principles that can effectively address differences and maintain national unity and reconciliation. We consider laying the solid foundations of institutions based on the principles of democratic pluralism as a precondition to ensure lasting peace, security, reconciliation and development in the country.

Political parties in Nepal remain engaged in this very task. Though, we have tough tasks ahead including the completion of writing a democratic constitution, we are not disheartened. It is the firm belief of my party that national reconciliation and deepening national political engagement have no alternative to establish unity, peace, stability, and democracy in the 119

country. We are committed to establish peace and security in the country, which we consider to be of immense importance to our neighbors, region, and the world at large.

With these words, I once again thank our generous host for their hospitality and wish the conference a success.

Thank you.

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Keynote Speech by Hon. Mel Senen S. Sarmiento Member of the House of Representatives and Secretary General of the Liberal Party of the Philippines

Chairman Ilham Aliyev of the 7th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), Founding Chairman and Former Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives Jose De Venecia, Your Excellencies, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte of the House of Representatives was supposed to attend this conference but his presence was needed in the Philippines to ensure the passage of certain proposed legislations.

The recent framework agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the country’s largest Islamist rebel group hopefully ended decades of separatist violence in Mindanao. With President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) agreeing to the deal, this could be the beginning of the much-anticipated peace, stability, and economic development in this Muslim-dominated region in the south.

On October 15, 2012, the Government of the Philippines and the MILF signed the Framework Agreement that outlines the general features of the political settlement between the two parties.

The deal defines the nature, structure, and powers of the political entity called the Bangsamoro that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Under the agreement, the following steps will be taken leading to the creation of the Bangsamoro by 2016:

 The new governance body will adopt a ministerial form of government and its leaders will be elected by the people.

 Provinces, cities, municipalities, villages and geographic areas within its territory shall be the constituent units of the Bangsamoro.

 The Central Government will have its reserved powers, the Bangsamoro shall have its exclusive powers, and there will be concurrent powers shared by the Central Government and the Bangsamoro.

 The Parties recognize Bangsamoro identity: Those who at the time of the Spanish conquest and colonization were considered natives or original inhabitants of Mindanao and Sulu and its adjacent islands including Palawan.

 The Central Government shall have powers on Defense and External Security, Foreign Policy, Common Market and Global Trade, Coinage and Monetary Policy, Citizenship and Naturalization, Postal Service.

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 The Parties recognize the need to strengthen the Sharia Courts. The Bangsamoro shall have the competence over the Sharia Justice System.

 The Bangsamoro will have the authority to receive grants and donations from domestic and foreign sources.

 The Bangsamoro shall have a just and equitable share in the revenues generated through the exploration, development or utilization of natural resources obtained in all the areas/territories, land or within the jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro.

 The core territory of the Bangsamoro shall be composed of the present geographical area of the present ARMM and certain municipalities in Lanao Del Norte and North Cotabato, the cities of Cotabato and Isabela.

 A transition commission will be established that will be independent from the ARMM and other government agencies.

We especially thank Malaysia for mediating the talks between the parties. Likewise, we call on the international community through the ICAPP to support the framework agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the MILF as a confidence-building measure to achieve peace in Mindanao.

The prospect of finally achieving peace, through the stewardship of the Aquino administration, has had its graces felt for the country’s economic performance. Different rating institutions have upgraded the Philippines eight times in the past two years. The country is now one notch lower from achieving investment grade.

By attaining peace in Mindanao, the Philippines will ensure our contribution in sustaining Asia’s economic growth.

As the Secretary General of the ruling party, the Liberal Party, we and our coalition partners would like to thank ICAPP for this opportunity. Our congratulations to our host — the New Azerbaijan Party.

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Keynote Speech by Hon. Gennady Zyuganov Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Russian Federation (CPRF) and Head of the CPRF Faction in the State Duma

Russia is historically the centre of Eurasia. Over millennia the geopolitical “bridge” that linked the two worlds, the two civilizations – European and Asian – passed through our country. It carried both economic cooperation and cultural exchanges between countries thousands of miles away from one another. The waves of conquerors who often subjugated ancient seats of civilization and infrequently destroyed them swept through Russia. The Eurasian dialogue has a checkered history. But for us it has always been exceptionally important . Today, as we prepare to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics it would not be irrelevant to recall that initially our union state was to be called, and indeed was referred to in some key documents, as the Union of the Soviet Republics of Europe and Asia. Therefore we always follow with interest the work of international conferences of Asian political parties and prepare for them in a most serious way.

The theme of the conference, “Peace – Security – Reconciliation” is more relevant than ever in the geopolitical situation that is emerging.

The signs of the decay of capitalism are evident. All the spheres of that system have been affected: production, finances, politics, culture and morality. A whole group of euro zone countries is facing bankruptcy. In the USA the national debt has topped $16 trillion.

The general crisis of the bourgeois social and economic system has waxed and waned for a century already. Today it is sharpening under our eyes. Those who are advancing the new- fangled globalization theories hope that they will supersede Lenin’s theory of imperialism as the highest stage of capitalism and consign it to oblivion. But to us communists, this doctrine is the ideological and theoretical beacon in analyzing and assessing the modern capitalist economy.

Back in 2002 we gave an assessment of the modern stage in the development of imperialism. The following are the main features of imperialism in the era of globalization:

1. Final subjugation of production and industrial capital to financial and speculative capital. 2. Final transformation of market relations into an artificial mechanism of coercion, inequitable exchange and plunder of entire countries and peoples. 3. The establishment of a global model of “international division of labour” that perpetuates glaring social inequalities on the planetary scale. 4. Rapid growth of the political influence of transnational corporations and financial- industrial groups. Their growing claims to unlimited sovereignty. 5. The loss by national governments of control over the processes both in world and in their own national economies. Revision of the fundamental norms of international law and the creation of global power structures. 6. Information and cultural expansion as a form of aggression. Spiritual uniformity at the most primitive level. Eradication of national specificities of countries and peoples.

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7. Parasitic nature of transnational capital which reaps all the benefits from the introduction of high technologies while the rest of the world lives in poverty. Decay and qualitative slow-down of scientific and technical progress.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union life on the planet Earth has become much more difficult and dangerous. Numerous simmering conflicts are sharpening. Almost all the countries of the Middle East and North Africa have recently been destabilized. Next to the slaughter in Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon, a civil war is being fanned in Syria. Iran and the DPRK are coming under growing pressure. The colonial strategy of the USA and the Western countries that depend on it again puts humankind on the brink of a world war. The reactionary theory of “the war of civilizations” is being actively implemented. The West is claiming to bring “liberty,” “democracy” and “human rights” for the whole world.

The world financial capital is step by step moving to translate their economic dependence into political subjugation. Imperialism has created special institutions to build a system to rule the world. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization are among them. For those who resist “peaceful” subjugation to the globalists there is NATO, an institution of military force.

All this is meeting with resistance. That is why the structures of the European Union are splitting at the seams and Ms Merkel gets such an unfriendly reception in Athens from the protesting masses of Greeks. That is why the streets of Spanish cities are turning into an arena of fierce class battles bringing back memories of the battles of the Civil War. The working people are increasingly protesting and resent living as before.

Resistance to globalization American-style is mounting in the world. More and more people and social movements are demanding change: harmonious development of productive forces, reasonable consumption and a caring attitude to nature. Even the advocates of capitalism increasingly promote socialism as its cure. Christian Democrat and former President of the FRG, Koeller, speaks about the collapse of “Anglo-Saxon capitalism” of gamblers and adventurers. Francois Hollande introduces a tax on the rich. In the next two years all the French citizens with an annual income of more than EUR 1 million will be giving 75% of their incomes to the state. Echoing the European leaders, President Obama of the US is trying to rein in the “fat cats” who are getting rich at the peak of the crisis. The bourgeoisie is finding it increasingly difficult to rule “in the old way.”

One of the key trends in the new geopolitical order is the shift of the world economic activity centre to the Asia-Pacific Region (APR), which underscores the protracted character of the crisis in Europe and North America.

According to experts, the global crisis is far from over. In this connection the experience of our neighbor, China, merits attention. It demonstrates that a high rate of economic growth can only be maintained by massive investments in infrastructure. In this context, maximum use of the economic, scientific and cultural potential of Asian countries opens up, in our opinion, possibilities for long-term and sustainable solution of such universal problems as ensuring food, energy, military and environmental security.

The International Conference is a dialogue of more than 300 political parties, ruling and opposition ones, conservative, liberal and communist, from more than 50 countries in the 124

region, and it offers a unique opportunity to discuss all the significant problems, and, very importantly, to do so without promptings from “well-wishers” outside our region. If influential political forces of the member countries jointly work out proposals for their solution that would guarantee that they will be implemented by governments.

I would now like to mention briefly some of these problems.

1. The problem of infrastructure, energy and transport development of the Asian region is a cornerstone of regional security.

The solution of that task would reduce the asymmetry between the neighbour countries and expand common ground between the participants in the project.

Russia is already moving in this direction. The projects that are already working -- the Trans- Siberian Railway, the East Siberia Pacific Oil Pipeline, the Sakhalin-Khabarovsk- Vladivostok gas pipeline, GLONASS and others – could become elements in the future integrated Eurasian infrastructure. The Northern Sea Route, the Trans-Arctic Cable System, the Baikal Amur Railway, etc. could be instruments that would make Eurasia fit more closely in the Pacific economic landscape and provide new links with Europe. The same holds for the Trans-Korean Railway and the Trans-Korean Gas Pipeline. On the whole it could be a collective economic mega-project which the Russian expert community calls “The Eurasian- Pacific Investment Promotion Initiative.”

2. The problem of food security will become one of the key ones in the 21st century. Population growth outstrips the growth of food production in many APR countries and subregions. For example: in 2010 out of the 925 million undernourished people in the world, 578 million lived in the APR countries).

The following are some of the more promising areas of cooperation in this field:

- forming a regional system to monitor and forecast the food situation; - upgrading the coordination of actions when delivering food relief in emergency situations; - initiating and implementing joint bio-fuel production projects. One can expect that practical advances in this direction will not only create new jobs but reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

As part of strengthening food security in the region, Russia’s potential lies in its vast arable lands and huge fresh water resources. In Eastern Siberia and the Far East 50% of arable land is not used. It would be possible to create a joint Regional Grain Fund (similar to the East Asian Rice Fund) with Russian participation.

3. The problem of joint use of water resources is still “a bone of contention” in the relations between a whole number of countries in the region. Counter-productive forces are constantly taking advantage of this to start conflicts of various levels and destabilize the region as a whole. This is an area in which our countries have a highly promising perspectives.

4. A number of countries in the region are involved in drug trafficking. Raising crops, processing and transporting them involves military force creating hotbeds of instability in the 125

corresponding countries. The state is unable to cope with such “hot spots” on its own, so close coordination of actions among all the interested states is necessary.

5. An additional impetus to multi-lateral cooperation in the region could be the creation of a Parliamentary Union of Asian Countries as proposed by our colleagues from the Yeni Azerbaijan party. Such an inter-parliamentary structure could reaffirm at the political level the growing economic potential of Asia and become a collective vehicle for expressing the political will of its peoples.

In general, we propose to recreate in a new shape the “Eurasian bridge” of the closest and effective cooperation between our peoples, countries and continents. Russia, which has for millennia been actively involved in the life both of Europe and Asia, is ready to fulfill its historic mission and be a link between the main centers of civilization of the modern world in this, the most difficult moment of its development.

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Keynote Speech by Hon. Somawansa Amarasinghe Leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (People’s Liberation Front) of Sri Lanka

The Chairperson, Members at the Head Table, Delegates from other countries, Your Excellencies, Comrades and Friends,

SECURITY, PEACE AND RECONCILIATION IN ASIA

The main theme of this 7th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties held in the historical city of Baku in Azerbaijan is very relevant today more than any other time.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP - People's Liberation Front) of Sri Lanka is in the opinion that the main theme is relevant not only for Asia but also for the whole world because there is a huge threat for Security, Peace and Reconciliation at global level.

We believe so because the world is interconnected irreversibly and we are today compelled to discuss regional issues in the context of global issues.

The Soviet Union collapsed at the beginning of 1990. The so called Soviet threat has ended. It was said that the cold war was over. The then President of USA George Bush senior declared that 'a new world order that will guarantee Security, Peace and Reconciliation at global level is possible.'

The dream did not come true. Within few months after the cold war ended, the criminal alliance of Imperialism and Zionism launched the 'hot war' killing millions of innocent people including Children and old people.

First in Iraq the criminal alliance found a new threat, ' The Weapons of Mass Destruction' in Iraq. The criminal alliance invaded Iraq, many new weapons were tested, Saddam Hussain's regime, no doubt it was an undemocratic one, was changed. Saddam Hussain was killed. Iraq was divided into three unfriendly parts. Killings are still continued and Democracy is far away from that country. The weapons of mass destruction are to be found yet. The United Nations Organisation became helpless and was a silent observer earning the blame that it has become a tool of Western Imperialism.

Iraq was followed by many other countries, namely Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, Sudan, Palestine, and Libya and now Syria and Iran.

Since 9/11 not only Afghanistan but also many other countries were threatened and attacked killing millions of people and destroying infra-structure facilities and resources worth trillions of dollars. Western Imperialism and Zionism found a new threat 'Al Qaida'. It has become the pretext for attacking any country according to the whims and fancies of the ugly alliance. 127

At this moment Syria is being attacked by terrorists armed and supported by the criminal alliance. West Asia is burning. UN has failed to stand firm by one of its member country's sovereignty and stop outsiders' interference in the affairs of that country.

In Palestine Zionism has been successfully carried out killing and expanding the territory of Israel violating many UN resolutions. UN is helpless. UN is also a helpless observer of many problems emerged in different regions in the world, for example the Negorno Karbah in this region itself. When will the UNO retrieve its responsible role again?

There are draconian sanctions imposed on Iran alleging that country is in a process of acquiring 'Nuclear Weapons.' The JVP extends its unreserved support to Iran. We urge the other nations in Asia and rest of the world to support Iran against the criminal alliance.

We all are aware that there are more than 1000 US military bases throughout the world. We believe that there is no threat whatsoever for US or its interests anywhere in the world.

We should understand why the NATO is expanding towards other countries under the pretext that they are a threat for Western Imperialism. What is the purpose of encircling other countries in Asia particularly by the Imperialist military power?

The criminal alliance is making every attempt to establish a new world disorder that will jeopardise the Security, Peace and Reconciliation Internationally.

Sooner than later let us work hard together for the victory of Panchaseela Principles.

Down with criminal Alliance of Imperialism and Zionism!

Victory to Panchaseela Principles of Peaceful Co-existance!

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Keynote Speech by Hon. Daya Dharmapala Kilittuwa Gamage Member of Parliament and National Organizer of United National Party of Sri Lanka

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Country Representatives, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me first express my gratitude on behalf of our country, Sri Lanka and my party, the United National Party for inviting us for the 7th General Assembly of ICAPP. This is the third ICAPP event I have had the honour of participating in. This forum provides a great opportunity for us all to meet and exchange pleasantries and share the rich experiences of ICAPP as well as those of individual countries.

I was pleasantly shocked to see the main theme of the session. "Security, Peace and Reconciliation", a dream of every Sri Lankan today. When the LTTE was militarily defeated in 2010, every Sri Lankan was made to understand that the only obstacle in the way to “Security, Peace and Reconciliation" was removed. As a truly beautiful tropical country Sri Lanka aimed to become the jewel of Asia for both investors and tourists alike. Three years later it remains a dream. The war mentality created during the conflict still reigns in the minds of many, causing exactly the opposite of the Theme of the current ICAPP session.

In this context we as members of the leading opposition party and as the only alternative to the present ruling party in Sri Lanka would immensely benefit from this session. We hope to get an opportunity to learn from other member country representatives. Mr. Chairman, as we all know the Sri Lankan Government appointed a Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report to lay the foundation for Security, Peace and Reconciliation. The Commission submitted its Report with a set of recommendations to the Government more than a year ago. It took several months for the report to be released in Sinhala and Tamil versions. As you all know these are the two official languages in the country and spoken by almost everybody. But the majority was kept in the dark by not having the report available in their mother tongue.

As the main opposition, we kept on pressing and managed to dawn upon the government the importance of making the Report accessible to the public. Our relentless efforts bore fruit and at present we have joined with other sensible and peace loving elements in the country to ensure the implementation of the LLRC recommendations. We will be able to contribute positively and actively to current sessions with this hands-on experience.

It saddens me to say that today Sri Lanka is a country ruled by autocrats albeit through a democratic platform. The Government has secured a large number of opposition members of parliament who contested against the Government, through both threats and bribes, and now holds a two-thirds majority. In addition, those who refuse to join hands with the Government are politically victimized. Just over a year ago, an Act was passed in Parliament, enabling the Sri Lankan Government to expropriate 38 enterprises and their land deeming them underutilized or underperforming. I myself was personally persecuted for being in the opposition, as one of my subsidiaries, a sugar factory was included in this Act.

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By bringing into force the 18th Amendment to our constitution, the President was able to bring the independent judiciary and police under his executive powers as well as have the chance of continuous re-election. Good governance was always discussed in past ICAPP sessions but the question remains on how such a practice can be effectively implemented, especially in Asia? How can the ICAPP be more involved in bringing about good governance as well as safeguarding those in the opposition? My question follows the train of thought whereby a strong and safe opposition is able to fearlessly combat wrong policies as well as act as the conscience of every government. This in turn will bring about security, peace and reconciliation.

I am certain that these sessions will bear effective and important results and be useful and relevant to strengthen our individual, mutual and collective interests. I also take this opportunity to express the greetings of our people to the 7th General Assembly. I hope we will all have a rewarding experience in this beautiful land, enjoying the warmth of the people and return with sweet memories to our respective homelands.

Thank You.

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Keynote Speech by Hon. Muhiddin Kabiri Chairman of Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan

Dear Chairman,

Ladies and gentlemen!

Allow me to thank the leadership of the party "New Azerbaijan" for the invitation to participate and speak at this highest international forum for the good organization of the event.

Our forum is held under the motto "Security, peace and harmony in Asia", and this suggests that, in Asia today these three values are a priority. We know very well in Tajikistan that mean for the safety of all the people, peace and harmony, because our country has gone through a civil war, destruction, and many victims. Therefore, we support the aspirations of Asian political parties to promote peace and stability in the region and the positive processes that take place in this direction.

However, we must recognize that Asia is by far the part of the world where most are conflicts and wars, hundreds of millions of citizens of Asian countries are deprived of the minimum conditions of life, many Asian people are still living under authoritarian and nedemokratchnyh State, the right of citizens systematically violated. Asian political parties, despite the ideological differences and programs should aim for the realization of universal values and human rights in the region. Regardless of religion, ideology and tradition, all peoples of the world deserve the stability, peace and prosperity, and also to be free and dignified citizens of the state.

We think that we, the representatives of Asian political parties paying keen attention to such important issues as security, peace and harmony in the region, should not forget that peace and stability cannot be achieved without the implementation of the fundamental rights of citizens and decent life. It would be advisable if the ICAPP will continue to pay more attention to the issues of democratization and human rights in the Asian continent.

Today, more and more people of Asia reject tyranny, authoritarianism and oppression and peacefully want to achieve reform and improve the lives and aspirations of these logical and natural. But the desire for freedom and dignity must not be accompanied by violence and violations of the laws. It is necessary that all the political forces of society through agreement and mutual understanding through legal mechanisms implemented reforms and developments in their countries. No good intentions and objectives do not justify violence and destabilize society, no matter where it may be issued, the government or the opposition.

The Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan supports all initiatives aimed at promoting stability, peace and democracy in the region and the world. Our policy is based on universal, national and Islamic values, which not only do not contradict, but complement each other. We believe that that part of the general population, including religious, social and political life of their countries in the framework of the law, reinforces peace and stability in the society, provides a solid foundation for social harmony. Most importantly, reduce the possibility of extremist and radical groups, which rely mostly on disaffected youth who, legally barred 131

from participating in public life. Tajikistan has made some progress in this direction, and our experience shows that is so important to give the opportunity to all social groups within the law to participate in the political process and in the management of the state.

Ladies and gentlemen!

Today we are talking about peace and harmony in Asia, and on the eighth day Palestine is bombing the Gaza Strip, which already killed more than 160 people, mostly women and elderly. If we are for peace and security in the region, we cannot be away from this problem, and so I ask the Secretariat to include in the Declaration was adopted by a separate paragraph, condemning the bombing of Palestinian cities and calling for a ceasefire.

Also, we cannot life away from the Syrian crisis, where hundreds of people die every day and the country is increasingly sinking into chaos and civil war. On this occasion, that there are representatives of political parties in Russia, China and Iran, states that have more capacity to manage this conflict, use the maximum capacity of its diplomatic states in this direction. Especially Russia and Iran have a vast experience of working together to prevent the Tajik conflict, and I think that this experience will be needed to solve the Syrian crisis.

In conclusion, I would like to express the desire that in two years, going to the next forum, we will have another Asia, more stable, more democratic and more prosperous.

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Keynote Speech by Hon. Prakob Chirakiti Member of Parliament, Democrat Party of Thailand

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, on behalf of the Democrat Party of Thailand, I would like to thank our host for the excellent job in organizing this ICAPP event and for their kind hospitality.

It is a great honour for me to address this Meeting on The Practice of Reconciliation Process during the Uprising in Bangkok in March 2010, which you all may remember as the protest of the “Red Shirts”.

Background

For more than seven decades since becoming a democracy with constitutional monarchy, Thailand has been going through the process of becoming a full-fledged democracy. In recent years, this process of democratisation has focused on overcoming the vestiges and legacies not only of military authoritarianism marked by intermittent coups - the latest of which took place in September 2006. Thai society has also strived to get rid of the influence of money politics and abuses of power by political office holders, as could be seen during the time of the Thaksin Shinawatra administration. It was this which led to widespread street protests in 2005 and 2006, culminating in a coup and a period of protests and counter-protests by opposing sides, which continued even after the holding of an election in December 2007.

Against this backdrop, on 12 March 2010, demonstrators from the group called the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) that was supportive of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra began staging rallies in Bangkok, demanding the dissolution of the House of Representatives and holding of a new general election. The demonstrators were composed of different groups with different underlying agendas.

Firstly, there were those with legitimate grievances, including problems related to poverty, hardship, unfair treatment or economic and social disparities, which they wanted resolved. Like its predecessors, the then Government addressed those grievances through, among other things, implementation of various welfare and development schemes.

Secondly, there were those who wanted to bring down the Government in order to bring back former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, without requiring him to serve a prison terms as sentenced by the Court on the criminal charge of conflict of interest.

Thirdly, there were Marxist-Leninist ideologists who worked as strategists.

In addition, there were armed elements, equipped with weapons of war, which succeeded in infiltrating the demonstrators.

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In their call for early elections, the protest leaders accused the Thai Government of being "illegitimate"; put emphasis on discrepancies in Thailand's democracy and the political regime as their rallying point - employing class-based terminology and interpreting Thai society in a manner that did not reflect the existing situation. Such political demands could be made through peaceful assembly, but to use violent means to force a legitimate government out of office was not acceptable, as it would set a dangerous norm in the democratisation process of the country. Indeed, based on speeches and activities of the protest leaders, it was unclear if those were actually their only demands as there had also been talks about state power or the notion of "a new Thai state."

The connection among those different groups - who earlier seemed to work separately – had then become clearer. Moreover, some members of the opposition party had joined UDD protest leaders on the stage at their protest sites. In this regard, the moves made by various personalities - be they from opposition parties or protest leaders to draw attention from the local and foreign media or to appeal to the masses in other provinces or diplomatic corps - were clearly not co-incidental or unplanned.

At the same time, there were links with networks operating through various means such as the internet and other media which conducted activities and disseminated varied messages or information bordering on subverting the country's monarchical institution and calling for a change in Thailand's present political regime. All those had to be further looked into.

Against the backdrop of such movements was the former Prime Minister Thaksin, who had continuously provided the protesters with all kinds of support, both covertly and overtly, maneuvering from overseas by linking in through video, phone calls or other electronic means; to incite the crowds to carry on with their unlawful rallies and to undermine a legitimate government by violent means.

Developments during March - April 2010

At the beginning, the UDD rallies had been largely peaceful. The Government had allowed them to continue as part of the exercise of the people's constitutional right to peaceful assembly, and viewed the rallies as a process through which people could participate in the country's political life. At the same time, however, in order to enable police, military and civilian officers to take measures to contain and prevent the situation from escalating, the Government had to invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA), which - as evident from previous cases - did not affect the right of peaceful assembly.

The Prime Minister's Reconciliation Plan

In an effort to address the grievances and concerns not only of the protesters but also the majority of Thais in other sectors of society, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva put forward before the Thai public a five-point reconciliation plan to restore peace and normalcy to Thai society. The said plan, which was formulated based on the views and grievances from all groups of people, be they the protesters, academics, civil society organizations or ordinary people, encompassed the need: 1) to uphold and protect the monarchy - which had served as a unifying force among Thai people - from being violated or drawn into the political conflict; 2) to resolve fundamental problems of social justice systematically and with participation by all sectors of society; 3) to ensure that the media can operate freely and constructively and not 134

be misused to create conflict or hatred; 4) to establish facts about violent incidents through the setting up of an independent commission to investigate all violent incidents and deaths that took place to seek out the truth and ensure justice for all concerned; and 5) to establish mutually acceptable political rules by putting issues, including certain provisions of the Constitution or laws seen as unfair, on the table and set up a mechanism to solicit views from all sides to bring about justice for those involved in the political conflict, so that these issues would no longer lead to rejection of the political process and conflict in the future. At the time, the Prime Minister also proposed that should his reconciliation plan be acceptable to all sides, elections could be held as early as 14 November 2010.

The reconciliation plan had been welcomed by people across all sectors of society, including key figures in the opposition party, as offering a way not only towards ending the demonstrations and restoring normalcy, but also towards resolving some of the fundamental problems in Thai society in the longer term. The UDD leaders, in fact, had also accepted it in principle but after days of talks with the Government, they rejected it, refusing among other things, to end their protests and joined the process of reconciliation. With the UDD's rejection, the Prime Minister had to drop his proposal on the election date, which would be determined later once the situation becomes conducive. Meanwhile, the Government had continued to work with the civil society sectors and others concerned, including the media, to move forward on the five elements under the reconciliation plan.

On the issue of the breaking of the law and matters of security and the safety of the public, particularly acts of violence which could be considered "terrorist acts" under Thai law; the use of weapons in the afore-mentioned instances, was considered by the Government as a pressing problem, and there was no alternative but for the authorities to enforce the law in accordance with the principle of the rule of law and due respect to human rights principles.

Despite calls for the Government to take more forceful measures to disperse the protesters and maintain law and order, the Government had all along exercised utmost restraint and avoided using force. This was not because it could not enforce the law but because it wanted to avoid unnecessary violence. And in cases where force was used, the officers were not the first to resort to it. Meanwhile, in light of the demonstrators' attempts to spread distorted and divisive information, some of which had also been picked up and spread by normal media, including international ones, the authorities had to work very hard to disseminate facts so that people could understood the situation correctly.

Towards early April, after the rejection of the reconciliation negotiation by the UDD, the demonstrations escalated their protests, with protesters occupying the business district around Ratchaprasong Intersection, blocking areas and roads and storming into the Parliament building, while defying efforts by the authorities to enforce the law. Their rallies thus transformed from peaceful assembly to unlawful action beyond the limit sanctioned by the Constitution, causing serious disruption to the daily life of the general public, as well as having a devastating economic and social impact upon the country. This was reaffirmed by the Civil Court on 5 April 2010, which found - based on the Government's petition and the objection submitted by the UDD, as well as other evidence and facts regarding the situation - that the UDD demonstrations were unlawful, and that the Government had the right and authority to resolve, prevent and restore the situation back to normalcy.

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Given the continued escalation, the Government on 7 April 2010 declared a severe emergency situation pursuant to the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation B.E. 2548 (2005) in the areas of Bangkok and some districts in nearby provinces in order to empower officials concerned to restore normalcy and return the areas occupied by demonstrators to the general public.

On 10 April 2010, while security officers tried to enforce the law by asking the demonstrators to give back the areas they occupied around Phan Fah Bridge, they were met with strong resistance from the demonstrators in various forms, including the use of lethal weapon by armed elements among them, leading to over 20 deaths and several hundred injured among both the security officers and demonstrators as well as innocent bystanders.

Judging from still photos and video footage taken by both the local and international media, it was clear that there were armed elements among the demonstrators who used terrorist tactics and weapons of war with indiscriminate effect, leading to loss of lives and injuries on both sides. Photographs and video footages showed that tear gas launchers, M 67 hand grenades, M 79 grenade launchers, AK 47 machine guns as well as improvised weapons were used against security officers who were not equipped with such weapons.

As for the incident on 22 April 2010, while a group of people comprising residents in the Silom area and those described by the media as "multi-coloured shirts" gathered on Silom Road at Saladang Intersection to express their opposition to the UDD, M 79 grenade launchers were used by unknown person(s) to fire into the group, resulting in one death and several others injured. Then on 29 April 2010, beyond anyone's expectations, a group of demonstrators blockaded and intruded into Chulalongkorn Hospital, which was located next to the protest site, which forced the hospital to evacuate patients to farther buildings or transfer them to other hospitals.

After the efforts at negotiation and compromise had failed - particularly with the UDD leaders' rejection of the five-point reconciliation plan proposed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, and given the increasingly adverse effect of the prolonged protests on Thai society and its economy, the Government decided on 13 May 2010 to cordon off the area around Ratchaprasong Intersection so as to pressure the protesters to end their demonstrations. Measures included setting up of check points along the outer perimeter of the area to prevent people from joining the rallies, and suspending public utilities and transportation services in the area. There had been no instruction to disperse or "crackdown" on the protests, and no intention to cause harm to anyone, as misrepresented or alleged. The authorities had also facilitated efforts by charity groups and NGOs to bring innocent protesters, particularly women, children and the elderly, out of the protest area or to safe locations.

On 19 May 2010 at 05.45 hrs., the Government began operations to tighten the cordon to secure the perimeter around the protest site so as to better provide security and safety for the public in those areas. The operation also sought to secure the area around Lumpini Park, which was used by armed elements to hoard their weapons and launch attacks upon security forces. Although the operation was met with stiff resistance from the armed elements, the Government successfully secured the area around Lumpini Park by late morning. Under heavy pressure, the UDD protest leaders announced the end of their protest at around 13.45 hrs., following which the security officers were ordered to halt their operations. Those protest 136

leaders who turned themselves in to the police were detained in accordance with the warrants issued under the Emergency Decree. Others had escaped and remained at large. As for other protesters, their safe passage home was facilitated by the Government. After the protests ended, the situation began to improve, and a few days later normal living was restored.

From what I have informed you, it is clear that had the UDD not turned down the reconciliation plan as offered by Prime Minister Abhisit, all the losses of lives and properties would not have happened.

Mr. Chairman,

We believe that with sincere cooperation between conflict parties, trying to reach a workable solution, working together and giving hands as we do here in ICAPP, the reconciliation process would result in peaceful and fruitful results, which will lead us to a better tomorrow as we all hope for.

Thank you very much for your kind attention.

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Keynote Speech by Hon. Dr. Nalinee Taveseen Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, Pheu Thai Party of Thailand

Excellencies, Hon. Jose De Venecia, Hon. Chung, Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with much pleasure that I have an opportunity to join with you today in the Seventh General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political parties in Baku, Azerbaijan. I would like to thank the organizers, the ICAPP, for inviting me to take part in this important conference, along with a range of other speakers who are approaching the Security, Peace and Reconciliation theme from various different points of view. This, I am assure that experiences can be shared, that lessons can be learned, and that efforts can be combined.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today we are witnessing the dominance of democracy as the main form of government around the world. Changes whether through sudden uprising or gradual evolution, come from the same aspiration – people want their voices heard, their rights protected and positive changes. This is the universal truth of humanity.

Differences exist whether they are cultural, economic or political, but common practices do exist. Freedom comes with responsibility, there needs to be the rule of low, a guarantee of human rights, and equal opportunity to achieve the goals. Rule of law is essential to democracy, political and economic stability and social order transparent and effective rule of low protects the rights and liberties of individuals and provides political space for dialogue, participation and for conflicts to be resolved within the boundaries of civil society. Rule of law dictates how political leaders must respond to people’s needs and protect individual rights and liberties. Rule of law dictates how political leaders must respond to people’s needs and protect individuals’ rights and liberties.

The best way to preserve democracy is to empower people to value and participate in the process of democracy which has made it possible for an election to occur. When people participate they feel that they own democracy and cherish the values.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

My country has over the past several years witnessed the emergence of some deep divisions, resulting in feelings of anger and bitterness. The rather fragile political climate in Thailand has had its impact on all spheres of life and it is time for a genuine effort towards normally peace and reconciliation. We need stability based on democratic principles. We need to move from chaotic street. Centric dialogue to a parliamentary setting. We should not slip back into brutal violence mode.

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I would like to address the points number 3, 4 and 6 raised by Hon. Jose de Venecia, Southern street confess, Thailand. During the past decade Thailand has faced two critical conflicts: one is the political conflicts or as you may know, the red and yellow shirt protests, and the other one, the conflict in the deep southern part of Thailand. These political conflicts and unrest in the deep-south have negative impacts on the economy, people’s daily life, international confidence, and a peaceful society. Political conflicts due to political gatherings and violence have direct impacts on national security and unit. Unrest in the three southernmost provinces is still a problem causing deaths, injuries, and damage toward property. Furthermore, the unrest has caused negative impacts on the southern economy, employment, and the poor. These two cases of violence are the main factors causing Thailand to be ranked as one of the lowest countries on the Peace Index.

Experiences revealed that these conflicts mostly occurred from various kinds of disparities: economics, geographical, urban-rural, ethnic, or gender disparities. Accordingly, for years, the Government of Thailand have developed and implemented many policies and projects in order to overcome these disparities, for examples:

All Thais are now guaranteed sufficient health insurance under the universal health care scheme that has been in place in Thailand for ten years.

The elderly is not viewed as a burden, but a productive force in the development process for their years of experience.

Another recent policy that is of particular relevance to the empowerment of women is the Women’s Development Fund which was established to promote the roles of women, so that they can contribute better to the country, protect women’s rights, and protect women from domestic violence. The fund also serves as a funding source for women who want to have better access to education, employment, and healthcare services. As a result, women would benefit from better living standard, in terms of education, wealth and stability.

Furthermore, the Government has just announced and implemented a new fund for graduates, Tang Tua Dai or self-sustained fund for recent graduates wanting to become small business owners to apply for fund.

In addition to the policies against disparities, a set of reconciliation policies have been developed to strengthen or rebuild peace and security particularly in the Southern Thailand.

The government has allocated funds to upgrade education standards, develop public health facilities, and increase income of people in the southern border provinces.

In order to elevate the standard of living for Muslim Thais, the Government has strongly supported the Islamic Bank of Thailand, which has promoted savings and investment among Muslims, as well as facilitated trade and investment with Muslim countries.

Also, measures have been taken to promote community Zakat funds that will help alleviate poverty among local people.

In addition, a special school curriculum has been introduced to integrate Islamic education into the general curriculum. The government has also provided greater educational 139

opportunities for young people in the southern border provinces, so that they would be equipped with both vocational training and religious study.

Not only the efforts from the Government side, many organizations in Thailand have conducted activities that result in the strengthening of peace in Thailand, for examples:

The groups of red shirt and yellow shirt in Pai district, Mae-Hong-Son province, a famous relaxed atmosphere for tourist, discussed together and reached an agreement to stop all kinds of movements that would affect to the livelihoods of the people. Both groups believe that people can have different political ideologies but they can live together in harmony. This would constitute to the peace of their local community and bring back economic activities and livelihoods to the community.

The second example is the community justice as the Thai communities have a centuries-old tradition of contributing to the maintenance of peace and order. Efforts will be intensified to strengthen community justice networks where conflict can be managed within the community.

Excellencies, Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

A valuable lesson drawn from past experience is perhaps that the right goal is not to maximize growth, but to find the right balance in our development approach that we must seek to reduce all kinds of disparities in order to rebuild and strengthen peace and security in the country. It is important to put people at the front and centre of the development agenda. However, we believe that true peace cannot be achieved in isolation. Countries can only seek peace through common security and stability, and hence nations in each region should work together to strengthen their capacity to meet their development goals.

Thank you.

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Keynote Speech by Hon. Ercan Candan Member of Parliament and Member of APA for Turkish Group, Justice and Development Party of Turkey

Adam Curie, who worked as a mediator in South Africa and Asia in the past, draw a matrix arguing that three base components play critical role in achieving sustainable peace. These are awareness of the conflict, relations and balance of power between the parties. For any country, power can be reached by implementing its economy policy, social policy, domestic policy and foreign policy. These policies have intervowen with democratic rights and freedom. The more democratic Turkey become & the more it raises its democratic standards the stronger it will become in the international arena.

10 years of AK Party governance provides the evidence:

Our country has achieved historic economic success, a respected foreign policy position, and a higher standard of living.

All this progress has its roots in the steps taken towards democracy and freedom.

Simply being blind to, ignoring or turning your back on problems does not make them go away.

When we came to power in 2002;

We redefined one of the key principles of Turkish foreign policy as tipping the freedom security balance to the advantage of individual and societal freedoms. We gave a major struggle to achieve this.

We implemented revolutionary reforms for Turkey's full membership in the European Union (EU), which we consider to be our strategic goal.

As a result of a proactive foreign policy made possible by democratization and economic performance, Turkey's image has completely changed in the region and the world. Turkey is now seen as a source of inspiration from Morocco to Afghanistan. Turkey has become a major player that contributes to peace and stability in its region and the global order.

As AK Party;

We do not consider Turkey and its foreign policy in a unidimensional way.

To the contrary, we apply a multidimensional and multidirectional perspective to Turkey's historical depth, civilizational geography and make use of the political and economic stability of the last ten years

Turkey is fast becoming a center of attraction and a focal point of international relations and global politics. We are building a new global vision in partnership with all political actors that pursue a positive political agenda in our region as well as in the world. 141

This new vision has already overcome the misgivings of the past, given a new confidence to our nation and enabled us to vastly expand our foreign policy.

Turkey today is self confident in all of its endeavors, follows a unique vision, and operates in its region not with any threat perception but with a perspective of peace, stability and partnership. Turkey is not party to any conflicts in its region; rather, it is sought after for contribution, vision and mediation. With its democratic standards and economic development, Turkey has become a token of regional peace and stability. We believe that Turkey is destined to play a historic and critical role in its region.

We have based our foreign policy on two main principles;

An accurate assessment of regional and global developments, taken necessary steps in a timely manner, devised our policies with a long term perspective, and acted with a sense of commitment to our values and principles.

Follow a dynamic foreign policy and reinterpreted Turkey's history and geography from the vantage point of our strategic depth in the world.

We assume that there will be some inevitable changes in the current global political and economic system;

In the UN structure of governance and

In relations between countries and nations around the world.

Our goal and mission is to place Turkey among those countries that will shape the new global system.

In 2002, the total number of Turkey's diplomatic missions around the world;

- was 163 - today 202 - soon will reach 219.

These missions enlarged from Tanzania and Ecuador to Myanmar and Colombia. We will soon become the fifth country in the world in terms of the highest number of diplomatic missions.

One of our key objectives has been to develop relations with our neighbors and strengthen our role from the Balkans and Caucasia to Central Asia and the Middle East. To that effect, we have introduced a new paradigm and left behind the old habits of foreign policy and international relations based on security threats. We have followed the well known policies of "zero problems with neighbors", "security for everyone", "economic integration", and "multiculturalism and peaceful coexistence".

Starting with our immediate neighbors, we have lifted the visas.

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By 2012, the number of countries with which we have lifted visas mutually has exceeded seventy. We will continue to work on introducing a visa free regime for Turkish citizens to travel to EU countries.

We have taken many steps to improve relations with our neighbors, to solve inherited, chronic problems and to establish peace and security in our region.

We have established the High Strategic Cooperation Council mechanism with such countries as Bulgaria, Greece, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Iran.

We also made an agreement with Georgia to allow our citizens to visit our countries with their IDs rather than passports.

We have worked tirelessly to help the national process of reconciliation in such countries as Iraq, Somalia, Palestine, Lebanon and Kirgizstan.

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Keynote Speech by Hon. Hoang Binh Quan Chairman of the Central Commission for External Relations and Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of the delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the New Azerbaijan Party for its hospitality and congratulate the Party on its thorough preparations for this Conference. My warmest greetings also go to all representatives of friend parties attending the Conference and special congratulations to parties who have successfully held their Party congress over the past time, among which the most recent is the 18th Congress of the Communist Party of China. I wish the Conference a great success.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This our General Assembly is held under the main theme of “Security, Peace and Reconciliation in Asia”. This is a very actual and important issue of the region and the world. We all share a common awareness that peace, stability and security are indispensable prerequisites for national and regional stability and development and that they represent urgent demands and legitimate aspirations of the peoples in Asia. Ensuring sustained peace, security and stability in Asia is an urgent and long-term task of all of us.

As we can see, while Asia is playing an increasingly important role, serving as the engine for growth of the world economy, and enjoys growing pace of integration, we are facing emerging challenges that pose threats to peace, stability and security in the region: increasing complication of ethnic, religious conflicts and territorial conflicts; intensification of armaments and increasing threat to the use of force; fiercer competition among major powers over expansion of influence and force assembling; continuedly complicated developments in relation to terrorist acts and other non-traditional security threats. Meanwhile, although concerned countries have been making various efforts for cooperation, we still lack effective tools and mechanisms for conflict prevention, for maintaining peace and stability and ensuring common security. In our opinion, this is the major, overwhelming contradiction which requires greater responsibility of countries and political parties as well as our attention and joint efforts for prevention of conflicts and assurance of peace and prosperity in Asia.

For this purpose, we should formulate our common understanding, define our common objectives and set up our common program of actions.

First of all, regarding awareness, we hold that given growing interdependence among nations, peace and stability is our common, indivisible interest; ensuring peace and stability is a common responsibility of all members of the regional community.

Secondly, to abide by the fundamental principles for relations among nations in the region and the world at large as set forth in the UN Charter, base on peaceful co-existence, non-use of force and no threat to the use of force, respect for independence, sovereignty, and 144

territorial integrity of all nations, respect for international laws and agreements, equal and mutually beneficial cooperation. Development and foreign policies of each nation should be formulated on the basis of the said-above principles and respect for lawful and legitimate interests of other nations.

Thirdly, in order to achieve sustained peace, we should all together overcome hostility, differences and separation in a spirit of respecting history, learning from history but not becoming a prisoner of the past so that we can “shelve the past and look forward to the future”, build culture of peace, tolerance, and develop sincere, friendly relations with peoples of other countries, fighting all forms of nationalist and religious extremism.

Prompting from such awareness, our joint objective is to strive for long-term peace, stability, friendship and cooperation for shared prosperous development in Asia. Major solutions may include: - One, resolve all disputes through peaceful negotiations: all disputing countries, including over territorial issue, should commit themselves to and practice the principle of resolving all disputes through peaceful negotiations on the basis of respect for international laws, non-use of force and no threat to the use of force in all circumstances; - Two, build confidence and promote culture of peace: increase exchanges among politicians, parliament members and journalists, boost friendship exchanges among peoples, particularly the youth; promote education and communication on friendship and peace; - Three, limit armament and strive for disarmament: it is necessary at first stage to ensure adequate obedience to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, establish and expand zones free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, step-by-step arrive at the formulation and implementation of agreements on limitation of armament and disarmament in order to minimize the danger of war and to direct available resources for socio-economic development; - Four, intensify international cooperation in fighting terrorism, dealing with climate change and other non-traditional security challenges; step up regional and international integration based on the principle of supplementation and solidarity in order to expand shared interests for common development. - Five, promote effective multilateral agreements and collective mechanisms for realization of the above-mentioned objective, for conflict prevention, maintaining peace, stability and ensuring security in the region in conformity with the basic principles of the UN Charter and international laws and conditions for sustainable development in the region.

By doing so, we would be able to strengthen a peaceful and stable environment for national development, making an important contribution to world peace.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As a nation having undergone great losses and sacrifices for national liberation and reunification of the country in the spirit of “Nothing is more precious than Independence and Freedom”, the Vietnamese people always highly value peace and treasure friendship relationship with other nations in the world. Although the wars left on us very severe consequences, in the spirit of “shelving the past, looking forward to the future”, we have gone for national reconciliation and unity inside the country and, at the same time, made every effort to normalize relations with former enemies and develop friendship relationship with 145

other countries under the motto “Vietnam is a friend, a reliable partner of all countries and a responsible member of the international community”. Our desire is to have national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity respected, to develop friendship relationship and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit with all other countries, and enjoy a peaceful, stable environment for national development and improvement of people’s living standards. Our desire is sincere, our efforts are consistent. With that in mind, we will continuously work together with political parties from and governments of countries in the region to build an Asia of peace, stability, unity, and prosperity. In the immediate time, our Party will host the forthcoming 19th Meeting of the Enlarged ICAPP Standing Committee from April 25-26, 2013 in order to contribute to the further consolidation of the ICAPP and enhancing its effectiveness for achieving above-stated objectives.

Once again, I would like to convey our solidarity greetings to you all.

I wish our 7th ICAPP General Assembly a great success.

Thank you.

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Keynote Speech by Mr. Itaru Ishii Executive Deputy Director, CAPDI Japan (Presented at the Special Workshop on Young Political Leaders)

Mr. Chairman, Respected guests, Ladies and gentlemen,

I am Itaru Ishii from CAPDi Japan.

First I would like to appreciate the effort of the preparation done by YAP people and ICAPP Secretariat giving me an opportunity to make this speech.

Don’t worry. My speech is very short. I come from Japan. Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Noda dissolved the parliament. So we will have the general election on 16th of December. Now the ruling party of Japan is DPJ, Democratic Party of Japan. According to the latest research about the supporting ratio, DPJ has only about 15%. LDP, Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, which had been the ruling party for over 50 years since after the world war the 2nd, has about 25%. It means that LDP will get the power back. We will have a new government again in next month December. It may be a coalition government among LDP, DPJ, and New Komeito Party.

Even Japan has a different prime minister every year, even Japanese politics does not work well, Japan should have something we can do for you.

So please visit Japan and let me know before your visit.

I think the communication is important. I am ready to be at your disposal on your visit.

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Keynote Speech by Hon. Gustavo Carvajal Moreno Deputy President of COPPPAL and Former President of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) of Mexico

At the Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean (COPPPAL) we feel honoured to participate in this Assembly organized by ICAPP and the New Azerbaijan Party.

We are pleased to participate in this dialogue on such important issues as security and peace. It is particularly significant to do so in Asia, home of the greatest example of pacifist struggle in recent history as Mahatma Gandhi was, is something very special for us.

COPPPAL is the most important political parties’ forum in our region. It is composed by 62 political parties from 29 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The political parties that shape this organization are committed to the principles that surpass our borders. We strive to achieve goals that concern not only to Latin America but the entire world: defence of sovereignty and self-determination of the peoples, the protection of democracy and human rights, the struggle against colonialism, the improvement of the citizens’ welfare through public policies to combat poverty and inequality, and the establishment of a more just and equitable international economic order.

A cornerstone in the achieving of these ideals has been the search for cooperation and peace. For more than thirty years (that is, since it was born) COPPPAL has advocated for the absolute respect of the principle of peaceful solutions between States, the disarmament, and the rejection of interventions as a way to impose solutions to international and domestic conflicts. At COPPPAL we firmly believe that “there is no way to peace, because peace is the way”.

The implementation of these principles has been exemplified in our collaboration with five peace processes in Latin America: in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Colombia.

Without prejudice to the above, we know that today, we are living in new and different times. Times in which, in addition to the traditional enemies of peace and security, a phenomenon has gained strength and has become an international menace: I’m talking about organized crime and drug trafficking.

COPPPAL members believe that the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime should be a collective and global task, based on new forms of cooperation that are respectful of national sovereignty and allow to create effective tools to successfully deal with these enormous challenges at the same time.

Therefore, we celebrate that the recent COPPPAL- ICAPP Meeting, held last October in Mexico City, resulted in the appeal to the international community, governments, political parties and civil society organizations, to carry out one worldwide meeting on the global problem of drug trafficking and arms smuggling to seek solutions together. This meeting 148

would take place in Mexico City, and its proposal has already been discussed by the leadership of ICAPP with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

This initiative is a demonstration of the key role that political parties are called to play in achieving peace, as well as an example of the determination of Asia and Latin America in the tackling of global future challenges through cooperation.

At COPPPAL, we think that dialogue and reconciliation between the peoples are essential requisites for peace. In order to achieve this, the creation of spaces and appropriate forums becomes imperative. That’s what we’ve been doing in COPPPAL and ICAPP. Hence, we believe that two unprecedented initiatives that emerged from our last joint meeting in Mexico City deserve special consideration.

To begin with, the announcement of the first tri-continental conference of political parties from Asia, Latin America, and Africa, that is expected to take place on the second half of next year in China, with the generous sponsorship of the Chinese Communist Party. Such conference will foster the creation of an international mechanism to coordinate the joint efforts of our three continental organizations and will be instrumental in the strengthening of the global struggle for peace and security.

Just as important, and also aiming to expand the space for dialogue and cooperation, is the resolution to support the creation of an Inter-Regional Economic Council with the participation of representatives of political parties of the three regions, which will smooth the progress of trade exchange between our countries, and surely will serve to promote investment, employment, and welfare on both sides of the Pacific.

Dear colleagues and friends,

As representatives of the Asian and Latin American peoples, our mission today is to face global challenges that require new responses; inter-regional responses, in which political parties, as mediators between society and the state, should be actively involved.

We are confident that through ICAPP’s and COPPPAL´s commitment to democracy, respect for human rights, ethnic and religious tolerance, and peaceful resolution of disputes, we will be able to prove to the world there is a new model of security and coexistence based on reason and reconciliation.

Finally, I would like to end my speech with a famous phrase from Mexico's Nineteenth Century President Benito Juárez, a phrase that condenses, perhaps like no other, the pacifist spirit of Latin America and the Caribbean: "Among individuals as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.”

Thank you very much.

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Keynote Speech by Dr. Max Georg Meier Permanent Representative for Central Asia, Hanns Seidel Foundation

Dear Excellences, Dear Guests,

German Hanns-Seidel-Foundation, dealing with civic education mainly in Germany, but also in 60 countries worldwide, has accompanied and partly supported the activities of ICAPP more or less since the beginning. And today we would like to emphasize: ICAPP is a success story. We congratulate all of you.

I have listened today to many distinguished lectures. It was mostly about regional and global problems, as the work of political parties with their planned programs. Also the Hanns- Seidel-Foundation I am representing is closely affiliated to a political party: The Bavarian Christian Social Union. Parties participating in this General Assembly may be different from each other in some aspects, but should have the same target: To serve to the people of their countries. For this purpose political parties have to increase their quality every day again.

Therefore I recommend ICAPP members the following: Beside important global issues, don’t forget to put in ICAPP’s working agenda basic training and consultancy services like:

- Benchmarking among political parties; - Making political parties more sufficient and sustainable, - How to finance political parties solidly and transparently, - How to get organized efficiently party members, - How to motivate regular citizens for politics, - How to prepare party programs for the future, - How to transfer political know-how like the preparation of constitutional amendments or the implementation of good governance, or - How to attract young and women to politics.

Don’t forget about global issues, but also don’t miss your core business where you should play a leading role.

Thanks you!

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Keynote Speech by Dr. Jiang Mingjun Director General of International Eco-Safety Cooperative Organization (IESCO)

H.E. Mr. President and Delegates,

On the occasion of the opening of the 7th International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), I would like to extend, on behalf of International Ecological Safety Collaborative Organization (IESCO), warm congratulations on the successful opening of this Conference.

Nowadays, natural disasters and unexpected ecological disasters caused by extreme weathers and unsustainable human economic activities do not only exacerbate poverty, but also cause regional conflicts. In Africa, armed conflicts in the areas of Darfur (Sudan), Central African Republic, northern Kenya and the Republic of Chad are closely related to the shortage of water resources and land degradation that caused by climate change. While in Haiti, Argentina and Peru, the rising prices of food, which lead to social unrest, is also often associated with climate change. Amu Darya River, shared by five countries like Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, is the longest river in the central Asia. The contradictions among the five countries due to the historical reasons, irrigation, as well as the designs and plans of hydropower stations, even though not worsened to conflicts, brought about constant tensions and frictions. So far, there are 145 countries share international rivers and basins around the world. Climate change is exacerbating the degradation of ecological systems in basins of the Nile River, Mekong River and Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, meanwhile, speeding up resource exploitation in Arctic natural areas. Since the arctic region is imbued with as-yet-unexploited oil, gas and mineral resources, it presents a difficulty for the international community to clear the ownership of arctic region and alleviate the scramble for resources.

According to a survey, the annual number of ecological-disaster refugees is up to 10 million, and the regional conflicts caused by ecological crises and environmental pollution also take on a tendency of continuously go up. I attended an Asia-Pacific international Conference held by Russia in 1998, which came up for the first time that ecological safety and resource security are the most important political issues in the 21st century, for the reason that all sorts of conflicts in the 20th century are closely related to them. As far as I am concerned, a regional war usually occurs after a lengthy diplomatic process, however, an ecological disaster which may cause far more economic losses and casualties occurs momentarily. Therefore, I suggested that all the national governments in the Conference should incorporate ecological safety and resource security into their national long-term development strategies.

In 1999, National ecological safety management institutions were set up in the United States, Russian Federation and some Member States of the European Union. And in the recent years, the US White House, Department of States, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, CIA, Environmental Protection Agency, and the United States Southern and Central Commands all played significant roles in the research of ecological and environmental safety, and issued their research reports. The US’ research of ecological and environmental safety focuses more on global issues than its domestic issues. They hold the idea that the globalized ecological crises and environmental problems have already threatened the national prosperity.

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Regional and national conflicts caused by ecological crises and environmental problems may draw the United States into the costly and perilous wars.

Hurricane “Sandy”, which hit the east shore of the U.S. recently, made the New York citizens feel “the end of the world is coming”. It not only caused a large scale blackout affecting 6 million New York people, but also paralyzed several websites and caused the deaths of over 70 people, bringing a 50 billion US dollar economic loss to the U.S. Besides, as a result of the hurricane, the UN headquarters in New York had to be closed for three days, which has never happen before.

Supported by China, United States, Russian Federation and United Nations, I established the International Ecological Safety Collaborative Organization in 2006, with the priorities in reducing poverty, solving youth employment, and mitigating and preventing disasters in urban areas. In the past five years, we have made fruitful efforts in the four fields of international conventions, project cooperation, scientific researches and dissemination through media and achieved the strategic target of “seeking orientation in a stable way”. In August 2011, IESCO was granted Special Consultative Status and the observer status by UN ECOSOC. In July 2012, IESCO and ICAPP jointly set up the Climate Change Committee of ICAPP, and set up the Climate Change Committee of the Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean (COPPPAL) during the Conference of Political Parties of Asia, Latin America and Caribbean and Africa to provide an important platform for the handling of climate change, the solving of ecological crises and the mitigating and preventing of disasters.

Fellow deputies, the 17th National Congress of Chinese Communist Party in 2007 put forward the strategic targets of constructing ecological civilization and realizing scientific development. The recently concluded 18th National Congress of Chinese Communist Party included the construction of ecological civilization in the Party’s Constitution, proposing “strive for green, cyclic and low-carbon development, so as to establish a resource- conserving and environmental-friendly pattern for spatial structure. Reverse the trend of ecological deterioration from the source and contribute to global ecological safety”, “Ensure the speedy implementation of the functional zoning strategy, and establish scientific and balanced pattern for advancing urbanization, agricultural development and ecological security”, which chooses a new path for the peaceful development of human beings.

Fellow deputies, the situations of today’s serious ecological crises force us to treat ecological safety and environmental issues more seriously and carefully. Regardless that it may influence the national security now or it may exert the influence in the future, our efforts are worthwhile. It is because investing in a responsible management system of ecological safety can help to avoid not only possible conflicts, but also expensive military interventions. With the increasing attention to ecological safety and environmental issues from the international society, developed countries have included environmental quality and sufficient natural resources in the scope of the national interests and national security. As a new concept of security which is closely related to national interests, ecological safety is closely used to national interests is employed as a new ideological tool in countries’ diplomacy, trade and military policy. Therefore, ecological safety is gradually upgraded to a level of national security and international security. At present, we are confronted with five main problems. The first one is to exert the appeal to political parties, especially the ruling parties of countries, to strengthen the construction of ecological safety support system and take actions 152

to prevent ecological damages and environmental deterioration. The second one is to advance the legislation of ecological safety and environmental protection, and ensure people’s living security and life security by severely punishing the ecological crimes and environmental crimes. The legislation of ecological safety and environmental protection should establish the basic laws in terms of management system, ecological compensation, clean production, and green economy. The third one is to build the early warning mechanism of natural disasters and ecological disasters, to implement the disaster reduction and prevention of cities, ecological restoration and ecological reconstruction. The fourth one is to establish the mechanism of international coordination and dialogue. The exploitation and utilization of multinational ecological systems (forest ecological system, wetland ecological system, ocean ecological system, and international river basins) should strictly adhere to international conventions including United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity, Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, and The Helsinki Rules on the Uses of the Waters of International Rivers, in order to realize the goal of rational utilization and scientific exploitation. Accelerate the communication among world’s multivariate cultures to eliminate conflicts through coordination and dialogue, and help the developing countries during the period of transition to realize sustainable development. The last one is to include ecological civilization, ecological safety and sustainable development in national education system, to ensure children receive correct education of ecological safety value, behavioral pattern, and life style since they were very young, and to ensure the females, especially the female children, enjoy the equal opportunity of receiving ecological education and training.

Fellow deputies, the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) has always followed the principle of peaceful development since its establishment, and has played an positive role in poverty alleviation, environmental protection, exerting youth leadership, and especially resolving the conflict in Cambodia boundary, Preah Vihear. IESCO, as an observer of the ICAPP, will continue the partnership with the political parties of Asian, Latin American, Caribbean area, and the Centrist Asian Pacific Democrats International (CAPDI), regarding climate change, ecological safety, environmental protection, disaster reduction and prevention as well as poverty alleviation. Hosted jointly by the House of Representative of Republic of Indonesia, ICAPP, Bali Provincial government of Republic of Indonesia, the Second World Ecological Safety Assembly will be held on December 9 to 12 this year in Bali Island, Indonesia, which will vote through the World Ecological Civilization Declaration and Ecological Safety Action Plan. It is also preliminarily decided that The Forum of Climate Change and Ecological Safety will be held in China in 2013, which involves the political parties in Asian, Latin American, Caribbean area and African. Let’s join hands to struggle to save our homeland – earth.

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Report on the Discussion of Special Workshop on Women Politicians by Hon. Malahat Ibrahim qizi Member of Parliament, New Azerbaijan Party, and Hon. Dr. Park In-sook Member of the National Assembly, Saenuri (New Frontier) Party, Republic of Korea

(Presentation by Hon. Malahat Ibrahim qizi)

Dear Secretary General, Distinguished Guests, Honorable Colleagues,

On behalf of NAP`s women, first of all I would like to warmly welcome to all of you in Azerbaijan, the beautiful city Baku and I would like to express our thanks to organizers for such important event not only for our countries, but also for whole Asia. . Of cause it is honor to me that 7th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties takes place in my country.

Dear Participants,

As you know, this session is devoted to: Security, Peace and Cooperation in Asia. The role of women in security and stability issues one of main priority in the international documents. The topic that here we are going to discuss today is an important issue for each nation, for each region, and as well as for whole Asia.

Of course, I suppose holding the discussion around this issue is necessity today, because some of us still suffer from the problems such as military conflict, terror, separtism. It is more than 20 years, Azerbaijani women have been facing conflict by Armenian military forces. And 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories are under the armenian occupation. Therefore, 1 million refugees and internally displaced persons are major victims of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Tens of women and girls were taken as hostage by armenians occupants during the war and there is no information about their destiny till now.

Dear Friends,

12 Years ago, UNSC adopted 1325 Resolution (thirteen twenty five ) which expresed importance the role of the women in security and stability, peacemaking and conflict prevention process in the world.

The resolution demands member states to empower women, to involve women to diplomatic issues and to involve military forces their governments.

And SCR 1820 demands the “immediate and complete cessation by all parties to Armed conflict of all acts of sexual violence against civilians” Unfortunately till today implementation of these resolutions are not satisfied. And the victims in today’s armed conflicts are far more likely to be civilians than soldiers. The UN has reported that 90% of

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modern war casualties are civilians, most of them are women and children and this statistics increase year by year. Current statistics say that “It is now more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier in modern wars."

Honorable colleagues,

On behalf of women politicians, I would like to thank the ICAPP Secretary General and the members of Standing Committee on dedicated to women politicians.

I need to state that I highly appreciate the first Special Workshop on the Asian women in the frame of 7th General Assembly of ICAAP. And many thanks you for your active participation. It is a fact that, the increasing role of women at all levels of society cannot be denied anymore. Therefore ICAPP will make way for this issue not as a special session, as well as they tend to keep at its agenda.

In addition, Asian women collaboration will play a big role in terms of cooperation and integration processes of Asian nations. We consider that utilizing the efficient usage women potential and resources will bring peace, stability and welfare to the region. We are sure that, all proposed motions and suggestions would be welcome and be taken into account by all parties.

Dear Friends,

In this session, there were 22 women and 3 men politicians from different Asian countries. Therefore, the active participation and making proposal by almost all participants are a sign of session`s importance. In a word, the special session was productive and efficient.

Today in this Workshop, we l discussed and briefed around this importance issue and we shared our opinions and our practices.

Maybe this Workshop would be ground for the establishment of special branch of women of ICAPP. Under umbrella of this branch we would be able to build our peace mission cooperation, it would be the great opportunity to mobilize our efforts and resources. We should take commitment as a goodwill ambassador for the region, and the whole world.

Honorable colleagues,

Moreover, I would like to address my special thanks to my dear Korean friend and colleague Park İn Sook whom I together presided over the session with.

As I mentioned before, the important and practicable proposals were initiated by participants. Women politicians suggested putting all these proposals into the final document going to be adopted today.

Dear colleagues,

Let us my colleague and the co-chair of this session Park İn Sook introduce the proposals for your review once again. Well, I give the floor to my dear friend Hon.Park In Sook. 155

(Presentation by Hon. Dr. Park İn Sook)

- Take into consideration gender equality issues in terms representation of ICAPP member countries. - Organize the special plenary session of ICAPP GA devoted to implementation of Beijing Action Plan and the status of Asian women. - Asian women highly welcome the establishment of youth branch of ICAPP and stress the importance of the establishment of Women branch of ICAPP. - Organize the first forum of Women Branch of ICAPP in 2013

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Closing Remark by Hon. Chung Eui-yong Co-Chairman of the Standing Committee and Secretary General of the ICAPP

Mr. Chairman, Your Excellency Ali Ahmadov, Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of the Yeni Azerbaijan Party and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP, and all the distinguished members of the Organizing Committee, Your Excellency Jose de Venecia, Founding Chairman and Co-Chairman of the ICAPP Standing Committee, and all the distinguished members of the Standing Committee, Your Excellency Hussain Muhammad Ershad, Former President of Bangladesh. Your Excellency Madhav Kumar Nepal, Prime Minister of Nepal, Your Excellency Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, Your Excellency Du Qinglin, Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, Your Excellency Hoang Binh Quan, Chairman of the Commission for External Relations of the CPV, Your Excellency Gustavo Caravajal Moreno, Deputy President of the COPPPAL, Your Excellency Nafe Ali Nafe, Vice President of National Congress Party of Sudan, Distinguished Representatives of Political Parties from Asia, Latin America and Africa, Distinguished Observers from various organizations from around the world, and Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, on behalf of all the foreign participants in the 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP, I’d like to thank the people and the government of the Republic of Azerbaijan for their warm hospitality in their own unique way during our stay here.

We specially thank the Yeni Azerbaijan Party and His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev, Chairman of the Yeni Azerbaijan Party, and His Excellency Ali Ahmadov, Chairman and the staff of the Organizing Committee, for their excellent organization and preparations for the conference.

I’d also like to pay tribute to His Excellency Jose de Venecia, our Founding Chairman of the ICAPP for his vision and leadership without which the ICAPP couldn’t have come this far. We particularly thank him for his inspirational opening statement which was so passionately delivered. I believe his speech set the tone for our deliberations which made this assembly so fruitful and also so colorful. I salute to you, Sir.

My thanks also go to His Excellency Senator Mushahid Hussain of Pakistan, who had made great contributions not only as the Special Rapporteur of the ICAPP Standing Committee over the last few years, but also as an excellent Chairperson of the Drafting Committee of Baku Declaration for this assembly.

I should also thank all the colleagues of the ICAPP Standing Committee for their extra service. The 18h SC Meeting we had prior to the General Assembly was the largest ever with the participation of candidates of new members.

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I also thank all the participants in the conference, especially those speakers at the plenary sessions, for sharing their insight as to how we should and could tackle the most serious challenges we are facing in Asia and the world.

It is with such a mix of myriad emotions, encompassing a combined feeling of fulfillment and achievement, a renewed sense of pride and mission, and the enormous sensation of gratitude and attachment, to conclude this historic 7th General Assembly of the ICAPP, the International Conference of Asian Political Parties.

I can confidently say that the ICAPP is now firmly and deeply rooted as a forum for dialogue, cooperation, and creation of opportunities for a better tomorrow for all countries in the Asian region and beyond.

Excellencies and Distinguished Delegates and Observers, and Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our first ten years were dedicated to the launch of the ICAPP and to the efforts to strengthen its institutional capacity and networks. And we have made dramatic progress in both fronts. The ICAPP now has more than 300 political parties in over 50 countries in the region which are eligible to participate in its activities. We have regular meetings, General Assemblies in every one or two years, while the Standing Committee meets more than twice a year.

Perhaps more importantly, this level of institutionalization and outreach has allowed us to begin exploring specific and substantive issues whose discussion at this international and political level would surely benefit not only the people in the region but beyond. Since 2008, we have been convening special conferences on specific issues annually.

Just as significant as the frequency of meetings is the expanding breadth of political figures that the ICAPP has engaged with in our member countries which include the top political leadership.

Even more exciting is that ICAPP may soon obtain observer status in the UN General Assembly, which confirms to the world the very relevance and importance of the ICAPP in advancing the global debate on how to address the common challenges of mankind.

As U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in his congratulatory message delivered at the opening session, the U.N. and the ICAPP can be close partners to meet global challenges together.

On this occasion, I would like to express our most sincere gratitude to seven Member States of the United Nations in our region that are cosponsoring the draft resolution to invite the ICAPP as observer in the work of the U.N. General Assembly. They are Cambodia, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Vietnam. We hope other U.N. Member States in our region to join as cosponsors of the resolution so that the consensus can be reached soon in the UN deliberations.

We also welcome the new members of the Standing Committee. - Bangladesh Awami Party - Future Movement Party of Lebanon - Union Solidarity and Development Party of Myanmar 158

- Mongolian People's party - Pheu Thai Party of Thailand

We particularly welcome their decision to bring one of their main rival political parties as alternate members of the Standing Committee. This will not only expand the representativeness of the Standing Committee and diversity within the Standing Committee, but also will ensure maximum contributions to the ICAPP activities. We are looking forward to the first expanded meeting of the Standing Committee in Hanoi, Vietnam next April.

Last, I'd like to compliment representatives of political parties in both Azerbaijan and Armenia for their engaging each other in an open and frank exchange of their different perspectives and insights on a most sensitive, and toughest, challenge they are facing.

We believe such direct and frank engagement in the spirit of cooperation will eventually lead to negotiated settlement of disputes. In fact, this is what the ICAPP is all about.

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, and Ladies and Gentlemen,

Before concluding, I would like to thank our Azerbaijani hosts once again for organizing a most successful General Assembly of the ICAPP.

Now, let me take a few more moments to recognize extraordinary efforts made by Hon. Asaf Hajiyev, Head of the International Department of the New Azerbaijan Party, who worked as the Secretary General of the Organizing Committee of the 7th General Assembly.

As Chairman Jose de Vencia correctly called him as Dr. Henry Kissinger of Azerbaijan, Asaf has been one of the most able representatives of his country in various international arena, especially in the ICAPP meetings. We thank him for his valuable work to make this gathering a big success.

We also thank all the staff in the Organizing Committee, and those who worked behind the stage, including the interpreters. Their selfless contributions made actors on the stage look even more shining.

Thanks to your help and warm hospitality, we will leave Azerbaijan not only with a great sense of fulfillment, but also with so many fond memories of this beautiful country and its great people.

Thank you very much.

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ICAPP Charter and Major Understandings

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ICAPP Charter (As adopted at the 4th General Assembly on September 10, 2006 and amended at the 5th General Assembly on September 26, 2009 and amended at the 7th General Assembly on November 23, 2012)

Preamble

We, the leaders and representatives of political parties in Asia, gathered for the Fourth General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (hereinafter referred to as the “ICAPP”) in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from September 7 to 10, 2006,

Upholding the United Nations’ Charter, and the principles of mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful co-existence;

Recognizing the immense potential of Asia to become the political, economic, and social center of the global stage in the twenty first century if permanent peace and shared prosperity is achieved in the region

Realizing that challenges in Asia can be more efficiently and effectively addressed if the political leaders of the region unite through sustained dialogue by building mutual confidence and fellowship, by seeking political consensus through consultation and sharing of experiences, and by developing common political strategies

Recalling that a regularly held gathering of political leaders in the region is an effective tool in seeing the potential of Asia become a reality since it fosters such sustained dialogue

Having held the First General Assembly of the ICAPP in September 2000 in Manila, Republic of the Philippines, followed by the Second and Third General Assemblies in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand in November 2002 and Beijing, People’s Republic of China in September 2004, respectively

Do hereby proclaim that the Articles set forth in this Charter shall govern the objectives, institutional arrangements, and activities of the ICAPP.

Articles

Chapter I. Objectives

Article 1

The objectives of the ICAPP shall be: a. to promote exchanges and cooperation between political parties with various ideologies in Asia; b. to enhance mutual understanding and trust among the peoples and countries in the region; c. to promote regional cooperation through the unique role and channel of political parties and d. to create an environment for sustained peace and shared prosperity in the region. 161

Chapter II. Membership

Article 2 1. The ICAPP shall be open to political parties in Asia with democratically elected members in the parliaments of their respective countries, which are Member States of the United Nations. 2. Under certain circumstances, the Standing Committee of the ICAPP (hereinafter referred to as the “Standing Committee”) may decide to extend invitations to organizations or groups, which do not fulfill the criteria above, to participate in the activities of the ICAPP, as Observers, including attending the General Assembly of the ICAPP (hereinafter referred to as the “General Assembly”), in the interests of rendering the activities of the ICAPP more inclusive and representative of the diversities existing in Asia.

Article 3 1. For the purposes of this Charter, the term “parliament” shall mean any national body performing legislative functions of that country. The term “political party” shall mean any political organization which has been legally formed and recognized in the respective countries.

Chapter III. General Assembly

Article 4 1. In furtherance of the objectives of the ICAPP, as prescribed in Article 1 of this Charter, a General Assembly shall be held once every two (2) years on a rotational basis among its members, unless otherwise decided by the Standing Committee. It shall be held, in principle, for three (3) working days in the latter half of the year. 2. The General Assembly shall be, in principle, composed of the following program: a. Opening Ceremony; b. Plenary Session and Thematic Committee meetings; c. Special Workshops and other events upon the approval of the Standing Committee d. Standing Committee meetings; and e. Closing Ceremony

Article 5 1. All members interested in hosting the following General Assembly shall submit written notification to the Standing Committee before the conclusion of the previous General Assembly. 2. The venue and the host(s) for the following General Assembly shall be determined by consensus at the Standing Committee meeting.

Article 6 1. The main theme and up to three (3) sub themes of the General Assembly, which are consistent with the objectives of the ICAPP, shall be proposed by the host(s) and approved by the Standing Committee. 2. The main theme of the General Assembly shall be discussed at the Plenary Session. The sub themes of the General Assembly shall be discussed at the Thematic Committee meetings. 3. Any member may submit proposals for the main theme and sub themes of the General 162

Assembly to the Standing Committee. Such proposals must be made in writing before the conclusion of the previous General Assembly. 4. In addition to the Plenary Session and the Thematic Committee meetings held during the General Assembly, special workshops on specific issues, which are relevant to the ICAPP, may be held upon the approval of the Standing Committee.

Article 7 1. The Bureau of the General Assembly (hereinafter referred to as the “Bureau”) shall be comprised of one (1) Chairperson and up to five (5) Vice Chairpersons for the Plenary Session, and (1) Chairperson and up to three (3) Vice Chairpersons for each Thematic Committee meeting. The list of candidates for the Bureau will be prepared by the Standing Committee and recommended to the General Assembly for its approval at the Opening Ceremony by consensus. 2. The Chairpersons of the Plenary Session and the Thematic Committee meetings shall prepare the list of speakers at the Plenary Sessions and Thematic Committee meetings in accordance with the order of application or request from the members. 3. In case that the General Assembly is co-hosted by two or more number of political parties of a country, the Bureau of the General Assembly may be comprised of Co- Chairpersons.

Article 8 1. The political party, or parties, hosting the General Assembly shall bear the primary expenses of the General Assembly. 2. The primary expenses include logistical arrangements for the General Assembly, i.e., conference facilities, domestic transportation, etc. The primary expenses shall not include, inter alia, international transportation to and from the location of the General Assembly. 3. For the purposes of holding the General Assembly, the political party, or parties, hosting the General Assembly may seek voluntary contributions from members of the ICAPP and other organizations.

Chapter IV. Standing Committee

Article 9 1. A Standing Committee, composed of the representatives of not exceeding twenty-two (22) political parties from an equal number of countries, shall be established. 2. The Members of the Standing Committee, who will serve for two years from the end of a General Assembly until the end of the following General Assembly, shall be nominated at the Standing Committee held on the margins of the General Assembly and approved by the General Assembly. 3. Members of the Standing Committee shall actively participate in all ICAPP activities and programs. If a member, or his or her designated representative from the same political party, fails to attend the Standing Committee meetings for more than two (2) consecutive times, without providing reasonable cause of absence, the membership of the party in the Standing Committee may be revoked by the decision of the Standing Committee.

Article 10 1. The Standing Committee will make decisions on the venue, main theme, and sub themes of the General Assembly as provided in Article 6. Additionally, it shall lay out the procedures of the Plenary Session and Thematic Committee meetings and any other 163

matters as outlined in this Charter. 2. For the purposes of performing its duties, as prescribed in the foregoing, the Standing Committee meeting shall be held at least once a year, including its meetings during the General Assembly.

Article 11 1. One (1) Chairperson and one (1) Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee shall be elected by consensus of the members of the Standing Committee during the General Assembly. The Chairperson shall serve for two (2) years or until the next General Assembly is held. 2. The Chairperson shall preside over the Standing Committee meetings, held pursuant to Article 10 of this Charter, and represent the ICAPP during the period between the General Assemblies. 3. In the event that the Chairperson is no longer able to serve his or her term before its completion, the Vice Chairperson will assume the position until the following Standing Committee meeting is held.

Chapter V. Secretariat

Article 12 The Secretariat of the ICAPP shall be established to execute the following functions, among others: 1. To maintain and update the list of the political parties in the region, a database for the ICAPP activities and the official website(www.theicapp.org); 2. To provide necessary information and assistance to the members of the ICAPP, in particular the members of the Standing Committee and the host of the General Assembly in assuming their roles in the ICAPP activities; and 3. To establish contacts and promote cooperation with other international or regional organizations of political parties, and other international or regional parliamentary organizations.

Article 13 1. The Secretariat shall comprise a Secretary General and such staff as the ICAPP activities may require. The Secretary General shall be appointed by the Standing Committee. The appointment shall be subject to confirmation at the General Assembly. 2. The Secretary General shall act in that capacity in all ICAPP meetings and perform such other functions as are entrusted by the General Assembly and/or the Standing Committee.

Chapter VI. Amendments

Article 14 1. Proposals to amend this Charter shall be made in writing and submitted to the Chairperson of the Standing Committee at least three (3) months in advance prior to the commencement of the General Assembly. 2. The Chairperson of the Standing Committee shall, without delay, communicate such proposal(s) to the members of the Standing Committee who shall then review the proposals and present a joint report with recommendation(s) to the following General Assembly. 3. The proposal(s) shall be reviewed and adopted as amendment(s) to the Charter by the 164

consensus of the General Assembly.

Chapter VII. Working Language

Article 15 1. The working language of the ICAPP shall be English. 2. During the General Assembly, however, if any member provides his or her own simultaneous interpreter(s) from his or her native language to English, the host(s) of the meeting will provide facilities for simultaneous interpretation.

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Major Understandings reached at the Meetings of the ICAPP Standing Committee

A. Understanding reached at the 5th SC Meeting in Seoul (June 1-3, 2006)

- The Members agreed to extend invitations to political parties in the Palestinian National Authority in an effort to render the ICAPP activities more inclusive and representative of the diversities existing in the region.

B. Understanding reached at the 8th SC Meeting in Tehran (November 22-23, 2008)

- The Members agreed that the following two criteria would be applied to the political parties in Asia to be eligible for invitation to the future ICAPP activities, including the General Assemblies; (1) Political parties which have more than one percent of elected seats in their national parliaments; or (2) Political parties which have won more than one percent of popular votes in their latest national parliamentary elections, as certified and recognized by their national election commissions.

C. Understandings reached at the 10th SC Meeting in Astana (March 27-28, 2009)

- The budget and personnel to implement the functions of the ICAPP Secretariat shall be initially provided by the host country. Issues relating to the further budget and personnel of the Secretariat will continue to be discussed in the Standing Committee.

- The ICAPP Secretariat shall be established in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

D. Understanding reached at the 11th SC Meeting in Astana (September 24-28, 2009)

- The Members agreed that the decision not to invite certain eligible political parties to the ICAPP General Assembly can be made only by the consensus of the Standing Committee.

E. Understandings reached at the 13th SC Meeting in Kunming (July 16, 2010)

- The Members agreed that all representatives of the political parties at ICAPP Meetings should refrain from raising any issues directly related to bilateral conflicts or disputes among the countries in the region. It was highly recommended, however, to seek direct dialogue among political parties in the concerned countries to promote understanding and prevent such conflicts or disputes from getting further aggravated.

- The Members agreed to recommend to all members of the Standing committee to adopt the similar arrangement reached between the two main political parties in Japan and Korea that as long as they retain membership in the ICAPP SC, the representative of the political party with the largest number of seats in their respective Parliament at the time would represent Japan or Korea at the SC as its member, while the representative of the political party with second largest number of seats in the Parliament would attend the SC meetings as observers. They agreed that such formula in the SC membership will make the ICAPP activities more inclusive and credible.

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F. Understanding reached at the 18th SC Meeting in Baku (November 21, 2012)

- The Members agreed to invite the new members in the SC with the understanding that they adopt a similar formula like the one that had been adopted by the two main political parties in Cambodia, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Under this formula, the political parties with the largest number of seats in their respective parliaments represent their countries at the SC as its members, while the representatives of the political parties with the second largest number of seats in the parliaments will attend SC meetings as special participants.

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ICAPP Secretariat #911 Doryeom Building, Doryeom-dong, Jongro-ku, 110-716 Seoul, Korea Tel : 82-70-8800-5536, Fax : 82-2-702-5535 E-mail : [email protected] Website: www.theicapp.org

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