Inter-Parliamentary Union Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments

Summary record of the 1st meeting Held at United Nations Headquarters, New York, on Wednesday, 7 September 2005, at 3 p.m.

President: Mr. Páez Verdugo (Chile) Later: Ms. Kgosietsile-Mbete (Vice-President) (South Africa) Later: Mr. Wu Bangguo (Vice-President) (China)

Contents

Opening of the Conference Adoption of the agenda and rules of the Conference Presentation of the report on parliamentary involvement in international affairs Progress report on Meeting the Millennium Development Goals Presentation of the report on parliaments’ contribution to democracy General debate on parliaments and multilateral cooperation: meeting the challenges of the twenty-first century

The meeting was called to order at 3.10 p.m. 5. Among the key questions to be addressed by the high-level plenary meeting of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly was Opening of the Conference that of United Nations reform. The draft declaration to be adopted by the Second 1. The President declared the Conference World Conference of Speakers of Parliament open and invited participants to observe a expressed broad support for those reforms and moment of silence in tribute to the victims of encouraged all parliaments to debate the Hurricane Katrina in the United States of proposals presented to the Heads of State and America. Government and to encourage their respective Governments to give concrete form to those 2. The Conference participants observed a proposals, based on an understanding of the moment of silence. linkage between the four fundamental pillars of the international system: democracy, security, 3. The Second World Conference of development and human rights. Speakers of Parliaments had four major objectives: to air the views of the 6. It was time to establish a strategic representatives of popular sovereignty from all partnership between the Inter-Parliamentary regions of the world; to take stock of Union (IPU) and the United Nations. The parliamentary action in international affairs advent of globalization had given new and over the past five years; to consider how to urgent meaning to efforts to promote increase support for international cooperation international cooperation. Multilateral and the purpose and mission of the United institutions and international negotiations had Nations; and to help bridge the democracy gap not traditionally been subject to parliamentary in decision-making in international relations. scrutiny, but IPU would work to ensure that parliaments were more involved in decision- 4. Since the first such conference, the making on subjects such as fair and free trade Conference of Presiding Officers of National and the protection of the world’s most Parliaments held in 2000, the world had vulnerable groups. IPU would propose witnessed deplorable forms of terror and concrete and practical actions for all legislators, outrageous violations of fundamental human and all parliaments were expected to ensure a rights, and international law had been deeper, more systematic, and more sustained grievously ignored and undermined. As a involvement in international cooperation. result, there had been repeated calls for more structured world governance and for the 7. IPU had instituted its own reform process establishment of stronger humanitarian and some years before, and visibility and political democratic guarantees. action were now key aspects of its identity. All Speakers of parliaments were invited to back the rhetoric of the draft declaration with 2 actions. IPU must increase its credibility among including development financing, debt, trade, its constituents, orient its policy squarely and South-South cooperation and many others. meaningfully towards the future, and let its With respect to peace and security, a broad actions be guided by solid ethical and moral consensus had emerged on the need to take criteria. It was to be hoped that the collective action in accordance with the Conference would mark the beginning of a purposes and principles set forth in the Charter new and bolder relationship between the of the United Nations. world’s parliaments and multilateral organizations. 12. In order to adapt the United Nations to its new challenges, the work of the General 8. Mr. Ping (President of the General Assembly must be revitalized, the Economic Assembly of the United Nations) said that on and Social Council must be given the means to the eve of the high-level plenary meeting of the carry out its mission, the Security Council must sixtieth session of the General Assembly, the be reformed, and the management of the presence of so many participants testified to Secretariat, which faced new and increasingly the will of the world’s parliamentary demanding challenges, must be modernized. representatives to play an active role in the Parliaments were the guardians of the interests search for solutions to the problems facing the of the world’s peoples, and their support for international community. IPU was to be the decisions to be taken by the Heads of State congratulated in particular for its tireless efforts and Government at the high-level plenary to strengthen cooperation between meeting would be crucial to ensuring their parliamentarians and the United Nations. implementation. The conclusions of the Conference would play a vital role in 9. The goal of the Conference, which was to strengthening multilateral cooperation within consider how to strengthen the action of the context of the actions of the United parliaments on behalf of democracy and Nations. multilateralism, was a particularly welcome one, since the world leaders attending the 13. Mr. Dreier (United States of America), high-level plenary meeting would be taking a speaking on behalf of the host country, said number of important decisions regarding the that the terrorist attacks of recent years, future of the United Nations and world including the attacks of 11 September 2001 on governance. Moreover, the General Assembly the United States, had brought enormous was engaged in difficult negotiations on a draft changes for individuals, communities and outcome document to be submitted to Heads nations. Such attacks targeted the core values of State and Government, which would of freedom and democracy embodied in the hopefully reflect the broadest possible democratic parliaments represented at the consensus on how to adapt the institutions of Conference. There was another threat to lives the United Nations to the challenges of the and freedoms around the world: oppressive twenty-first century. Governments which denied not only democratic rights, but also basic human rights. 10. The great challenge for the United Nations The common thread that ran through such was to reach agreement on how to ensure a regimes was the lack of a strong legislative more effective response by the international check on executive power. community to the world’s need for greater development, peace, security, and human 14. However, anti-democratic forces had been rights protection. Development must be defeated before. Formerly communist countries recognized as fundamental to the wealth of had been transformed into some of the world’s societies. Although development was first and strongest democracies, and the key to that foremost the responsibility of individual States, transformation was an effective legislature it also required global partnership at all levels. acting as a strong check on the power of the executive branch. In the early 1990s the 11. During the preparatory process for the United States had implemented a programme, high-level meeting, Member States had known as the Frost-Solomon Task Force, to expressed their recognition of the importance provide material and technical assistance to 10 of the Millennium Development Goals agreed developing Eastern and Central European at the 2000 Millennium Summit. However, the parliaments. time had come to move from principles to actions. Extremely difficult negotiations 15. A new wave of democratization was now continued to be held on important questions, sweeping the globe, as reformers threw off the

3 shackles of oppression. In response to that 22. Mr. Kéita (Mali), Rapporteur, said that IPU process, the United States House of had put a number of questions to Speakers of Representatives would soon begin a new parliaments throughout the world in 2004 to programme — the bipartisan House find out to what extent and in what manner Democracy Assistance Commission — to their parliaments had become involved in strengthen democratic institutions by offering international affairs, in keeping with their technical assistance to parliaments in emerging millennium pledge. The IPU report entitled democracies. “Parliamentary Involvement in International Affairs” provided a compilation of the 16. The world’s parliaments must work responses and showed that almost all together to build bilateral and multilateral parliaments –– in developed and developing relationships, strengthening existing legislative countries alike — had unique experience to exchanges and initiating new ones. They share regarding their involvement in should also reach out to opposition parties international affairs. Apart from the question of working against intolerant regimes. access to modern information technology, Parliamentarians were uniquely positioned to there were no obvious North-South divides. contribute to the advancement of democracy, Broadly speaking, parliaments had reached human rights and the rule of law, and different stages in moulding their procedures to Conference participants could make great the globalized agenda of the twenty-first strides in achieving the promise of a more century. In some institutions the changes were equitable and representative future for already operational, while in others they were everyone around the globe. still being debated. However, throughout the world, almost all were grappling with that task. 17. Mr. Johnsson (Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union) said that the 23. There was a myriad of institutional Steering Committee wished to propose certain activities under way in the world’s legislatures amendments to the draft declaration agreed by intended to enable them to manoeuvre closer the Preparatory Committee for adoption by the to the multilateral arena. With only a few Conference. The words “and with a sound exceptions, parliaments had an important basis for effective management reform” would constitutional role in the ratification of be added to the first sentence of paragraph 4, international agreements. Interestingly, and a new paragraph concerning human rights, however, the responses showed that good governance and the rule of law would be parliaments exerted only a limited influence on inserted after paragraph 6. The suggested the ratification process. For example, amendments would be incorporated into the parliaments rarely took action to accelerate text and circulated to participants for their ratification. On the other hand, once an approval. international agreement had been ratified, they played a major role in enforcing 18. Two Speakers of parliaments had been implementation. unable to attend the Conference because of difficulties relating to the granting of visas by 24. The digital divide separating the the United States authorities. That situation parliaments of the North from those of the was unacceptable, and the Steering Committee South was an area that would benefit from had accordingly prepared a statement considerable investment of time and resources expressing outrage at the decision, for by the international community. adoption by the Conference. 25. Almost every parliament had reported on 19. The President read out the draft action taken to increase citizens’ awareness of statement and invited the conference and involvement in parliamentary work. More participants to adopt it. systematic use was being made of outreach through delegations, committee hearings, 20. The draft statement was adopted. videoconferencing, evidence-taking, submissions, petitions in all forms (increasingly Adoption of the agenda and rules of the in electronic form) and campaigns to solicit Conference input from the public.

21. The agenda and rules were adopted. 26. In regional terms, national parliaments in the European Union had an edge over others Presentation of the report on parliamentary when it came to parliamentary oversight of involvement in international affairs international negotiating processes. European 4 decision-making in Brussels had obliged those which should adopt a development-oriented parliaments to monitor such negotiations approach. The United Nations agencies also closely and to seek to influence them. No needed to coordinate their activities better by single model had been adopted to achieve that working together as a team to help countries to purpose: each parliament appeared to have recover from conflicts, which were often linked chosen the mechanism that best suited its own to combating poverty. He therefore called political and parliamentary traditions. upon parliaments to come together to strengthen their commitments to poverty 27. In sectoral terms, multilateral trade reduction. negotiations were found to be in a class of their own, receiving almost universal attention from Presentation of the report on parliaments’ parliaments. In developed and developing contribution to democracy countries alike, whether or not they were members of the World Trade Organization, 31. Ms. Sauri (Mexico), Rapporteur, said that parliaments made strenuous efforts to follow the preliminary report by IPU entitled and influence trade negotiations. The trade “Parliament and Democracy in the 21st programme developed by IPU over the past six Century” was based on a framework which years had evidently been of significant use to identified a set of values and principles parliaments. relevant to parliament as well as the possible institutional mechanisms for putting them into 28. The Millennium Development Goals practice. First, the framework conceptualized underpinned much of the work carried out in democracy, as practised by parliaments, as a parliaments. Many parliaments in developed network of relationships in which parliaments countries had included the Goals on their had a key representative role in mediating agendas and had adopted development between the people, on the one hand, and the strategies and policies that related to them, other institutions of governance, on the other. which they monitored closely. They had The key question in that regard was how well worked hard to meet some of the Goals, those parliaments fufilled that mediating role and relating to HIV/AIDS and gender being the how representative of the people they were in most frequently cited. However, direct their diversity. Second, the framework interaction with the international organizations conceptualized parliaments’ contribution to concerned seemed to be sporadic. democracy in terms of the following functions: law-making; approval of taxation and 29. It might be too early to seek to identify expenditure in the context of the national patterns and models on the ways in which budget; oversight of government; ratification of parliaments were adapting to the challenges of treaties and monitoring of their compliance; an ever more globalized agenda. Clearly, hearing and redressing grievances; and however, a great amount of energy was being approving constitutional changes. Third, the devoted to the issue and some particularly framework examined the set of values which innovative mechanisms and arrangements were governed the manner in which parliament emerging. operated and related to society. Democracy thus addressed issues related to accessibility Progress report on meeting the Millennium and accountability to citizens as well as the Development Goals transparency of parliamentary proceedings. The preliminary report contained information 30. Mr. Dervis (Administrator, United Nations provided by some 70 parliaments on their Development Programme) recalled that in the institutional practices based on that framework. year 2000 the international community had It also contained numerous examples of committed itself to the pursuit of the innovative mechanisms put in place by Millennium Development Goals with a view to parliaments to cope with their evolving roles improving the lives of the world’s people. and emerging challenges. While some progress had been made in certain areas, it was time to translate the promises 32. The draft strongly upheld the principle that made into concrete action and results. Money parliament must be representative, making a alone would be insufficient to achieve the strong point for fair and inclusive parliamentary development objectives set without support for procedures as well as a consensual approach to the implementation of the policies and reforms the decision-making process. The report also required. In that respect, progress was needed emphasized the need for parliaments to be at the forthcoming Doha round of trade talks, transparent, and thus more open to citizens, by

5 improving public access and removing barriers reconstruction. The Council’s working methods to media reporting. In addition, it focused on should be more transparent, inclusive and various modes of promoting direct contact legitimate. The European Union could play a among citizens and their representatives. more robust role in the Council, and European Union members with permanent seats in the 33. The report had given parliaments the Council should promote the Union’s policies invaluable opportunity to contribute to the within it. defining principles and practices of democracy from their own experience, making it possible 37. Mr. Nzouba-Ndama (Gabon) drew to achieve a broad consensus on the attention to the role of parliaments in assessment criteria and the modalities for the representing the peoples of the world, and the implementation of those criteria in the context importance of cooperation between national of universally agreed principles. It might also parliaments and the United Nations. He noted enable parliaments to correct their often that, although representative democracy and negative image, which in many cases had market economy had taken hold everywhere, contributed to public disillusionment with unfortunately the same could not be said of democracy. She looked forward to receiving international peace and security. Conflicts of many useful insights and examples of good various kinds, human rights violations and parliamentary practices to enrich the report excessive nationalism posed challenges to the further and also hoped that parliaments would United Nations in its irreplaceable role of take ownership of the final product and maintaining international peace and security promote its use. while promoting development. His delegation supported the proposals of the Secretary- 34. Ms. Kgosietsile-Mbete (South Africa), Vice- General for reforming the United Nations, President, took the Chair. especially those aimed at bringing about more equitable representation and more democratic General debate on parliaments and multilateral procedures in the Security Council. He hoped cooperation: meeting the challenges of the to see increased cooperation in future between twenty-first century the United Nations and regional parliamentary organizations, as well as IPU. He welcomed 35. Mr. Lipponen (Finland) said that for and endorsed the report of the Secretary- almost a century, men and women in Finland General, “In larger freedom: towards had had both the right to vote and the right to development, security and human rights for stand for election to Parliament. Parliamentary all” (A/59/2005), and expressed the hope that democracy was vital to peace and well-being. Africa would become a zone of peace where Its absence from many countries was a cause of all conflicts could be settled by peaceful instability and human rights violations, means. including the right to free speech. Finland’s Parliament, the Eduskunta, played a strong role 38. Mr. Wu Bangguo (China) said that in the in foreign and European Union policymaking, past 60 years human society had made and its Special Committee on the Future significant progress in national independence, stimulated public debate by reporting on topics industrialization and economic development. such as the information society. Parliaments in Living standards were rising and there was a the Nordic and Baltic countries cooperated general consensus on pursuing peace, closely. The Finnish Parliament had many other cooperation and development. However, both bilateral contacts, and was active in traditional and non-traditional threats to strengthening parliamentary networks and the security posed challenges to lasting peace and parliamentary dimension of multilateral sustainable development. Multilateral organizations, for instance by including its cooperation was vital to overcoming them, and members in national delegations to global that called for mutual trust and for mutual negotiations. respect for the diversity in world civilizations, and for the independence, sovereignty and 36. His delegation supported the United territorial integrity of nations. People of all Nations reforms proposed by its Secretary- countries had the right to choose General, including broader representation on independently a social system and a path of the Security Council. Reform of the Security development which suited national Council should be designed to bolster its ability circumstances. The internal affairs of each to act when global security was threatened. country should be left to its own people to Military stabilization should go hand-in-hand decide, and world affairs should be settled by with humanitarian assistance and all countries through consultations on a footing 6 of equality. Multilateral cooperation was a the meeting, creating an opportunity for means of safeguarding common interests and advancing reform of the Organization through addressing each other’s concerns. Threats to constructive dialogue with countries of the security should be countered through a new developing world and regional groups. security concept based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation. Disputes 43. Following Hungary’s accession to the should always be settled through dialogue and European Union, its National Assembly had cooperation, never through the use or threat of played the leading role, from July 2004 to May force. 2005, in coordinating the multilateral activities of parliaments in European Union member 39. In stepping up multilateral cooperation, countries. The Speakers of 49 parliaments, the aim should be to promote shared including those of the western Balkan development through the Millennium countries, had attended the annual meeting of Development Goals. The developed countries Speakers of European Union parliaments, held should fulfil their pledges of debt relief towards in Budapest. As one of the nine founding the developing countries, offer them more members of IPU, Hungary attached great unconditional assistance and help them importance to its observer status with the enhance their capacity for self-development. United Nations, as a first step towards The international community should be more establishing a strategic partnership with the attentive to the legitimate rights and interests of Organization. In the face of threats to society developing countries, and should propel the which no nation could overcome alone, world economy towards steady and balanced multilateral cooperation and parliamentary development. It must adhere strictly to the dialogue were more important than ever. The purposes and principles of the Charter of the World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments United Nations, uphold the authority of the should become a regular quinquennial event at United Nations and the Security Council, and the United Nations. work at improving the efficiency of the Organization. 44. Mr. Weisglas (Netherlands) said that Governments and parliaments must 40. IPU should further reinforce its periodically adapt their working methods to coordination with the United Nations. It should new circumstances. Since 2002, it had become also increase its contacts with parliaments of all clear that the population of the Netherlands countries, strengthen its ties with regional was no longer happy with the way democracy parliamentary organizations, and improve the was functioning, and that the consensus model level of cooperation among regional which had been adopted to ensure that all parliamentary organizations. socioeconomic groups had a political party to represent them in parliament no longer 41. China would continue to pursue an seemed to answer their needs or reflect the independent foreign policy geared to peace tensions in society. Such a model made it too and development worldwide. Its National difficult for parties and parliamentarians to People’s Congress stood ready to join provide citizens with a longer-term vision of parliaments of other countries in promoting all how the country and the world should be forms of multilateral cooperation in a sustained organized. It tended instead to focus on the endeavour to build peace and prosperity. issues which affected people on a day-to-day basis. The changes now being made in the 42. Ms. Szili (Hungary) said that the new Parliament of the Netherlands to address challenges emerging in a globalizing world current needs were a cause for optimism, but must be handled through enhanced he was concerned that parliaments in general international cooperation, through the United were losing control over international Nations and through regional and developments to the international parliamentary organizations. Despite organizations which tackled specific occasional setbacks, the United Nations had international issues such as the environment achieved significant results and should be able and defence. National parliaments should to rely on the support and political will of all its increase their influence on decision-making in Member States. The pattern of its future those international forums. He therefore operations would probably be set by the welcomed the efforts by IPU to put together a forthcoming high-level plenary meeting of the framework of democratic principles and General Assembly. The European Union had practices that parliaments could use to guide played an active role in the preparations for changes in their working methods.

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45. Mr. Kim Won-Ki (Republic of Korea) said 48. Regional and multilateral parliamentary that, since the first Conference of Presiding democracy were especially significant in an era Officers of National Parliaments in 2000, the of participatory politics. For that reason, his world had faced many new challenges, delegation proposed setting up a special especially the war on terrorism. The increased committee within IPU to foster solidarity in pace of globalization had widened the gap international parliamentary diplomacy. It would between economies, and global warming also be useful if the World Conference of together with reckless development had Speakers of Parliaments could be convened at resulted in frequent environmental disasters. more frequent intervals than five years. However, the past five years had also witnessed improvements in international cooperation, 49. Ms. Oogi (Japan) said that, remembering democracy and human rights. Remarkable the tragedy of 11 September four years support had been forthcoming from all over previously and the terrorist incidents during the world to countries hit by the 2004 tsunami. 2005 in the United Kingdom, Egypt and He was therefore convinced that the world elsewhere, her country would pursue the fight could successfully overcome the numerous against terrorism with resolution. Japan was the challenges it faced in the twenty-first century. only country in the world to have suffered atomic bombing, at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 46. The will of the Korean people had not and many people were still suffering from its been shaken by 35 years of colonialism or by after-effects. From its defeat in war, Japan had the subsequent forced national division, tragic learned the importance of international fratricidal war and a series of cruel cooperation and had been following the path dictatorships. They had achieved astonishing of a peace-loving State. Parliamentarians economic growth, at the same time developing everywhere should tell the world about the democracy, improving human rights and devastation inflicted by nuclear weapons and promoting social justice. The Republic of Korea urge that it should never be repeated. She had successfully played host to the 1988 called on all countries to work to strengthen Olympic Games and the 2002 World Cup and the nuclear non-proliferation regime, and on was in the vanguard of the revolution in those possessing nuclear weapons to strive for information and communication technology. their ultimate abolition. Parliamentary democracy was making great progress, and the wounds caused by national 50. The second priority should be to eradicate division were gradually healing. poverty and correct regional disparities. In order to reach the Millennium Development 47. However, tension ran high in Northeast Goals and alleviate poverty in Africa, Asia, a region crucial to international peace parliamentarians should embrace the and security, and the Korean peninsula was still commitment of assistance to Africa which had the world’s only divided country. He had been made at the G8 summit meeting in July. therefore made a proposal to North Korea for Japan intended to increase its official inter-Korean parliamentary talks, with a view to development assistance by $10 billion over the enhancing inter-Korean reconciliation and next five years, while doubling assistance to cooperation and securing peace. The prospect Africa over the next three years and supporting of inter-parliamentary talks among the self-help efforts by African countries. The countries represented in the six-party talks — House of Councillors of Japan had begun to his own country, the Democratic People’s monitor the Government’s progress in Republic of Korea, the United States of implementing its assistance pledges. America, China, Japan and the Russian Federation — was also being seriously 51. The third priority was to address climate considered. When the six-party talks change in a framework of international reconvened shortly in Beijing, once the issue of coordination and to strive to formulate post- nuclear disarmament of North Korea had been Kyoto rules for 2013 and beyond. During the dealt with, discussion would begin on past summer the Japanese Diet had set the converting the present armistice into a peace temperature in its meeting rooms at 28 degrees treaty. Negotiations could soon follow on Celsius, as an example of its commitment to establishing multilateral peace and security the Kyoto Protocol. regimes in Northeast Asia. The parliaments of the countries concerned must be proactive in 52. Fourth, the reform of the United Nations ensuring that those efforts did not fail. deserved the support of IPU. IPU would, she hoped, transcend the stage of observer status at the General Assembly and contemplate specific 8 measures to strengthen its cooperation with the the lives of its citizens while living out its United Nations. commitment to international brotherhood.

53. Lastly, as the first woman Speaker of 59. Mr. Romero Pizarro (Chile) said that Japan’s House of Councillors in 60 years, she greater participation was the foundation and wished to close by recalling the message of the pillar of his country’s Parliament. It had Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action promoted a policy of participation in decision- and emphasizing the importance of women’s making and transparency in the legislative participation in politics and in the process, after years of operating behind closed policymaking process. doors. The decisions of parliament must be taken within view of all and should be subject 54. Mr. Teshome (Ethiopia) said that the to citizen review. The reform of the discussions at the Conference would feed into Constitution which was under way in Chile the high-level plenary meeting of the sixtieth would be the subject of public discussion and session of the General Assembly. IPU provided would be endorsed by a popular vote. That forums for parliamentarians to debate and would provide a new opportunity to exchange experiences and national policies. parliament to demonstrate that its commitment Since the 2000 Millennium Summit at the to transparency and participation went beyond United Nations, sustainable development had words into action. been the main issue on the international agenda, and building democratic institutions 60. Mr. Rakotomaharo (Madagascar) said was seen as the basis for sustainable that, on the eve of the sixtieth anniversary of development. the United Nations, differing views on the proposals for enlargement of the Security 55. Ethiopia had adopted poverty eradication Council threatened to derail the entire package strategies with the human person at the centre of reforms. However, it was clear that the of its development priorities. His Government United Nations was more essential than ever as had called for additional aid delivered more a tool to deal with the proliferation of conflict effectively and for sustainable debt relief. It was in the world and the challenges of strongly committed to the Millennium development. After the triumph of democracy Development Goals and to reform of the following the end of the cold war, the amount United Nations. It saw the United Nations of fragmentation and crisis had nevertheless system as the cornerstone of the aspirations of been surprising. In that context, the all for a safer world. international community must mobilize to affirm the values of multilateralism. The world’s 56. Mr. Wu Bangguo (China), Vice-President, parliaments should join in the reflections on took the Chair. the reform of the United Nations system, thereby allowing IPU to play its role as the 57. Mr. Ramírez (Mexico) said that every voice of the peoples and contribute to the Parliament had its own agendas, yet some concept of the future of the Organization. issues, such as peace and relations between peoples, were best addressed together. 61. The Conference took on particular Globalization had not resolved the inequalities significance in view of the fact that West Africa in the world, and the main immediate task for was currently host to the largest number of the future was the development of new global United Nations peacekeeping forces since the relationships. conflict in Korea, and that East Africa was also involved from the border of Eritrea to Burundi. 58. Another task that could not wait was It seemed appropriate to propose that such fighting crime and corruption. Mexico, as a peacekeeping operations could be transferred sending and transit country, wished to to the authority of the newly-formed Peace and formalize agreements with other countries Security Council of the African Union, under regarding the labour rights of migrants. It Chapter 8 of the Charter of the United valued its relationships with its neighbours, but Nations. That would require training for both wished to defend the rights of its own citizens, troops and officers, and Madagascar would be wherever they might be located, as well as its honoured to host a training centre for international interests. Mexico was a peacekeepers. In any case, it was ready to democratic, tolerant and sovereign State with a assist the family of nations in any activities to strong national identity and wished to improve advance the cause of peace.

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62. Mr. von Sydow (Sweden) said that the movements, civil society, parliaments, donors, declaration to be adopted by the Conference the media and the United Nations system. was a balanced text that called for real Political dialogue was an essential element for responsibilities to be taken in support of the strengthening democracy, and parliaments had Secretary-General’s proposals for reform of the a specific role to play. They should become United Nations and towards achievement of more open and accessible to citizens, so that it the Millennium Development Goals. The was clear what decisions had been made and Swedish Parliament had taken its participation why. Civic education, taking advantage of the seriously and had seen that each national opportunities offered by modern information policy area had its own strategy towards and communications technologies, was of achieving the Goals. A solid international effort cardinal importance. was needed to arrive at a common policy on climate change, as there were too many 67. Latvia appreciated the value of negative examples of its effects to allow the international cooperation and dialogue. The situation to continue. experience it had gained could be useful to others, and it had already initiated assistance 63. It would not be possible to say that projects to help neighbouring countries democracy had been achieved in a country establish a democratic civil society and until men and women enjoyed equal strengthen their institutions. Closer contacts opportunity. Parliaments and the Inter- and cooperation among representatives elected Parliamentary Union, by being more active in by the people would play a decisive role in the United Nations system, could ensure that responding to the challenges of the twenty-first the voice of the people was heard at the global century. level and that the commitments made to development were the right ones. Opposition 68. Mr. Gurirab (Namibia) said that the members, too, should participate in global mission of the Speakers and presiding officers conferences of parliamentarians, and of the world’s parliaments at the Conference Governments should invite parliamentary was to reiterate their firm and collective representatives to participate in their commitment to the principles and ideals that delegations to international bodies. had inspired the founding of the United Nations sixty years earlier. In the 2000 64. Ms. Udre (Latvia) said that in the current Millennium Declaration, world leaders had age, it would be hard to imagine that an echoed the shared desire to revitalize the individual country could exist independently United Nations; five years later, and be governed by laws which were not parliamentarians renewed their dedication to compatible with the general rules governing the implementation of the Millennium the development of the world and humanity. Development Goals and the advancement of The parliament was the highest legislative body democracy and social justice. It was of a country; it embodied the sovereignty of disheartening, nevertheless, that the world the people. The purpose of law was to remained divided into mutually exclusive and establish justice, among various social and hostile camps: the rich debated stem cell religious groups, groups with differing opinions, research, while the poor struggled to fill empty between the majority and the minority. stomachs.

65. In an age of globalization, the ultimate 69. Global stability and human security were task was to ensure that the achievements of two sides of the same coin. A prominent one individual, group or community did not section in the Millennium Declaration cause other individuals or communities to sink addressed the special needs of Africa, in into poverty. Parliaments were responsible for particular poverty eradication and sustainable establishing the universal value of justice in development. Debt cancellation, improved their countries. In order to understand the market access, enhanced flows of official universal principles to which parliaments development assistance and foreign direct should adhere in their work, inter- investment, as well as transfers of technology, parliamentary cooperation must be intensified, would bring Africa into the mainstream of the through forums such as the Conference. world economy. As Speakers of parliament, participants in the Conference should redouble 66. A priority task in the world was to their efforts towards bridging the democracy eliminate the deficit of democracy, through gap in international relations and forging a mutual cooperation of all stakeholders by stronger role for parliamentarians. means of interaction among grassroots 10

70. Mr. Martin (United Kingdom) noted that, and non-proliferation; he therefore encouraged although he was a non-political Speaker, he the proposal to establish a Peacebuilding fully supported the principle of inter- Commission, which could have a decisive role parliamentary co-operation. Parliamentarians in stabilizing countries in situations of conflict. had much to learn from one another and could The planned strengthening of the post of develop ideas from other parliaments to use in United Nations High Commissioner for Human their own. Events such as the Conference Rights and the establishment of a new Human could lead to strengthening co-operation Rights Council would also make an important between members of the world’s parliaments. contribution. He drew attention to the role played by the House of Commons in international affairs. As 75. The world of the twenty-first century it was in the interests of all for democracy to needed a strong and active United Nations. succeed, he welcomed the important work the There were no alternatives to multilateralism, IPU had done with emerging democracies. and courage would be needed to reform the system in order to achieve more transparency, 71. Many countries and cities had faced efficiency and democracy. The reform of the international terrorism — London had recently Security Council was under debate, and should joined New York City and Madrid in that group result in increased transparency and authority. — but despite such attacks, it was important to The multilateral system should be based on defend the democratic process and to continue multi-disciplinary cooperation among to make parliaments accessible to the citizens international organizations, Governments, non- they represented. He tried to remember in the governmental organizations, civil society and conduct of his duties that the Speaker served the private sector. Parliaments, as bodies of the House and its backbenchers, and by plural expression of the people’s will, should extension the people who elected its members, have a fundamental role in following up the and not the Executive. major issues before the international community in their national debate. A stronger 72. Mr. Radi (Morocco) said that the world in parliamentary dimension in the cooperation 2005 was more dangerous that it had been at between countries was fundamental to an the time of the previous Conference five years international system based on law, freedom, earlier. Despite scientific and technical security and development. knowledge, humanity still faced the consequences of disease, poverty and famine. 76. Ms. Mbete (South Africa) said that for the The United Nations had been created “to save past eleven years, the South African Parliament succeeding generations from the scourge of had been at the centre of the evolution of the war”, and though there had been no world nation’s multi-party democracy. In order for war, regional and local conflicts had true democracy to flourish anywhere, the proliferated, and collective security was aspirations of ordinary citizens must find voice threatened at all levels. through parliaments, as a reflection of the will of the electorate. They must seek to uphold the 73. Action should be taken through IPU to values and principles of the constitution and assist the United Nations in meeting the laws of each country. For its first two years, Millennium Development Goals. The need was South Africa’s Parliament had also functioned greater than ever to take the initiative to as a constitutional assembly, adopting a reform and strengthen its role in international constitution in 1996, which spelled out its law. duties and responsibilities.

74. Mr. Gama (Portugal) said that the 77. In South Africa, the People’s Assembly and achievement of the Millennium Development the Women’s Parliament had been among the Goals required measures in the areas of most successful interactions with the public. development aid, strengthening international Through those programmes, ordinary citizens peace and security and respect for human from all provinces had direct contact with rights, as well as United Nations reform. The members of Parliament. Parliamentarians’ recent natural and human catastrophe caused ability to exercise oversight had also been by Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi, Louisiana strengthened by the Powers, Privileges and and Alabama was also a painful example of the Immunities of Parliament and Provincial urgency of the problems caused by climate Legislature Act of 2004 which protected their change. Reinforcing peace and security also freedom of speech and enabled Parliament to required a serious commitment to disarmament summon witnesses. The Parliament was

11 involved in the ratification of all international instruments and in ensuring that the country met its international commitments. It had been involved in the transformation of the Organization of African Unity into the current African Union, and would continue its efforts to help the Pan-African Parliament to be a true voice of the African masses.

78. On the eve of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly, the challenge faced by nations was global poverty and underdevelopment. She hoped that the outcome of that meeting would address the needs of the poorest.

The meeting rose at 6.30 p.m.

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Inter-Parliamentary Union Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments

Summary record of the 2nd meeting Held at United Nations Headquarters, New York, on Thursday, 8 September 2005, at 10 a.m.

President: Mr. Radi (Vice-President) (Morocco) Later: Ms. Soruco de Salvatierra (Vice-President) (Bolivia)

Contents

General debate on parliaments and multilateral cooperation: meeting the challenges of the twenty-first century (continued)

Mr. Radi (Morocco), Vice-President, took the international activities. His Government was Chair. working towards the shared goal of greater

oversight and greater information-sharing at The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m. the international level, but individual efforts

on the part of States would not suffice. The merits of a greater collective oversight role General debate on parliaments and for parliaments, exercised through IPU, must multilateral cooperation: meeting the therefore be recognized. challenges of the twenty-first century (continued) 4. Mr. Al-Khurafi (Kuwait) said that he welcomed the opportunity to meet at the 1. Mr. De Croo (Belgium) recalled that, at Headquarters of the United Nations, an the First World Conference of Speakers of organization that aimed to promote peace Parliaments, he had called for parliaments to and build a better world, but regretted that play a greater oversight role with regard to violence and suffering remained common the increasingly globalized activities of the and that the cultural divide between South United Nations. Given that the General and North, and East and West, continued to Assembly was made up of representatives of grow. It was therefore essential for the governments, which themselves reflected international community to cooperate to the views of a majority of their respective overcome obstacles and help build a better parliaments, there should be greater and more stable world, respectful of the awareness of that need. human rights of all, in keeping with the 2. He welcomed the opportunity to meet numerous commitments made; that was a every five years with other Speakers of shared responsibility of both the developed parliaments but stressed the need to justify and developing countries. There must also before each parliament and before the be an end to conflict and unilateralism, in citizens of the world, who were all affected politics and in trade. His Government would by the actions of the United Nations, any pursue its political reforms and called for decisions taken; it was important to be able continued reform of international to show that real progress was being made. institutions and for the establishment of a The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) fair environment for international trade free provided an ideal forum for the exercise of of political influence and respectful of parliaments’ oversight role. Indeed, different cultures, as well as for debt relief. important issues could be raised at the 5. The role of the United Nations in Union’s spring meeting for submission to the promoting peace and a stable world order United Nations General Assembly the must be reinforced. Its efforts must be following autumn for further consideration. complemented by cooperation with other 3. It was to be hoped that the current international organizations, including IPU. Conference would achieve concrete results Partnerships with civil society must also be and ensure that IPU would be seen as the encouraged with a view to promoting main forum for parliamentary oversight of democracy, which was a basic goal for all

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humankind. His own parliament had made interests of their constituents. Bilateral great progress in promoting democracy, the efforts had been shown to achieve good role of civil society, the independence of the results because the issues involved were judiciary, democratic institutions and the often concrete and easily identified and role of women. evaluated; he noted, for example, his Government’s bilateral relationships with 6. Turning to the issue of terrorism, he Argentina and the European Union and said that that phenomenon threatened similar efforts to promote better relations world stability and security and was not with Peru and Bolivia. His Government was unique to any one nation or creed. He also a member of numerous multilateral categorically condemned terrorism and institutions but often felt that those stressed the need for greater international institutions were not making concrete cooperation to combat that scourge but progress towards achieving their objectives, cautioned that security operations should despite the large sums of money spent by not be carried out at the expense of them. individual human rights. In order to adequately address the problem of 10. His constituents in Chile expected terrorism, its root causes must be identified. results from their elected representatives, as Accordingly, the international community did all voters. Meetings such as the current must promote good governance and the rule Conference should serve as a forum for the of law, encourage job creation and address exchange of legislative experience and the problems of the least developed and provide an environment for political developing countries. dialogue based on the search for innovative measures to share that diversity of 7. He regretted that the situation in the experience and translate it into laws at the Middle East had for decades threatened national level to promote employment, international peace and security. No true education, health and quality of life. progress would be possible unless the international community worked to achieve 11. The Conference should identify a just and lasting settlement of the Arab- relatively few goals, which could be Israeli conflict, including the establishment implemented in good time. It should, for of an independent Palestinian State, with example, make a commitment to the Jerusalem as its capital. In addition, the implementation of the Millennium people of Iraq must be supported in their Development Goals. A standing committee efforts to establish a unified, independent should be established within IPU and within and democratic country. All stakeholders each parliament with a mandate to suggest shared the responsibility for ensuring ways of realizing the Goals, which reflected success in political reform, because they the most important task of the United would likewise also all suffer the Nations, namely, the eradication of poverty consequences of failure. and inequality. It was important to stress the human dimension of the Goals and to take 8. Mr. Ascencio Mansilla (Chile) said that on only commitments that could really be the current Conference was being held at a met. time when the international bodies established to promote democracy and 12. Mr. Kaparo (Kenya) said that the world human rights were in crisis and seemed to was changing at an unprecedented pace. lack the necessary influence to ensure that Globalization and technological advances in their objectives were achieved. The particular posed serious challenges for international scene was dominated by other developing countries and, unless multilateral leaders, strategies and interests, and most cooperation was mobilized to address that countries were relegated to the role of problem, the disparity between the simple observers. The United Nations itself developed and developing countries would was affected by that crisis, as evidenced by be perpetuated. Parliaments had a front-line the summit of world leaders to be held the role to play in enabling citizens to following week to address the issue of understand and cope with the increasingly reform of the Organization. complex interconnections between globalization and their daily lives and in 9. It was therefore important for translating citizens’ concerns into national parliamentarians to cooperate through and international policy. diplomacy to promote democracy and the

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13. International cooperation and decision- The choice of a bicameral system provided making could be seen as posing a threat to balance and ensured an important role for national or local interests and even to the legislature in the reform process. The democracy. However, multilateral reforms had been designed to meet cooperation was an unavoidable reality, and domestic needs and reflect the commitment multilateral initiatives provided an of the King, who had a clear vision for the invaluable form of global governance. future. Increased multilateral cooperation had 17. In addition to political reform, added new features and meaning to legislative reform ensured that the international relations, which were no population would be involved in decision- longer limited to traditional diplomacy. making. The Constitutional Court would Parliaments, which both shaped and ensure respect for the Constitution and reflected public opinion, had an important constitutional guarantees of human rights role to play in international relations, and democracy. Human rights organizations including an indispensable oversight role in had been authorized, and full rights had guaranteeing rights and liberties, and must been granted to women, as evidenced by also be active participants in multilateral their participation in municipal elections. efforts in the economic, social and There were six women members of the environmental fields. Shura Council, as well as women ministers 14. It was important for parliamentarians to and ambassadors. A Supreme Council for come together to take stock and to share Women had been established to plan information, experiences and lessons further measures for the advancement of learned with a view to strengthening their women. national parliaments and parliamentary 18. Ms. Benaki (Greece) said that the networks. Action to honour international vision of the United Nations for a better commitments demanded the involvement of world was shared by the world’s parliaments, and many issues addressed by parliaments. Cooperation between IPU and parliaments at the national level had an the United Nations was therefore essential. international dimension. Furthermore, the In that connection, she welcomed the experience gained at multilateral forums decision to grant observer status in the better equipped national parliaments and General Assembly to IPU, which would their members to actively press their enable it to work in a more institutionalized respective governments to adhere to and constructive way with the United international instruments and ensure their Nations in dealing with problems of implementation. common interest. The United Nations, for 15. Mr. Al-Mousawi (Bahrain) said that he its part, would become more aware of the was proud to have participated in the parliamentary community’s views and reforms promoted by the King of Bahrain positions. In addition, IPU would bring a and embodied in the National Action democratic perspective to the United Charter, which had been approved by more Nations efforts and strengthen cooperation than 98 per cent of voters in a referendum. among its members. The committee that had drafted the Charter 19. In 2003, the Athens Group had included both men and women, and 49 per developed principles to govern inter- cent of those who had approved the Charter parliamentary cooperation among the in the referendum were women, which was parliaments of the European Union. unprecedented for the Middle East. Fundamental principles should govern the 16. In accordance with the Charter, work of every parliament: accurate amnesty had been granted to political representation of society, transparency, free detainees; members of the opposition living access to parliamentary proceedings, abroad had been allowed to return home; effectiveness, and accountability to the citizenship had been granted to certain electorate. Parliamentarians’ close contact stateless persons; and greater freedom had with citizens and their role as been promoted for civil society through the representatives of their respective authorization of trade unions, the adoption parliaments gave them an additional of the new Constitution and the responsibility in defending political and establishment of constitutional monarchy. social institutions.

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20. Greece, a small country with a rich on the part of those organizations. In history, had traditionally pursued a policy of addition, workshops had been organized to friendly relations with other countries. familiarize members of Parliament with Democracy, an idea born in Greece, multilateral agreements. tolerance, pluralism, dialogue, human rights 24. It would be important for the current and diversity were lasting values defended Conference to establish mechanisms for by the Hellenic Parliament at the national formal, regular contacts between and international levels. multilateral institutions and parliamentary 21. As the anniversary of the terrorist bodies in order to allow members of attacks of 11 September 2001 approached, parliaments to make their contribution to she wished to stress the importance of multilateral agreements on behalf of the security, the strategic role of the local communities they represented. That Mediterranean and the effect of the would rectify the existing democratic deficit continuing tension in the Middle East and in multilateral institutions and cooperation. the pending Cyprus question on 25. Mr. Bonfoh (Togo) stressed the international security. It was imperative for Togolese people’s commitment to building a the international community to coordinate peaceful democratic society in spite of the its efforts to combat the spread of terrorism. difficulties and obstacles encountered. His It also, however, had a duty to identify the Government was working for national root causes of that phenomenon and reconciliation, political and social dialogue, address them through democratic the return of refugees and the reintegration procedures, without jeopardizing progress of displaced persons. made in the areas of political and human rights. 26. He regretted that little progress had been made since the adoption by the First 22. Mr. Mwanamwambwa (Zambia) said World Conference of Speakers of that the challenges of the twenty-first Parliaments of the declaration entitled “The century required multilateral organizations parliamentary vision for international to adopt a parliamentary dimension in order cooperation at the dawn of the millennium”. to promote a viable and democratic The challenges identified in that document international system able to address the remained just as relevant, and new concerns of the international community. challenges had been identified: tension and Parliamentarians, as elected representatives, conflict continued to be widespread in would bring an important democratic Africa;. the democratic processes begun in element to multilateral bodies, while a the developing and some emerging parliamentary dimension in international countries had led to political crisis; and the politics would complement and support social insecurity caused by globalization was traditional cooperation among States. In that a source of increasing concern. context, he stressed that multilateralism continued to be an indispensable instrument 27. It was therefore fitting that the Second for achieving global consensus on important World Conference had identified as its issues confronting the human race. theme “Parliaments and multilateral cooperation: meeting the challenges of the 23. Zambia, like other African countries, twenty-first century”. Parliamentarians and faced many challenges, which were being the international community must work addressed in cooperation with multilateral together to create a world of peace and organizations. While there was not yet any tolerance, a just and humane world. To that legal provision giving the Zambian end, cooperation between the peoples and Parliament a mandate to scrutinize and parliaments of the world within IPU must be ratify the Government’s international strengthened. Cooperation between IPU commitments, measures had been put in and the United Nations must also be place to enable parliaments to demand strengthened because in crisis situations accountability in the context of parliaments should have available to them development assistance and cooperation. mediation mechanisms, including the Reforms had also enabled parliamentary sending of envoys to establish the facts and committees to develop links with external propose solutions. In addition, cooperation organizations in order to strengthen their between parliaments and the United oversight role and encourage accountability Nations would give parliaments input into

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issues requiring an international civil society organizations, which played a commitment. IPU must be the cornerstone crucial role in promoting respect for human of such cooperation efforts. rights and fundamental freedoms. 28. Meetings such as the current 32. Mr. Sheikh Aden (Somalia) said that his Conference provided an invaluable forum delegation’s participation in the Conference for reflection, sharing of experience and marked Somalia’s return to the community parliamentary diplomacy. Participants of nations. The Conference, which was should resolve to promote ever greater and taking place five years after the Millennium more effective inter-parliamentary Assembly of the United Nations, was a cooperation, with full respect for individual timely opportunity for Speakers of differences, and to work alongside the parliaments to articulate the will of the United Nations to face the growing peoples their parliaments represented. His challenges of the twenty-first century. delegation welcomed the draft declaration agreed by the Preparatory Committee and 29. Mr. Majali (Jordan) said that his endorsed the views expressed in the report delegation welcomed the draft declaration “Parliament and democracy in the twenty- agreed by the Preparatory Committee, first century” regarding the core institutional which emphasized the vital contribution of and political functions of parliaments. A national parliaments to meeting the stronger role for parliaments in bridging the challenges faced by the international democracy gap in international relations community and the central role of the would depend largely on the capacity of United Nations in promoting cooperation to national parliaments to perform their resolve conflicts, combat poverty and functions. achieve development in all its forms. 33. The inauguration of the Transitional 30. Regrettably, progress in the Middle East Federal Parliament of Somalia had had been held back by six decades of Israeli concluded a two-year National occupation and repression, which had led Reconciliation Conference and was the first only to misery, bitterness and despair. While step in the reconstitution of the Somali his Government remained committed to State. The process would continue in achieving a comprehensive and just accordance with the Transitional Federal settlement in the region, in accordance with Charter adopted at the Conference. The the will of the international community and national reconciliation process faced decisions of international legitimacy, there momentous challenges, including the could be no peace or hope in the Middle disarmament, demobilization and East until an independent Palestinian State reintegration of militias and the was established with its capital in Jerusalem; rehabilitation and modernization of the the rights of the Palestinian people were physical infrastructure. Only when those secured, including the right of return; and tasks were accomplished would it be Israel withdrew from the Syrian Golan and possible to put Somalia on the path to the Shaba’a farms. In addition, the recovery and sustainable peace. occupation of Iraq must be brought to an end, while preserving that country’s 34. The Transitional Federal Parliament had territorial integrity and checking the been conceived as a central pillar of the emerging sectarian tendencies. reconciliation process. While the Parliament lacked resources and institutional memory, 31. His Government was pursuing its efforts as the most representative national political to rid the Middle East of weapons of mass body, it would have overall responsibility for destruction and to ensure the application of ensuring the transition to final democratic the relevant international instruments. While institutions. Its development would it rejected terrorism in all its forms, it determine the effectiveness of those believed that terrorism must be institutions and the success of the entire distinguished from the legitimate struggle of reconciliation process. peoples to restore their usurped rights. In Jordan, his Government was seeking to 35. Mr. Almeida (Angola) said that achieve sustainable development, partnership among nations was an implement political and social reform and instrument of development. In that context, establish democracy as a way of life for it was important for the international peoples and communities, while supporting community to focus on issues that mattered:

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guaranteeing human rights and fundamental peace and stability and promoting a more freedoms; strengthening the rule of law; equitable international order. combating poverty, unemployment, Parliamentarians could contribute exclusion, social inequalities and injustice; significantly by working closely with the improving the situation of women, children Organization. His delegation therefore and youth; protecting the environment; welcomed the granting to IPU of observer achieving sustainable development; status in the General Assembly and trusted promoting cultural and educational that the current Conference would lead to progress; and ending conflicts. further meaningful cooperation between national parliaments, IPU and the United 36. While his Government believed in the Nations. It was to be hoped that humankind benefits of economic and political would see a new era of peace and globalization, it recognized that those prosperity. In furtherance of that goal, his benefits had been unevenly distributed, Government advocated development that exacerbating the marginalization and not only promoted economic growth, but exclusion of communities, countries and also advanced the well-being of citizens. regions. The international community must therefore make a concerted and systematic 40. Mr. Hays (Canada), Speaker of the effort to lay down rules for the new Senate, said that, since the First World international system and counter the Conference of Speakers of Parliaments in emerging threats to peace and security, 2000, the world had witnessed terrorist which, in a globalized world, escaped the bombings, tragic natural disasters, regional control of States. The United Nations conflicts and famine. No country was constituted a forum in which those immune from tragedy and violence. It was challenges could be addressed in therefore essential for peoples and nations partnership with regional, governmental and to communicate, share ideas and discuss non-governmental organizations. His common responses to the challenges they delegation looked forward to the holding of faced. the forthcoming High-level Plenary Meeting 41. The current Conference was an of the General Assembly, which represented opportunity for Speakers of parliaments to an important step in that direction. have constructive exchanges regarding their 37. Parliamentary diplomacy was growing in roles and responsibilities, particularly in the importance as countries became increasingly field of international relations. By sharing interlinked. Parliamentarians had a expertise and, above all, creating personal responsibility not only to reflect the bonds, they would be in a position to foster concerns of the people they represented, better inter-parliamentary relations and but also to bridge diverging views through ensure that their parliaments contributed to dialogue. Multilateral cooperation could, the promotion of democracy and good and should, contribute to overcoming the governance and improved understanding prevailing insecurity and building a safer among nations. He noted, by way of world with the human being at its centre. example, the efforts under way in Canada to achieve a rapprochement with the Muslim 38. Mr. Dorje (Bhutan) said that the world through exchanges with National Assembly played a crucial role in parliamentarians in Muslim countries, the life of Bhutan. That role was set to including a recent visit to Indonesia. increase as a result of the political reforms currently being implemented. A drafting 42. Canada’s parliamentarians participated committee had prepared a constitution for in 12 international parliamentary the Kingdom, which had been distributed to associations, as well as a number of the people in March 2005 and posted on international friendship groups. In addition, the Internet. There would be extensive in their role as parliamentary diplomats, the public consultation, after which the draft Speakers of the House of Commons and the constitution would be adopted by Senate met and interacted with most of the referendum. 120 heads of mission residing in Ottawa, enabling them to establish networks and 39. The world was changing rapidly with achieve greater insight into world events. the emergence of new challenges and opportunities. Yet the United Nations 43. Conferences of parliamentarians remained the best hope for ensuring global enhanced the participants’ understanding of

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the operation of parliamentary government 47. The international community could not and reinforced their conviction that no find real solutions to the problems of today other system provided such a high degree of and tomorrow by following outdated models efficiency, fairness and flexibility to the of multilateral cooperation. Recognizing that management of human affairs. Lastly, he fact, regional and international emphasized that one of the prerequisites for organizations, including the United Nations, the conduct of both politics and diplomacy had begun to restructure their work. In that was the spirit of conciliation. connection, her Government supported the entire reform package proposed by the 44. Mr. Milliken (Canada), Speaker of the Secretary-General, particularly the House of Commons, said that parliamentary establishment of a Human Rights Council diplomacy was an important complement to and a Peacebuilding Commission. traditional diplomacy, since parliamentarians, as representatives of the 48. One of the most important aims of people, enjoyed democratic legitimacy and, multilateral cooperation was the promotion hence, wide influence, and could give voice of the traditions of parliamentary to the views and concerns of the electorate. democracy, including the holding of free As Speaker of the House of Commons, in and fair elections. Electoral monitoring addition to receiving foreign dignitaries and missions could have a very positive leading delegations of parliamentarians to influence in that regard. She noted, by way visit their counterparts abroad, he also of example, the mission organized to participated, in the course of such visits, in monitor the third round of presidential informal meetings with representatives of elections in Ukraine, in which members of non-governmental organizations, chambers of the Estonian Parliament had participated. commerce, journalists, academics, students The experiences and impressions with and other interested persons. Those which parliamentarians returned from such meetings, too, constituted parliamentary missions enabled them to see domestic diplomacy, for international relations were problems in a different light and to forged through a broad range of contacts. understand that their decisions could have an impact far beyond their countries’ 45. The Canadian Parliament was eager to borders. It was important for them to take share its knowledge and experience. In an interest in and responsibility for issues 2003, the first parliamentary cooperation that seemed distant at first glance because, seminar had taken place: representatives of in the postmodern world, everything was Parliament had travelled to several African connected. countries, organizing seminars for parliamentarians and officials at which they 49. Mr. Christofias (Cyprus) said that, 60 had described how Canadians govern years after the defeat of fascism, the world themselves. Exchanges such as the seminars was still caught in the throes of wars, social and the current Conference allowed injustice and poverty. While the system built parliamentarians to converse about their on the ruins of the Second World War had ideas and about the challenges their placed the United Nations and its Charter at societies faced. Through that dialogue, they its centre, the stark reality was that decisions could add much to what were already taken within that framework were often not fruitful relationships. implemented and international law was constantly being undermined through the 46. Ms. Ergma (Estonia) said that, in the pursuit of narrowly perceived national globalizing postmodern world, the interests and the use of military and distinction between domestic and foreign economic might by powerful countries. If affairs was becoming obsolete, for events States sincerely wished to strengthen abroad could have a very immediate impact international peace and security and ensure at home. It was therefore vital for humankind respect for human rights, they must abide by to pursue common goals: peace and security, international law and United Nations respect for human rights, good governance, resolutions. That commitment must also poverty reduction, disease prevention and guide their efforts to find solutions to such sustainable development. While there had long-standing international problems as the been progress towards those goals in the five situations in the Middle East and Cyprus. years since the Millennium Summit, much Parliamentarians, for their part, must spare remained to be done. no effort to ensure that Governments acted

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collectively to reassert the authority of the distinction and were granting their United Nations and the primacy of Governments the appropriate legal tools to international law. In that connection, his fight the war on terror within the boundaries delegation welcomed the report of the of the rule of law. Much, however, remained Secretary-General entitled “In larger to be done. The United Nations could begin freedom: towards development, security by defining terrorism as a crime against and human rights for all” (A/59/2005) and humanity, a basic step that had not yet been believed that the reform of the United taken. National parliaments, for their part, Nations must remain a priority. must join with international organizations in combating terrorism, and all nations must 50. Hundreds of millions of people were remain true to their pledge that tyranny and still trapped in absolute poverty, particularly terror would never again prevail. in the developing countries. Yet multinational companies continued to make 53. Mr. Somavia (Director-General of the huge profits in those countries by exploiting International Labour Organization) said that their natural resources. In such conditions, it unemployment had risen by 25 per cent in was imperative for all States, especially the the past 10 years and that more than 40 rich ones, to adopt policies that took due million jobs would have to be created account of the Millennium Development annually during the next decade to cover Goals. While initiatives to alleviate the debt the increase in the world’s labour force. burden of heavily indebted poor countries More seriously, youth unemployment rates and establish more equitable financing and were three times greater than those for trade mechanisms were welcome, they were adults. IPU, the Bretton Woods institutions not sufficient. In future, the major world and the specialized agencies should actors must place the human being at the therefore work together to make job very core of their activities. Success in creation a priority. combating poverty would contribute to 54. The International Labour Organization eliminating one of the root causes of was currently helping many Governments terrorism, as well as promoting respect for set up national employment programmes. fundamental human rights. Speakers of parliaments could make an 51. Mr. Rivlin (Israel) said that, in 2005, as important contribution to the success of nations across the globe had marked the such efforts by ensuring that all social, sixtieth anniversary of the victory over Nazi macroeconomic and investment policies Germany, the same message had echoed were centred around job creation and by over and over, “Never again”. Today, promoting investments that had a strong democracy was under threat from the impact on employment. At the international scourge of global terrorism and, as Israelis level, they could help ensure fair treatment had learned long ago, it had not only the in the areas of trade, access to markets, right, but the duty, to defend itself. Terrorism migration, debt management and support targeted the democratic world and the for workers displaced by world production precious values of freedom and human systems. They could further contribute by rights because it regarded those values as working with international organizations to heresy. At the same time, it sought to exploit promote quality growth favouring job those values in the most cynical way in creation, investment and initiative. Most order to undermine the very existence of importantly, they could ensure that their democracy. Regrettably, many countries Governments focused on reducing youth refused to draw the necessary practical unemployment, which would add US$ 2.2 conclusions from that sad new reality and billion to the world economy. turned a blind eye to terrorism so long as it 55. Ms. Meyer (Switzerland) said that her did not strike in their own backyards. Government expected the United Nations 52. Combating terrorism was an unpleasant to deal with the major challenges facing the task involving the use of methods that might world today. Development aid to the appear harsh, but counter-terrorism was very poorest countries must be increased and different from conventional law enforcement improved; the fight against AIDS must be because conventional crime was not aimed at maintained; and efforts to counter climate destroying democratic societies. Legislators change must be intensified. Other priorities were finally beginning to understand that included the reinforcement of international

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law through the International Criminal Court countries. It also believed that a stronger and the defence of human rights. At the relationship between the United Nations same time, counter-terrorism and efforts to system and national parliaments should be combat proliferation must be stepped up, encouraged so that they could work while progress towards peace between together to solve “global internal policy” Palestine and Israel and in Iraq must issues and execute the different cooperation continue. programmes financed by the United Nations system. 56. Her Government attached great importance to democracy and good 61. Cape Verde was cooperating with governance. It was particularly proud of various United Nations agencies, including Switzerland’s popular voting system and the United Nations Development decentralized administration. Since its Programme, which had provided financial founding, the Swiss Confederation had seen assistance for the elaboration of studies on 533 popular votes at the constitutional and parliamentary reform. The Cape Verde legislative levels. Although each country Parliament had included development needed to define its own political system, issues, especially those relating to the nothing could justify tyranny and Millennium Development Goals, in its corruption. Good governance was achieved working agenda. when the different levels of government 62. With respect to United Nations reform, exercised their power efficiently and special priorities included collective security responsibly; an independent, accessible and for all; the promotion of human rights and impartial judicial system was also essential. democratic law, in keeping with the 57. Lastly, her Government would support imperatives of globalization; and stronger any measure aimed at remedying the multilateralism and cooperation. democracy deficit in international relations, 63. Mr. Balopi (Botswana) said that including giving a stronger role to genuine global development and security democratic national parliaments. required a strong, reformed United Nations. 58. Mr. Paulauskas (Lithuania) said that The Organization urgently needed to active parliamentary diplomacy was needed address such ills as extreme poverty, hunger to create a more peaceful, democratic, and HIV/AIDS. Recent studies had shown prosperous and just world. Each country that, unless drastic action was taken, Africa needed to ensure good governance at home would not achieve all the Millennium and to assist the international community by Development Goals by 2015. sharing its experience of promoting 64. For its part, the Parliament of Botswana democracy, strengthening respect for human continued to ensure sustainable, people- rights and the rule of law, and ensuring centred economic and social development genuine participation by all its citizens in and consistent adherence to democracy and the governing process. good governance. On the economic front, 59. His Government fully realized the the Southern African Development significance and benefits of its involvement in Community had sought to harmonize international organizations and was striving policies and foster joint economic to promote democracy in cooperation with development. Regional plans to tackle food other countries, at all levels. The Lithuanian shortages, HIV/AIDS and civil conflicts had Parliament played an active role in foreign also been put in place. Nevertheless, greater policy and was ready to foster cooperation efforts were urgently required to enhance between IPU and the United Nations so that multilateral cooperation through negotiation other countries might establish and forums at the national, regional and consolidate their democratic processes. continental levels. 60. Mr. Lima (Cape Verde) said that his 65. Mr. Biruta (Rwanda) said that there Government urged IPU to become more had been significant progress in Rwanda involved in the United Nations efforts to since the First World Conference of promote good governance and democracy, Speakers of Parliaments in 2000 and in the including through the creation of global 11 years since the 1994 genocide. His public policy committees composed of Government had initiated a comprehensive members of parliament from different reform of the legal system, including the

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establishment of a series of gacaca courts, in accorded greater power to both initiate and which private citizens could participate amend legislation. Although the system was directly, the aim being to promote justice not a parliamentary regime, it was and national reconciliation. nevertheless based on democratic values. In fact, few other countries had such a broad 66. With respect to democracy and good internal consensus concerning their governance, a new Constitution had been institutions. Furthermore, Monagasques promulgated and pluralist presidential and enjoyed “immediate democracy” in that parliamentary elections had been held in they were close to their elected 2003. Several good governance institutions representatives, both geographically and were also operating successfully, including personally. an ombudsman’s office and a national human rights commission. Those institutions 71. Mr. Kaboré (Burkina Faso) said that were accountable to Parliament. international relations had changed profoundly since the creation of the United 67. Given that social and economic Nations in 1945, with national and development could not be achieved without international parliaments now figuring peace and security, the Rwandan Parliament among the major actors. However, had launched a number of regional parliaments could not aspire to replace parliamentary initiatives aimed at supporting Governments but only to supplement efforts to re-establish peace in the Great government action and add new Lakes region. Furthermore, Rwanda was dimensions. proud that, only 11 years after the genocide, it was able to contribute to the maintenance 72. In order for parliaments to fulfil their of peace and security in other African regions, new role effectively, three conditions must within the framework of the African Union be met: first, each parliamentary assembly and the United Nations. must be truly representative and sovereign; second, parliaments must highlight the 68. His Government firmly believed that central concerns of peoples, which, for democracy would remain threatened unless countries in the southern hemisphere, it was given an economic and social context. included sustainable development, debt In that respect, the Millennium reduction and HIV/AIDS, as well as the global Development Goals should serve as a road priorities of democracy, the rule of law, map for the achievement of human human rights and good governance; third, development everywhere. Lastly, his international parliamentary organizations must Government endorsed the draft declaration become the institutional response to the of the Conference and would support any new brand of international relations. initiative aimed at strengthening the role of parliaments at the international level. 73. The democratization of international relations and the participation of the people 69. Mr. Valéri (Monaco) said that Monaco’s in debates and decisions concerning their institutions were founded on solid and long- future hinged on the establishment of a standing democratic values. However, the more fruitful relationship between the Principality’s true image continued to be United Nations and IPU. distorted owing to baseless accusations concerning money-laundering. His 74. Mr. Ghani (Yemen) said that, following Government wished to point out that, in reunification, the Yemeni legislature had 1993, Monaco had established legislation embraced democratic and economic criminalizing money-laundering, in reform. Freedom and human rights were accordance with international norms, and now flourishing: there were more than 20 was cooperating fully with other nations to political parties and over 4,000 non- suppress it. governmental organizations, and women enjoyed unprecedented equality with men. 70. With respect to the country’s Special strategies had been adopted in institutional structure, the Government was pursuit of the Millennium Development appointed by the Head of State and was Goals. accountable to him, while the Parliament voted on national laws and on the budget 75. His Government supported United and was elected by the people. Its role had Nations reform, which would enhance the been strengthened in 2002, when it was Organization’s programmes. There was an

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urgent need for practical measures whereby allocation of additional seats to some of its rich countries could support poor ones. member States. As to the General Assembly, Such measures should include not only it must revitalize its links with civil society, assistance with meeting immdeiate needs including by establishing a parliamentary but also the transfer of technology to those assembly of the United Nations to formulate countries and the cancellation of their debts recommendations. In that connection, the so as to help them achieve sustainable European Parliament supported the call in development. the draft declaration for a strategic partnership between IPU and the United 76. His Government had consistently Nations. rejected terrorism in all its forms and would do its utmost to fight it but would always 80. Other international forums also distinguish between terrorism and the required greater democratic legitimacy. In defence of human liberty. the area of international trade, for example, the European Parliament, together with IPU, 77. Tensions in the Middle East would had launched a debate among persist until international legal decisions parliamentarians from across the world, thus were implemented, Palestinians were able demonstrating its commitment to free and to establish their own independent State fair trade, sustainable development and the and the occupied territories of Lebanon and fight against poverty. Five parliamentary the Syrian Arab Republic were returned to conferences of the World Trade them. In Iraq, the Government must work Organization had been held thus far. for independence and sovereignty. 81. Lastly, regarding the Millennium 78. Mr. dos Santos (Vice-President of the Development Goals, the European European Parliament) said that, in his report Parliament had introduced in the budget of on reform of the United Nations, the the European Union, specific criteria to Secretary-General had declared the need ensure that community programmes for new mechanisms to make international furthered the achievement of the Goals. It institutions accountable to their members. had also encouraged member States to set Accountability was the key to progress; more ambitious targets with respect to where it was lacking, there would be failure. official development assistance. In order to meet the challenges it faced, the international community must rely on 82. Mr. Rojo García (Spain) said that for multilateral efforts. Such efforts required centuries relations among the peoples of the effective and credible institutions whose world had been characterized by decisions were perceived as legitimate. In controversy and conflict. The Second World the European Union, that principle was War had left two apparently contradictory reflected in its Parliament, which was legacies, the atomic bomb and the elected by direct universal suffrage. The role establishment of the United Nations, both of the Parliament was expanding, although born of that conflict and both considered to in some areas intergovernmental procedures hold out hope for an end to conflict. The were still predominant, and the distance United Nations had in fact played a positive between Governments and their citizens role, and the twentieth century should be remained significant. remembered for the affirmation of universal human rights, as well as great advances in 79. With regard to United Nations reform, technology, science and medicine. the European Parliament supported the Secretary-General’s proposals and agreed 83. Although the United Nations had not that security could not be separated from been able to put an end to military economic and social development, respect confrontation, it had limited the scope of for human rights and environmental war by encouraging the resolution of protection. Concerning the Security conflict through dialogue. Parliamentarians, Council, it was clear that its membership no as representatives of their citizens, knew longer reflected the present state of the how important it was to transmit to future world and that the number of developing generations the notion of a human countries represented in the Council must community where men and women of be increased. The European Parliament had different cultures could share their expressed support for a common European experiences and achieve mutual approach with respect to the possible understanding.

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84. The major challenges of the new 87. Regrettably, the development of millennium would be to satisfy the shared regional and subregional cooperation often desire for well-being, overcome obstacles failed to take due account of the interests of such as tyranny and guarantee access to third countries. The tactics of economic knowledge, learning and information. The deterrence used by the European Union international community must seize the against Belarus were a case in point. opportunity to give itself the tools to meet Nevertheless, Belarus was investing those objectives by strengthening considerable resources in international institutions, promoting dialogue among programmes to combat transnational religions, bringing civilizations closer and organized crime, flows of illegal immigration affirming that a better world was possible. and terrorism, making it a net donor of To that end, parliaments should join in security in the interests of other countries. multilateral efforts in the social, educational Because of its geopolitical position, Belarus and cultural fields and help promote could serve as an important link between dialogue and the spirit of freedom which the economic regions of Europe and the made universal understanding possible. The East. It was a predictable and reliable United Nations and its agencies also had a partner, ready for increased mutually major role to play. advantageous cooperation. 85. Although his own country had suffered 88. The development of democratic the effects of fascism and terrorism, for institutions was an important means of more than 30 years it had provided an implementing the Millennium Development example of how the desire for democracy Goals. However, some countries abused the and peace could succeed in overcoming any issue of advancing democracy and human threat. Just as there were moments when rights to promote their own political States had to rise to meet the challenges ambitions. His Government supported facing them, the United Nations too must increased international parliamentary meet the challenge of ensuring full cooperation based on the principles of implementation of the Millennium mutual respect and equal partnership. Development Goals. Parliamentarians, Parliaments could make an important whose work was based on dialogue and contribution to the preservation of the cooperation with a view to achieving world’s cultural diversity and the settlement consensus, could help realize that objective of ethnic, national and religious disputes and create a new world reality based on the that could lead to terrorism and empowerment and fulfilment of all international conflict. Inter-parliamentary humankind. cooperation could also help prevent ecological disasters and eliminate their 86. Mr. Konoplev (Belarus) said that consequences. It was to be hoped that the globalization processes must be made final declaration of the Conference would manageable so that all countries could reflect a new vision of the role of benefit from them. Integration of States in parliaments in addressing current global the world economy depended on challenges and promoting constructive harmonization of their national economic international cooperation. policies with the global rules of the game, which were primarily market-oriented. 89. Mr. Nnamani (Nigeria) said that Belarus, and many other States, linked parliamentary democracy was now strongly attainment of that objective with rooted in Nigeria and was being membership of the World Trade strengthened through the development of Organization. The Belarusian Parliament quality infrastructure and human resources. was taking active measures to amend Nigeria was committed to the ideals and national economic legislation so as to ensure objectives of IPU, which it had rejoined in broader access for foreign goods, services 1999. and investments to the domestic market. 90. One of the key challenges to be Consequently, the Belaruisian economy addressed through multilateral cooperation already operated in conditions to close was reducing poverty and insecurity. The WTO standards. In return, Belarus expected crisis of poverty in the world could only be to be admitted to membership of WTO on effectively addressed through a legislative equal and fair terms. framework that committed national

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governments to the global agenda heard. The Nigerian Parliament, for its part, constituted by the Millennium Development would continue to work with other national Goals. The Goals challenged the legislatures, IPU and the United Nations, in international community to invest abundant the quest for a more socially, economically resources to overcome hunger and indignity and politically stable and prosperous world. everywhere in the world. 94. Ms. Burdjanadze (Georgia) said that 91. The Nigerian Parliament recognized parliaments not only constituted the that official corruption and fiscal indiscipline bedrock of democracy in their respective denied the State vital financial resources to countries, but also the building blocks of improve welfare outcomes for the poor. It global modern democracy. The United had therefore enacted laws setting up an Nations recognized a number of anti-corruption commission and a financial fundamental principles as the underpinning and economic crimes commission. Those of modern international law and civilized laws would encourage sustainable economic relations and as the basis for the realization growth, thereby contributing to poverty of a truly democratic and just international reduction. The Parliament was also order. They included the sovereignty, providing the legal framework for the equality and territorial integrity of States and development of a medium-term protection of and respect for human rights. expenditure framework that took account of While every parliament wished to the Millennium Development Goals. The implement those basic principles, the world purpose was to ensure that scarce financial was burdened with separatism, terrorism resources could be channelled towards and crime. By drafting and adopting good identified drivers of poverty reduction like laws, parliamentarians could champion the education, health and social infrastructure. cause of good against evil. However, they His Government had designed a must not only enact laws and ratify comprehensive reform programme which international treaties but also fulfil their the World Bank and the International oversight function to make sure that Monetary Fund considered capable of Governments followed those laws and engendering economic growth in Nigeria. treaties. Parliament oversaw the implementation of 95. It was impossible to build and that programme. strengthen democracy and protect human 92. The secretariat of the Nigerian rights without achieving national stability Parliament was preparing reports from IPU and security. While parliament played a conferences and working committees to decisive role in conflict resolution, the guide Parliament in enacting laws to protect international community must also do its human security in a globalizing world. part. In that connection, she called for Parliament was considering an anti-terrorism greater international involvement in the bill that would align Nigeria with the global peace process in the two conflict zones in consensus against terrorism. His Georgia. Conflicts persisted in Georgia Government was seeking to learn from other because of double standards. Rather than countries how to combat terrorism, while turn a blind eye to the problem, the maintaining respect for human rights. parliaments of the world, along with IPU, must ensure adherence to a single set of 93. In the light of the inequalities and standards established 60 years earlier. They democratic deficits in the global political must build bridges, share know-how and system, it was commendable that IPU was help establish a more comprehensive global being repositioned and, more importantly, understanding of the challenges that that the United Nations was proposing threatened to hinder the democratic significant reforms, especially of the Security developments taking place in formerly Council. Granting two permanent seats to oppressed regions. Most importantly, Africa would be a good start and would parliaments must ensure that international reflect Africa’s increasing involvement in the organizations upheld the primacy of promotion of world peace. The challenge international law. In particular, situations in before the Conference was to strengthen the which a State recognized the territorial relationship between the United Nations, its integrity of a neighbouring State but then specialized agencies and national parliaments, annexed part of its territory and gave so that the voice of the unheard could be support to separatists could not be

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tolerated. She was convinced that, through concerted efforts, the international community could achieve a more just and secure peace in the world. The meeting rose at 12.55 p.m.

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Inter-Parliamentary Union Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments

Summary record of the 3rd meeting Held at United Nations Headquarters, New York, on Thursday, 8 September 2005, at 3 p.m.

President: Mr. Páez Verdugo (Chile) Later: Mr. Nzouba-Ndama (Vice-President) (Gabon) Ms. Oogi (Vice-President) (Japan) Mr. Al-Khurafi (Vice-President) (Kuwait)

Contents

Address by Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations General debate on parliaments and multilateral cooperation: meeting the challenges of the twenty-first century (continued)

The meeting was called to order at 3.10 p.m. resources needed to tackle problems, while

advances in knowledge and understanding, combined with exchange of ideas among Address by Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General governments, academic experts and civil of the United Nations society, had created a shared vision of many of 1. Mr. Annan (Secretary-General of the the strategies and priorities required. The United Nations), recalling that the first World World Summit was an opportunity to put that Conference of Speakers of Parliaments had vision to work, with significant advances in been held just days before the Millennium development, security, human rights and Summit, said that once again the international institutional reform. While negotiations on the community was looking to the World Summit draft outcome document had been difficult, for important decisions on the full range of the Member States had underlined their desire issues before the United Nations. That was not for a strong outcome. He very much hoped to say that no progress had been made in the that they would be able to finalize a document past five years. There had been important that included a clear and agreed strategy to progress in development, including halve poverty in the next 10 years; new action unprecedented support for the Millennium to combat terrorism, build sustainable peace, Development Goals, and the United Nations protect human rights and prevent genocide; was keeping the peace in more places than and important institutional reforms of the ever before, helping war-torn communities United Nations. Such changes must include around the world to build lasting peace and further management reforms of the Secretariat sustainable democratic institutions and taking to help restore staff morale and public the lead in coordinating and providing confidence in the Organization’s integrity and humanitarian aid in many countries. Such effectiveness. contributions should not, however, blind the 3. Whatever was achieved at the Summit, international community to the full extent of the next few days were only the beginning, as the challenges it faced: over a billion people States would need to turn immediately to the still lived in extreme poverty and 20,000 died task of implementation. After all, the ultimate from preventable causes every day; terrorism value of the process would be measured by its affected all parts of the world and was made impact on the peoples of the United Nations. It even more dangerous by the failure to check was in their daily lives, in their safety and the proliferation of weapons of mass security, in their prosperity and sense of destruction; large parts of humanity were opportunity, that progress would be most affected by civil war; and human rights and visible and setbacks most keenly felt. The democratic values continued to be trampled engagement of parliamentarians was therefore underfoot in too many countries. vital in terms of focusing political attention on 2. While the collective responses to many of the reform agenda, encouraging governments those challenges were inadequate, it was also to engage with good will and follow through on in the international community’s power to commitments, bringing citizens into close change that. Economic growth and contact with the process and ensuring that technological advances had provided the their concerns were heard. Parliamentarians 26

27 were the embodiment of democracy and, by 6. While it was impossible to predict the engaging with the United Nations, they made it challenges of the future, the international more democratic, too. They also often community needed to forecast as accurately as controlled the purse strings in their respective possible what the world might be like by the countries. Their decisions could therefore help middle of the twenty-first century and take the determine whether States made available the necessary preventive measures. Parliaments resources that the Organization needed to be must make a real contribution to such an effective. For example, one reform being exercise. His delegation supported the draft discussed was designed to ensure that United declaration entitled “Bridging the democracy Nations agencies had guaranteed funds within gap in international relations: a stronger role three or four days of a sudden humanitarian for parliaments”, particularly its provisions on emergency, without having to wait for donor addressing the most dangerous threats, responses to flash appeals. He therefore provided that such action was taken appealed to participants in the Conference to collectively and within the framework of the support and contribute to a revised Central United Nations system. It believed that the role Emergency Revolving Fund, which would help of the United Nations in the twenty-first ensure that those in need were reached more century would not diminish but would increase reliably and in time to save more lives. It was in all areas, as the global network and to be hoped that, should participants convene interdependence between countries grew. The in another five years, the international Parliament of Ukraine had ratified 12 community would have made measurable international counter-terrorism treaties in the progress in modernizing its institutions and past five years and was convinced that the building a freer, fairer and safer world. creation of international norms should remain a priority in the context of cooperation 4. Mr. Nzouba-Ndama (Gabon), Vice- between the United Nations and parliaments President, took the Chair. in order to consolidate international efforts to combat terrorism. He welcomed the enhanced General debate on parliaments and role of regional and continental inter- multilateral cooperation: meeting the parliamentary associations and called for challenges of the twenty-first century consideration to be given to establishing a (continued) worldwide integrated parliamentary system. 5. Mr. Lytvyn (Ukraine) said that the world’s 7. Mr. Casini (Italy) said that it was time to destiny in the twenty-first century depended provide parliamentary diplomacy with content. heavily on the role of parliamentarianism. Such was the request of citizens, whose need Where that role was reduced to window for representation extended beyond national dressing, freedom and democracy ended. borders. Everyday occurrences now had global Where voices, particularly those of the consequences. International politics was minority, remained unheard, fear and therefore the new frontier of destitution prevailed and the danger of social parliamentarianism. The world had undergone collisions and authoritarianism grew. While profound changes in the five years since the representatives of the executive power were first Conference. A brand of fundamentalist frequently tempted to react hastily and harshly terrorism had emerged, which sought to the challenges and threats of globalization, ostensibly to provoke a clash of civilizations, such “one-person” decisions were not but was in fact an attack on human civilization necessarily the best solution, especially when as a whole because it undermined beyond parliaments were excluded from the decision- repair such fundamental values as free and making process. As the highest representative democratic coexistence, tolerance and bodies, parliaments could galvanize public will peaceful progress. It was therefore important to and find the most effective ways to resolve reject the logic of the clash of civilizations and and, more importantly, prevent internal discord instead promote dialogue between the world’s and international conflicts. When tension in cultures and religions. That was the only way of Ukraine had reached a critical point in late overcoming the prejudices and falsehoods used 2004, for example, the Verkhovna Rada by terrorism to form its disruptive design. (parliament) had embarked on constructive Parliamentary cooperation played a key role in dialogue and found a politically legitimate that task by identifying joint working tools and solution to the crisis, averting large-scale civil developing strong and unifying ideals and conflict in the centre of Europe. Inter- values. parliamentary cooperation in such situations was extremely valuable.

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8. In the light of continuing social and his delegation supported the draft declaration’s economic imbalances in the world, opening up invitation to IPU to avail itself of the expertise markets was a priority objective. Unless the of members of standing and select committees dominant positions established by means of of national parliaments. protectionism and economic nationalism were 11. Turning to the forthcoming High-level eliminated, a number of good initiatives, such Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly, he as the New Partnership for Africa’s said that parliamentarians must not lose their Development (NEPAD), ran the risk of focus on development issues and the remaining a dead letter. Millennium Development Goals. Rich countries 9. Some 40,000 parliamentarians sat in the must continue to aim for the goal of allocating legislative assemblies belonging to the Inter- 0.7 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) Parliamentary Union (IPU), devoting their to development assistance, and commitments efforts to the promotion of peace, solidarity made in that respect must be fulfilled. Work on and development within the framework of innovative financing mechanisms must multilateral cooperation. Those present at complement, not replace, existing United Nations Headquarters were reminded development assistance. United Nations reform not only of the unbreakable bond between IPU was necessary to improve the efficiency of and the United Nations, but also of their human rights work and enhance the unease at the insufficient consideration they Organization’s role in settling conflicts and had been given thus far. It was unthinkable for building peace. Enlargement of the Security IPU to be regarded as any other non- Council would enhance its legitimacy and governmental organization. Parliaments were should be welcomed, for it was crucial that the the source of the institutional legitimacy of the world body for peace and security was very governments making up the United perceived as being representative of the Nations. IPU must therefore be the different peoples and regions of the world. parliamentary interface of the United Nations. 12. Lastly, climate change had already In the twenty-first century, the United Nations affected natural resources and wildlife in the must be both an intergovernmental and inter- north and would cause further suffering if parliamentary organization. Lastly, he noted appropriate action was not taken in time. The the important role of women parliamentarians indigenous populations of the north were and the need for a new alliance between North particularly vulnerable. While the Arctic States and South, a task to which parliaments were had a particular responsibility to avoid damage, better suited than any other institution. they could not act alone. The different 10. Mr. Kosmo (Norway) said that the challenges facing the populations of the world increased demand for democracy in could only be met with understanding — and international affairs and better conditions for assistance — from the entire international the poor was a positive trend, as it put pressure community. The current Conference was one on parliamentarians to be increasingly engaged means of achieving such understanding. in international politics. While welcoming the 13. Ms. Lizin (Belgium) said that it was draft declaration’s focus on the role of national important for the Conference to put forward parliaments in international affairs, he said that concrete proposals. First, it should encourage parliamentarians must also work through the United Nations to follow the example of international parliamentary forums. He firmly many other international organizations, believed that consolidating existing forums was including the Organization for Security and preferable to creating new ones, since Cooperation in Europe and the Council of international parliamentarians could be more Europe, by establishing a genuine forceful if they worked through assemblies that parliamentary assembly. In that regard, those were well established and already known to present should urge the representatives of their their governments and electorates. A number respective executive branches to strengthen the of new initiatives in the international somewhat weak reference to IPU in the draft parliamentary arena should be channelled outcome document of the High-level Plenary through IPU, which was one such assembly. For Meeting. Second, while democracy and good IPU to strengthen its role, it must recognize governance were mutually reinforcing, it was that it could improve. For example, it needed not enough to simply organize regular to make itself more relevant to the United elections. Funding was also needed to ensure Nations by choosing topics more directly linked that elected representatives enjoyed health to the Organization’s agenda. With regard to insurance and pensions, which in turn would working procedures, participation and capacity, help prevent the evolution of bad governance

29 and corruption. Such funding was already Partnerships and Renewal” indicated, the available in some countries, but was still very Conference, like IPU, was hoping to act with limited or non-existent in developing countries. civil society as a catalyst, protector and Lastly, each year IPU could draft a framework promoter of democracy. The DPI/NGO law on a key United Nations topic — such as Conference was unconditionally committed to violence against women — with a view to its the achievement of the Millennium adoption by as many parliaments as possible. Development Goals. In that regard, he suggested that the Conference, together with 14. Mr. Stevens (United States of America) its partners, should promote a decade of said that events such as Hurricane Katrina, the compliance with the commitments already largest natural disaster in the history of the undertaken and declare that what was needed United States, highlighted the need for was greater partnerships rather than new parliamentarians to try to understand the resolutions. Above and beyond the millions of problems facing individual nations and the dollars generated, NGO investments in the world and to seek to develop the international global community were aimed at further support required to deal with them developing the awesome capacities of the successfully. No one could predict where help countless millions of people and communities would be needed tomorrow, but the around the world and ensuring that their voices international community must do more to were heard. He urged members of IPU to anticipate and prepare for crises. In 2004, as continue to raise their voices and to hold Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, he governments to their promises. had created the Subcommittee on Global Climate Change and Impacts and the 17. Lord Brabazon of Tara (United Kingdom) Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention and said that it was useful to distinguish between Prediction to assist with such efforts. While the multilateral cooperation between parliaments causes of global climate change could be themselves and multilateral cooperation debated, the effects could not be ignored. between governments which parliaments Nations must share their scientific knowledge monitored. The House of Lords played a very and resources to adapt to the new reality and, full part in international parliamentary where possible, prevent events such as cooperation, particularly in conferences and Hurricane Katrina and the violent storms on study visits organized by IPU or by the the Alaskan coast from becoming full-blown Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and disasters. made every attempt to respond positively to invitations to participate in ad hoc conferences 15. The nations of the world must also work sponsored by United Nations bodies. Both together to confront the threat of terrorism. It Houses of Parliament sent delegations to many was to be hoped that meetings such as the international parliamentary assemblies, current Conference would convince including the Council of Europe and the parliamentarians around the world to review Organization for Security and Cooperation in what was being done to eliminate global Europe, collaborated extensively with terrorism and assure freedom. If left parliamentarians of other European Union unchecked, the threat of terrorism could member States and were involved in capacity- become the scourge of the twenty-first century. building projects of various kinds in emerging He applauded the commitment of the democracies. Americans serving in Afghanistan and Iraq to preserve and protect freedom, and thanked 18. Turning to the role of parliaments in those States that had sent troops or assisted scrutinizing multilateral cooperation activities with reconstruction efforts. The twenty-first of governments, he noted that the House of century presented great challenges which, as in Lords Select Committees on the European the past, would be overcome only by nations Union, on Economic Affairs and on Science working together. The next chapter of history and Technology frequently conducted inquiries would then be written by free nations, not by involving issues of multilateral cooperation like those living in fear of terrorists. globalization and climate change. The House of Lords also drew on its members’ high level 16. Mr. Donnelly (Chair, fifty-eighth annual of expertise and knowledge of foreign affairs to DPI/NGO Conference) said that the DPI/NGO hold Government ministers to account in Conference was pleased to work in partnership debate on the floor of the House. Debates with IPU in strengthening and providing more were regularly held on all aspects of support to the United Nations. Indeed, as the multilateral cooperation, particularly on theme of the fifty-eighth annual DPI/NGO development and trade issues, and on many of Conference “Our Challenge: Voices for Peace,

30 the important themes underlying the living of an unprecedented number of Millennium Development Goals. In October, countries had fallen sharply. For example, more the House would debate a recent report people were suffering from hunger in 11 sub- published by its Select Committee on the Saharan countries than 10 years previously. In European Union on the European Union’s role order to reverse that trend, parliamentarians at the forthcoming High-level Plenary Meeting had to use every bit of influence they could of the General Assembly. The Select bring to bear as representatives of the people Committee strongly supported the Secretary- in mustering support for the Secretary- General’s reform document entitled “In larger General’s proposal for a new world partnership freedom: towards development, security and for development. Lastly, he appealed to the human rights for all” (A/59/2005) and his international community to support the reform package. pledging conference that his country would be organizing at the end of the year in Mauritius 19. The role of many Speakers of parliaments, to mobilize the necessary resources for including those of the two Houses of the strengthening national reconciliation and United Kingdom Parliament, was apolitical and development. largely procedural and administrative. Since they were unable to take positions on policy 22. Mr. Al-Abrach (Syrian Arab Republic) said issues, he, like the Speaker of the House of that the parliaments of the world should Commons, would be unable to take part in the contribute to the strengthening of international vote on the draft declaration. While peace, stability and security and that the international meetings of Speakers of United Nations should carry out its tasks under parliaments could be valuable, he wondered the Charter. The People’s Assembly of the whether it would not be better if, when the Syrian Arab Republic believed in the peaceful subjects to be addressed related to important resolution of conflicts, and the importance of policy matters of international concern, dialogue in international relations and parliaments were represented by their respected the right of peoples to self members, drawn from the full spectrum of determination. However, it condemned political opinion, rather than by their unilateral sanctions imposed by some countries presidents. against other countries, including the Syrian Arab Republic, since such sanctions ran 20. Mr. Bounou (Comoros) said that the counter to the basic principles of civilized achievement of the Millennium Development behaviour, international law and the Charter of Goals was the main focus of the agendas of the United Nations. They also had an adverse both IPU and national parliaments. His impact on the economic and social country, was just emerging from a protracted development of the countries affected. institutional and political crisis. A new parliament had been recently established in 23. It was only by undertaking genuine and 2004 following a democratic and transparent democratic reforms that the United Nations electoral process. Within a few months, it had could dispel the perception that it was weak enacted the bulk of the legislation provided for and used double standards with respect to the by the Constitution, thus contributing to the implementation of resolutions — implementing country’s recovery and to the strengthening of those resolutions that did not anger Israel while the national reconciliation process. That had allowing that State, which occupied large led to the resumption of international swathes of Arab land and denied Arab citizens cooperation with the country’s development their basic human rights, to ignore those it partners, including negotiations with the deemed detrimental to its interests. Bretton Woods institutions. Furthermore, the 24. The Syrian People’s Assembly strongly Comorian Parliament had just adopted a bill on condemned international terrorism and the family code which would considerably supported the Syrian leadership’s position improve the status of women and children by thereon. Efforts to combat that scourge should providing them with better protection. be based on international cooperation 21. Progress in the implementation of the stemming from legitimate international Millennium Development Goals was mixed resolutions. In that regard, an international mainly owing to the failure to honour definition of terrorism should be drawn up international commitments, especially with under the auspices of the United Nations. Such respect to official development assistance a definition should differentiate between (ODA) to the poorest and most vulnerable terrorism and the right of peoples to resist countries; indeed, ODA had continued its foreign occupation, as enshrined in the Charter steady decline of the 1990s. The standard of and the principles of international law.

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Furthermore, the root causes of international requirement for global reconciliation, stability, terrorism, including oppression, foreign peace and security. Its candidature for a non- occupation and poverty, must be addressed. It permanent seat on the Security Council for the was also vital to eliminate weapons of mass term 2009-2010 underscored that approach. destruction from the Middle East. In that The mission of parliaments was to transform regard, the Syrian initiative submitted to the the hopes of the peoples they served into Security Council on behalf of the Arab Group reality; accordingly, it was vital for the in December 2003, which was blocked by a forthcoming High-level Plenary Meeting to certain country in order to protect Israeli fulfil the expectations of parliaments and the interests, needed to be revived. Lastly, he peoples they represented by taking concrete urged rich countries to fulfil their obligations decisions. under the Millennium Declaration to assist 28. Mr. Nguyen Van An (Viet Nam) said that developing countries in implementing their inter-parliamentary cooperation in all its poverty eradication programmes. aspects had contributed to United Nations 25. Mr. Arinç (Turkey) said that national efforts throughout the world. Various forums, parliaments should place far more emphasis on including the Asia-Europe Parliamentary efforts aimed at bringing the peoples they Conference and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary represented closer together and promoting a Forum, had been convened to boost the culture of reconciliation that would put an end coordination of action on global and regional to disputes and conflicts causing rifts among issues within the IPU framework. Close ties and countries. The common values and principles cooperation between parliaments and embraced by humankind were far more governments at all levels had also contributed powerful than any religious or cultural greatly to the successful implementation of the differences. Violence, fanaticism and terrorism Millennium Development Goals worldwide. had no place in any religion or culture. Indeed, Despite the efforts of the international the only way to bequeath a peaceful, community, the world continued to grapple prosperous and stable world to future with challenges and uncertainties that could generations was to usher in a climate of threaten the common development of reconciliation based on an effective, humankind. While globalization created constructive and sincere dialogue that would opportunities for nations to promote trade and counteract the prejudices, animosities and cooperation, it also widened the development polarization being promoted by radical groups. gap, leaving many countries facing the risk of In that regard, his delegation fully endorsed the marginalization. proposal submitted by Spain to the General 29. He recommended that the Conference Assembly the previous year for an alliance of should consider establishing an inter- civilizations. That initiative was a source of parliamentary partnership for the Millennium hope at a time when the world needed Development Goals. Such a partnership would increased tolerance, understanding and enable IPU member parliaments to build constructive dialogue more than ever. capacity and share their experiences in 26. National parliaments should make special supporting and urging governments to deliver efforts to eradicate the democracy deficit in on their commitments to the Goals, including international relations. Success in that regard their commitment to increase ODA, provide would make a valuable contribution to peace debt relief and promote foreign direct and security, reconciliation and tolerance. investment. IPU member parliaments should Accordingly, national parliaments must strongly also support and monitor governments as they support the reform agenda set forth in the conducted multilateral negotiations aimed at Secretary-General’s report entitled “In larger promoting peace, security, cooperation and freedom: towards development, security and development. human rights for all”. They should also make a 30. In response to dramatic changes in the special effort to ensure that their peoples better world, the United Nations, in its sixtieth year, understood and provided further support to needed to reform itself to become a more the United Nations. effective instrument in pursuing the noble goals 27. In its approach to international issues, the and fundamental principles enshrined in the Turkish Grand National Assembly had always Charter. Such reform should focus on measures been an ardent and constructive supporter of to increase democracy and transparency in the the United Nations, in which it had full Organization’s work and strengthen the central confidence. Turkey was determined to give role of the General Assembly. In that regard, a steadfast support to the ever-increasing strengthened partnership between the United

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Nations and IPU would contribute to the United States supported anti-Cuba terrorists, Organization’s efforts to reform itself. Noting who operated in that country with total that the Vietnamese people had successfully impunity. He therefore reiterated the urgency implemented a comprehensive poverty of establishing a new world order based on reduction and growth strategy and made justice, solidarity and freedom, failing which progress in almost all areas pertaining to the future generations would be cursed with a Millennium Development Goals, he said that legacy of chaos and death. such achievements would have been 33. Ms. Oogi (Japan), Vice-President, took the impossible without the valuable support and Chair. assistance of the international community. Lastly, he reaffirmed the Vietnamese National 34. Mr. Bensalah (Algeria) said that his Assembly’s resolve to participate actively in delegation supported the Secretary-General’s inter-parliamentary cooperation with a view to efforts to reform the United Nations, an achieving peace, stability and sustainable organization which, rather than merely development. reflecting the balance of power around the world, should genuinely reflect the desire of 31. Mr. Requeijo Gual (Permanent the world’s peoples for peace, security and Representative of Cuba to the United Nations) development. The biggest challenge for the said that the commitments made at the United Nations was to develop the capacity to Millennium Summit remained distant goals yet resolve the major problems confronting the instead of evaluating the implementation of world: armed conflicts, terrorism, natural those commitments, as originally intended, disasters, epidemics, chronic diseases, the fight participants in the forthcoming High-level against poverty, and the promotion of Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly development. would be considering a so-called reform of the United Nations which, far from making the 35. The reform of the United Nations must Organization more democratic, sought to make not be limited to the enlargement of the it even more subject to the will of its most Security Council. The reforms should also seek powerful members. The preparations for the to increase the Council’s credibility, legitimacy High-level Plenary Meeting had highlighted the and effectiveness, and the process of arrogance of those who believed themselves to democratization within the Organization be masters of the Organization and who turned should embrace all its institutions and agencies, their backs on the problems of humanity. including the General Assembly, which must be Conference participants should reject any granted broader powers. Above all, the United distortion of the meeting’s original goals and Nations must enforce its resolutions, notably the priorities for the international community those relating to the question of Palestine and should remain the eradication of hunger, to Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied malnutrition, poverty and illiteracy, the territories in Palestine, the Syrian Arab protection of the environment and natural Republic and Lebanon, and those relating to resources, and the promotion of healthy living the self-determination of the people of conditions and development for the third Western Sahara. world. 36. The United Nations should also continue 32. It was essential that the lies used by some to strengthen its relations with NGOs and civil to perpetuate an unfair and irrational world society. His delegation welcomed the order be replaced with truth, in order to avoid strengthening of the relationship between the leading the world to catastrophe. The Iraq war, IPU and the United Nations and would so costly for both the Iraqi and American encourage the development of similar peoples, had been justified on the grounds of relationships with regional parliamentary the fight against terrorism yet those who had organizations around the world. National undertaken the Iraq war refused to extradite parliaments, for their part, must monitor the Luis Posada Carriles, a confessed terrorist, to implementation of United Nations resolutions the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for trial designed to foster peace, security and and continued to keep five anti-terrorist cooperation. fighters in maximum security confinement 37. Mr. Pacheco Osoria (Dominican despite the recommendations of an expert Republic) said that the theme of “Parliament panel of the United Nations Commission on and democracy in the twenty-first century”, to Human Rights and a decision of the United which one of the reports before the States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Conference was devoted, was very relevant to Circuit. Moreover, the Government of the the political affairs of the countries of Latin

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America. Although it was received wisdom that unprecedented rise in terrorist activity, which citizens of those countries had lost confidence threatened the values of democracy, the rule of in democratic institutions, political law and respect for human rights. The world participation through elections and political was also faced with a growing religious divide, parties had become virtually universal. More an issue that IPU, in cooperation with other than any other democratic institution, international institutions, including the United parliaments provided space for reflection and Nations, should consider more deeply. In that the exchange of ideas and experiences context, he welcome the proposal for an concerning society’s most pressing issues. alliance of civilizations that would bring together Western and Muslim nations with a 38. The act of legislating had become more view to overcoming misunderstandings. complex than before because a greater range of interests and groups must be reconciled in 42. Equally relevant and important were issues order to achieve a consensus. Consolidating such as the environment, maritime cooperation democracy required strengthening a culture of and organized crime, particularly the traffic in mutual responsibility between citizens and drugs and human beings. With regards to the institutions. Just as legislators must carry out latter, he highlighted the problem of illegal their mandates and remain accountable to the immigration that had reached crisis proportions electorate, citizens must know their rights and in Malta. He urged IPU to consider organizing respect the legitimacy of their public bodies an event similar to the high-level dialogue on and elected leaders. Democracy and international migration and development to be parliament were the mainstays of a system held by the General Assembly at its sixty-first based on cooperation in which all parties session. sought to resolve conflicts by exchanging ideas, 43. Parliamentarians were well positioned to while respecting the right to debate and the help make sure that governments kept their dignity of the citizen. promises, whether in the political, economic or 39. Mr. Djibril (Cameroon) said that the social sphere. In that regard, the proposal to cooperation between the IPU and the United establish a United Nations Democracy Fund to Nations provided a powerful tool for building a assist countries in establishing or strengthening more just, peaceful, democratic and democratic government, as set out in the prosperous world. However, five years after the Secretary-General’s report “In larger freedom: Millennium Summit, the international towards development, security and human community must show greater determination rights for all”, was very welcome. to make the required changes. Intentions were 44. Mr. Novitsky (Belarus) said that, in the not enough; the construction of a more just context of efforts to consolidate the and prosperous world would require greater international legal framework, it was absolutely political will and a spirit of consensus. The essential to strengthen inter-parliamentary problems of debt, development aid and access cooperation. It was also crucial to enhance the to Western markets for products from countries global security system, and Belarus had taken of the South remained the major concerns. many significant steps towards that goal over 40. Although the decisions of the recent the past five years. Parliamentarians must also Group of Eight Summit were significant, they demonstrate effective policy integration with were far from meeting the expectations of the respect to terrorism and adopt realistic developing world. The governments of legislation capable of responding to that threat. developed countries should therefore continue Inter-parliamentary cooperation should play a their efforts to meet at least the role in establishing a legal framework for the recommendations of the Commission for suppression of illegal migration and drug Africa. It was time for the international trafficking. His Government had taken community to recognize that without solidarity practical measures to address those issues, with among nations, it was illusory to believe that the cooperation of international institutions the other challenges — peace, security, and other States. It was time for the democracy and respect for human rights — international community to establish a could ever be achieved. comprehensive strategy for responding to the new challenges and threats to the 41. Mr. Tabone (Malta) said that the independence and integrity of States. commitments entered into at the Millennium Summit were more vital and urgent than ever. 45. Mr. Alasgarov (Azerbaijan) said that, since Security and development were intertwined. regaining independence in 1991, Azerbaijan Indeed, the past five years had brought an had taken significant steps towards the

34 establishment of democracy and the rule of contributed to more than half the peace law. The elections to be held in November operations dispatched by the Organization. 2005 would mark a decisive stage in that International cooperation, including process. However, although Azerbaijan based cooperation between parliaments at the global, its own relations with other countries on the regional and subregional levels, played a vital principles of peaceful coexistence, good- role in combating the global problems of neighbourliness, respect for sovereignty and terrorism, poverty, hunger and disease, and in non-intervention in internal affairs, Armenia addressing the security issues resulting from continued to occupy 20 per cent of its territory them. and to ignore the will of the international 49. Mr. Bhalakula (Thailand) said that there community, as expressed through the relevant was a need to strengthen inter-parliamentary Security Council resolutions. His Government organizations within their appropriate roles, so remained committed to the peaceful that they could cooperate effectively with settlement of the conflict, for full regional international organizations. International issues cooperation and development in the South were no longer the reserved domain of the Caucasus could be achieved only through executive branch of government. Parliamentary lasting peace, based on international law and organizations monitored the work of on the principles of the inviolability of borders international organizations and cooperated and the territorial integrity of States. with Governments in contributing to them. IPU 46. Mr. Lejaha (Lesotho) said that parliament was now seeking to establish links with the was the arena in which national politics were United Nations in as many areas as possible. conducted, public issues and policy options Many problems, such as poverty eradication, were debated, and binding decisions were terrorism, drug trafficking and trafficking in taken. Legislation was the pure manifestation human beings, were shared by all countries. of the democratic process. The role and That being so, there was no need for functions of parliaments were therefore central ideological confrontation within inter- to the role of democracies and systems of parliamentary organizations. Instead, they government. Parliaments faced many should be offering guidelines to solve common challenges. They were no longer simply the problems, such as converting debt to equity to setting for the debating of issues, but must also help alleviate the financial burdens of be part of their solutions. Parliaments around developing countries, or preparing legislation the world should therefore play a greater role along the same lines to combat terrorism and in international affairs and should work trafficking. together in an effort to improve the lives of 50. Democracy involved the participation of their peoples. the people in many areas of the decision- 47. The Parliament of Lesotho faced an making process. It also gave citizens the right to immense problem in trying to deal with the receive accurate information, as well as the HIV/AIDS pandemic and wished to thank the right to freedom of expression. In addition to United Nations Development Programme and working more closely together, IPU and other other international institutions for their parliamentary organizations should make room assistance in that regard. As part of a major for individual citizens, non-governmental programme of parliamentary reforms, it was organizations, civil society and the press to play also trying to ensure equal participation by a greater role in their work. men and women in parliament and was 51. Mr. Jordanovski (the former Yugoslav committed to ensuring broad public Republic of Macedonia) said that national participation in parliamentary democracy. parliaments should play a greater role in 48. Mr. Šeks (Croatia) emphasized the need international forums and in international for stronger parliamentary involvement in the relations generally. Through dialogue and decisions of international organizations. The cooperation, international parliamentary Croatian Parliament supported its organizations could do much to help resolve Government’s efforts within the United Nations conflicts. In South-East Europe, the process of to contribute to the realization of the building stable and democratic societies was Millennium Development Goals. The Goals still fragile. His Government was committed to were closely linked to Croatia’s own strategic creating a climate of understanding, tolerance development and to the reforms set in train to and cooperation as a basis for overcoming obtain full membership for Croatia in the conflict, suppressing organized crime and European Union. Formerly a recipient country terrorism, and establishing lasting stability and of a United Nations mission, Croatia now security in the region. The Republic’s Assembly

35 had been actively involved in the process of Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Euro-Atlantic integration and in building Assembly of the Organization for Security and cooperation with regional and international Cooperation in Europe, as well as in the work institutions and organizations. of IPU. They also took part in the activities of inter-parliamentary bodies in the territory of 52. Mr. Van der Linden (President of the the Commonwealth of Independent States. Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) said that the Parliamentary Assembly 55. The Russian Parliament recognized the was the driving force behind the Council, most role of the United Nations in strengthening of whose decisions originated in resolutions of stability and security in the world and the Assembly, which had also inspired the addressing key regional and global issues. adoption of the European Convention on Moreover, it was from that standpoint that the Human Rights. The Assembly was completely Russian Federation approached the difficult independent of the Committee of Ministers, and important question of reforming the the intergovernmental organ of the Council. It United Nations Security Council. had insisted from the outset that in order to 56. Over the past decade, the Russian represent the peoples of the member Federation had been making progress towards countries, delegations from national building a democratic society. The Russian parliaments must be chosen from parties of the Constitution guaranteed the separation of opposition as well as from majority parties. powers and the independence of both Regional parliamentary organizations looked to chambers of Parliament. Russians were aware the Assembly as a source of inspiration. It had that the role of parliaments was not only to recently concluded a cooperation agreement legislate, but also to establish and strengthen with the Pan-African Parliament, and the democratic institutions. The Russian Parliament Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace had ensured that decision-making on key issues of taken it as a model for a future Asian national policy was thoroughly transparent. It parliamentary assembly. As for the United had passed laws on political parties, on Nations, he was convinced that greater elections and on the establishment of a involvement of national parliaments in its work mechanism to enable a high level of public would enhance its legitimacy and permit closer scrutiny of the authorities. In 2004 both follow-up of its decisions. IPU would be chambers had ratified the Kyoto Protocol, a playing a key role in introducing a vital instrument in solving the problem of parliamentary dimension in the work of the global warming. Members of the Russian United Nations. Parliament continually called for joint efforts, 53. Mr. Nguema Owono (Equatorial Guinea) including in the parliamentary sphere, to fight said that since 1991 Equatorial Guinea had had international terrorism, and they counted on a well-established system of pluralist active support from other parliaments. He democracy. Its parliament, the Chamber of looked to the United Nations to prepare and Deputies, was elected at five-year intervals. It adopt universal legal instruments providing was receiving support from the European specific measures to combat that scourge. Union and from IPU to develop its democratic 57. Mr. Nin Novoa (Uruguay) expressed institutions, and its Chamber of Deputies regret that parliamentary representatives from worked alongside the Government to secure the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Cuba the country’s integrated development, with had been prevented from attending the special emphasis on education, health and Conference through an administrative ruse. His human rights. He appealed to the international own delegation included the Speaker of the community to put a stop to the mercenary House of Representatives, who for the first elements from abroad that were attempting to time in history was a woman. Since October destabilize the country. Governments could not 2004, also for the first time, a leftist and be changed through violence, only through the progressive force had commanded a majority will of the people. in the Government and Parliament of Uruguay. 54. Mr. Gryzlov (Russian Federation) Uruguay was committed to peace, freedom, expressed support for greater involvement by democracy, transparency and security, and also national parliaments in international relations. to gender equality. It looked to international In the State Duma, the Power chamber of the organizations to secure the peaceful settlement Russian Parliament, 67 groups of deputies of disputes and for help in tackling poverty and maintained contacts with foreign parliaments. violence, the main victims of which in Latin Russian parliamentarians participated in the America were women and children. With work of the Parliamentary Assembly of the regard to trade, it was essential to secure free

36 entry to the world’s markets for the produce of provided the common ground for collective the developing countries, both food and efforts to ensure international security. manufactured goods, and to abolish the 61. Mr. Nyamdorj (Mongolia) said that, in an subsidies that kept them out. era of increasing globalization and 58. Ms. Soruco de Salvatierra (Bolivia) said interdependence, there were many common that for 23 years, following a series of threats and challenges that required a joint dictatorships, her country had been a response from the international community democracy governed by the rule of law. Its and made it imperative to enhance people looked for peaceful solutions to their partnerships among executive authorities and problems, and especially for justice for the parliaments. The United Nations played a key poorest. Significant changes had taken place in role in promoting international cooperation but economic and political terms, but the country’s needed to undergo effective reform. social problems had still to be tackled, and that 62. Parliaments made an enormous was why the people were now challenging the contribution to implementing the Millennium prevailing systems. Because of the Development Goals and ensuring sustainable macroeconomic conditions imposed by the development at the national level. While international financial institutions to achieve sustainable development was linked to many equilibrium, there was a gap between the factors for which nations themselves were Government and the people and their responsible, it was also necessary to increase problems, especially unemployment, poor official development assistance and reduce the housing and inadequate educational provision debt burden of the least developed countries. and social security. The traditional methods of There was no doubt that acute social problems the political system had failed to produce were one of the root causes of terrorism, which results. The parliamentarians of the developed posed a serious threat to basic human rights countries must broaden their intellectual and freedoms. Significant efforts were horizons so that when they made decisions on therefore needed at national, regional and behalf of their electorates, the impact of those international levels to address that threat. decisions on the less developed countries was not forgotten. They had a collective 63. Mr. Sami (Serbia and Montenegro) said responsibility to ensure that countries with that Serbia and Montenegro had a serious subsistence economies were able to export problem in Kosovo-Metohija: since 1999, over their products under fair terms of trade. 230,000 Serbs and non-ethnic Albanians had Democracy was more than a theory of been forced to leave the province, more than participation; there was also an economic and 3,000 people had been killed or were missing, a social dimension to be developed. and 146 monasteries or churches had been burned down or demolished. Many Serbs and 59. Lastly, she acknowledged the fruitful non-ethnic Albanians in Kosovo-Metohija were collaboration between Bolivia and Chile in living in ghetto-like enclaves, fearing for their tackling common problems. lives and property and being denied such 60. Mr. Marín (Spain) said that national fundamental human rights as the right to live parliaments needed to work together to and to raise their children. All the main transform their commitments to the political parties in Serbia and Montenegro Millennium Development Goals into concrete supported a political resolution to the problem actions. The modern world presented new through dialogue between Belgrade and risks, such as international terrorism, to which Pristina, with the assistance of the international the only response must be greater international community. The issue of Kosovo-Metohija cooperation among those for whom law, could not be resolved by treating Kosovo as an democracy and human rights were universal independent State since the altering of national values. Such risks were an opportunity to borders was contrary to the basic documents of recognize that different civilizations needed to the United Nations and would set a dangerous understand and respect each other. The time precedent, undermining peace and stability in had come to debate the establishment of an the world. alliance of civilizations, which would not only 64. Mr. Al-Khurafi (Kuwait), Vice-President, serve to strengthen international security but took the Chair. would also weaken international terrorism, since reconciliation among different cultures 65. Mr. Cruz Zepeda Peña (El Salvador) said based on sincere and constructive dialogue was that parliamentarians contributed to the the best way to isolate radical fundamentalism. strengthening of democratic institutions and, Freedom, democracy and the rule of law above all, to the stability and governance of

37 countries. That was especially true of countries made in connection with the Millennium like El Salvador, which had found peace Development Goals. Parliament had increased through the mediation of the United Nations. the budget of various official agencies in the El Salvador had learned how to live in peace area of social expenditure and had authorized and democracy. However, along with other the Government to allocate resources to help countries, it faced new dangers, including the most vulnerable sectors of the population terrorism, organized crime and HIV/AIDS. If in the poorest parts of the country. With the international community was to address respect to universal primary education, it had those challenges, the United Nations would approved substantial budgetary resources to have to be reformed. eliminate once and for all ad honorem posts in the teaching profession and had also adopted a 66. Democratically elected and participatory statute governing relations between the State governments were the best way to safeguard and teachers. To ensure that legislation the right to live in dignity and freedom, as had maintained a gender perspective, advisory been shown by the holding of the first free and committees on gender equality had been direct presidential elections in 1996 by the established in both parliamentary chambers. people of the Republic of China on Taiwan. By Parliament had also approved a new Code for doing so, they had adhered to the principle of Children and Youth, which reflected the freedom in the Millennium Declaration. realities of the modern world while respecting 67. The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador national specificities. The national budget for supported the efforts of the United Nations to health and the fight against HIV/AIDS and further development, respect for and other diseases was being increased, and promotion of human rights, and the national hospitals were being given adequate maintenance of international peace and budgets to provide treatment to the most security. It also firmly supported peace and vulnerable. stability in the Taiwan Strait. 70. It was a great effort, however, for 68. Mr. Tekebaev (Kyrgyzstan) said that, while extremely poor countries such as Paraguay to globalization helped to promote common devote their scarce resources to the priority values and aspirations, it also highlighted areas of health, education and the inequalities among countries and, as such, was environment. The multilateral cooperation a source of radicalism, hatred and conflict agencies and all Governments interested in threatening global stability and security. The putting an end to poverty must therefore spare international community must therefore no efforts or resources to ensure the assume greater responsibility for those parts of achievement of the Millennium Development the world that continued to feel defenceless by Goals in those countries. increasing its assistance to developing 71. Mr. Al-Za’noon (Palestine) said that the democratic institutions, including parliaments. draft declaration, while welcome, had failed to It was only through strong parliaments that mention the realization of the right of peoples nations could truly influence Heads of State to self-determination or to call for the and Government and, eventually, the decisions implementation of the relevant United Nations of the United Nations and other international resolutions. organizations. One of the most effective means of exerting such influence was the participation 72. The recent removal of Israeli settlements of parliaments in regional organizations, such from the Gaza Strip was a positive precedent as the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the and, to move the peace process forward, Eurasian Economic Community. By unifying similar steps should be taken in the West Bank. legislation in the area of security and by However, instead of taking that approach, the coordinating the actions of their executive Government of Israel had intensified its efforts agencies, the members of the Community had to enlarge Israeli settlements there. It had also increased the effectiveness of their efforts to continued to erect the racist segregation wall, combat terrorism, political and religious which created a new geographic and extremism and organized crime. The demographic situation, transforming the West experience gained by similar inter- Bank into isolated cantons and making it parliamentary associations might be useful in impossible to establish a viable Palestinian reforming the United Nations. State. 69. Mr. Bogado González (Paraguay) said that 73. He therefore called on the Conference the Parliament of Paraguay was working with participants to ensure that their Governments the Government to fulfil the commitments put pressure on the Government of Israel to

38 make its withdrawal from Gaza a first step promote equity, respect for human rights, towards the establishment of peace and sound management of public assets, gender security for both the Palestinian and the Israeli equality, development for all and durable peoples. The greatest guarantee for security, peace. peace and stability in the region was to end the 78. IPU had been working closely with the occupation, cease settlement building, release United Nations for the past decade to detainees and establish a Palestinian State, with strengthen the parliamentary dimension of Jerusalem as its capital. international cooperation. Many parliaments 74. Despite the occupation, the Palestinian had made their contribution to meeting the people were exerting their best efforts to challenges facing the international community establish democracy and build a civil society. In by implementing the international that connection, fair and transparent commitments made in the United Nations and presidential and local elections had recently other such forums and by incorporating them been held and legislative elections would soon in national legislation and policy. Her be held in the same spirit. Parliament had been focused on the peace process, which had led from the signing of the 75. Mr. Mahlangu (South Africa) said that Arusha Accord in 2000 to the democratic global interdependence required universal elections which had just taken place. Burundi institutions to govern or spearhead multilateral would continue to rely on the support of its relationships. Since those institutions dealt with partners as it consolidated peace and States through their governments, it was democracy. parliaments that were responsible for ensuring that the interests of all their citizens were 79. Mr. Bautista García (Dominican Republic) addressed. At the same time, multilateralism said that the Conference provided an itself gave rise to political concerns about the opportunity to reflect on whether the actions potential loss of sovereignty to such of parliaments were contributing to democratic institutions. governance and progress for their peoples, or whether more effective mechanisms were 76. Many African countries had suffered a needed. Of course, some of the challenges great deal of economic decline as a result of faced by democracies were beyond their international economic institutions that had control, for example, the price of oil for non- failed to incorporate their needs and producing countries. The agreements made at experience. As representatives of their citizens, the Millennium Summit could guide actions to parliaments needed to be involved with those reduce poverty and combat violence in all its multilateral institutions at the policymaking manifestations. stage to ensure that powerful countries did not dictate the policies to be implemented. Unless 80. The social phenomenon of migration was parliaments worked together to tackle those high on the national agenda of the Dominican challenges, it would be difficult to achieve the Republic and required the active participation Millennium Development Goals, which were of the United Nations, particularly due to the fundamental for addressing global poverty and massive movements of citizens from its disease in the twenty-first century. As part of neighbour, Haiti, because of the difficult their role, parliaments must therefore work situation in that country. With regard to United towards building the consensus needed to Nations reform, parliaments, as representatives promote a free and fair global system to of the people, should play a larger role in the facilitate conflict resolution, poverty Organization. elimination, human development and 81. Ms. Gaspà (Andorra) said that economic growth. cooperation between the United Nations and 77. Ms. Nahayo (Burundi) said that she was IPU had enormous potential, in particular for pleased to report the successful conclusion of resolving problems with global effects like the peace process in Burundi and thanked the gender discrimination and environmental international community for its support. After degradation. The world’s Heads of State would the recent elections for offices ranging from the meet once again in a few days to review the local level to the Presidency, Burundi had outcome of the Millennium Summit, the democratically elected institutions at all levels. progress made and areas where greater effort Moreover, women held a number of high-level was required to prevent social injustice from posts in the new Government, making gender dominating the planet. Small countries like balance a reality. The main objectives of the Andorra had turned their weaknesses into newly restored democracy in Burundi were to strengths, and their voices had been heard

39 along with those of large countries in the of spreading democracy across the world, negotiations for the outcome document. while maintaining respect for cultural diversity. The second area was promotion of economic 82. Mr. Al-Ali (Saudi Arabia) said that greater trade between countries, since economic efforts were needed to assist people living in factors lay at the foundation of many global poverty and injustice, eliminate tensions in the problems such as poverty and rising extremism. world and rid the Middle East of weapons of The third important area was security. mass destruction. Saudi Arabia believed in Dramatic reports from various continents reform and had begun reforms of its political, confirmed that, since the turn of the century, a economic and education sectors well before the new threat in the form of international recent calls for such action. It was currently terrorism had been on the rise. No country was giving 4 per cent of its GDP as ODA, the highest capable of coping with that phenomenon on its percentage of any State and well above the own. agreed target of 0.7 per cent. 88. In the twenty-first century, the need for 83. Terrorism was the worst problem the international unity appeared much stronger world was facing, and Saudi Arabia had than at any point in history. Only through suffered its effects like so many other countries, international unity would an increasing number despite the fact that Islam forbade violence and of common problems be solved. Unity among invited tolerance. It joined the call for an parliamentarians should be the foundation and international conference against terrorism. impetus for cooperation between countries at Lastly, it hoped to see the Palestinian and Iraqi every level. Although representing different peoples enjoying their independence and full cultures and outlooks on the world, the actions sovereignty as members of the international of IPU members should be focused on the community. common good. 84. Ms. Yathotou (Lao People’s Democratic 89. Mr. Atwal (India) said that, in the five Republic) said that there had been visible years since the first Conference, the world had progress in the implementation of the witnessed unprecedented levels of violence Millennium Declaration, and regular from terrorism, the most dangerous challenge interaction between the United Nations and currently facing the international community. IPU had led to greater understanding and The achievement of the ambitious targets set in cooperation in areas of common interest. the Millennium Development Goals, leading to Other regional parliamentary organizations, for real economic transformation, could only instance the Inter-Parliamentary Organization happen with the achievement of Goal 8, which of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, would require fundamental reform of the had also responded to the new challenges international economic and financial posed by the era of globalization. institutions. 85. The Lao National Assembly attached great 90. The United Nations had been established importance to multilateral cooperation and had in 1945 to ensure that peoples could live in worked to enhance its role in the executive peace and concentrate on socio-economic body by co-hosting international conferences development. Sixty years later, it was essential and its oversight of international agreements for it to reflect current realities and direct its and treaties signed by the Government. energies to meet the aspirations of the vast 86. During the second half of the decade, IPU majority of its Members, which were and other regional parliamentary organizations developing countries. The need to expand the should focus on multilateral cooperation in Security Council to include developing addressing the issues of poverty, advancement countries as permanent members was of women and fighting terrorism. Her country’s imperative. The developing country goal was to graduate from least developed perspective would bring new approaches and country status by 2020. She expressed enhance the Council’s effectiveness and appreciation for all the support the Lao people legitimacy. had received in their efforts for national 91. Mr. Meleşcanu (Romania) said that the reconstruction and economic development. key role of parliaments in furthering the United 87. Mr. Jarzembowski (Poland) said that he Nations agenda was highlighted by the fact that perceived three main areas of international democratic governments were subject to their parliamentary cooperation that would be scrutiny and that any decision taken in the particularly significant in the near future. The multilateral sphere would sooner or later have first and most important objective was the task to enjoy parliamentary support if it was to

40 enter into force. Nevertheless, efforts still fell between the executive and legislative branches short of what was needed: a genuine of governments and at the international level parliamentary dimension of multilateral through the development of cooperation cooperation to help translate the lofty goals of among parliaments. Globalization had made the United Nations into practice and to reverse such cooperation essential. the democracy deficit of global governance. 95. He reaffirmed the desire to pursue For those two mutually reinforcing goals to be cooperation between the United Nations and met, better cooperation between national IPU, by institutionalizing and strengthening parliaments and the United Nations must be their existing ties while respecting the essential ensured. The key resources of the world’s principle of democracy, the separation of parliaments — legitimacy, trust, political powers. IPU represented an extraordinary experience, legislative knowledge — should be network of over 40,000 elected members of used to their full potential. IPU had the parliaments, which could be used to serve the capacity to provide parliamentary structures in people who had elected them. the global space which were both representative and effective and to mainstream 96. Mr. Arnold (Argentina) said that the a coherent contribution by parliaments to challenges currently facing the world multilateral relations. Parliaments and their demanded more from democratic systems than members were in the best position to forge ever before. The United Nations should be the participatory processes placing the rights and cornerstone of international relations, with well-being of people at the heart of human development as a priority concern. In order to development. meet the commitments for development finance made in the Millennium Declaration 92. Ms. Vollmer (Germany) said that better and the Monterrey Consensus, the parliaments use should be made of the potential of IPU to of Member States should show the necessary help bring the United Nations closer to the political will to provide the United Nations hearts of the people at a crucial moment in its with adequate human, legal and financial history. Democratic scrutiny of international resources to meet urgent economic and social politics was at the heart of international society. needs. The challenges facing the United Nations were growing, yet there was still no form of 97. He agreed that security was a necessary parliamentary scrutiny of its decisions. One condition for development, but also that way to remedy the democratic deficit in development was a condition of security. The international relations would be to give United Nations must also address questions of parliaments more influence, and the granting global security, especially questions of nuclear of observer status to IPU had been a step in the non-proliferation and arms control. The actions right direction. The German Bundestag had undertaken to combat terrorism were passed a resolution calling on the United welcome. Nations to create a parliamentary dimension 98. Parliaments should be actively involved at within the United Nations system through the the international level, not only through inter- development of IPU as a platform, along with parliamentary cooperation and diplomacy, but the establishment of an IPU standing also through involvement and influence on committee at United Nations Headquarters. international negotiations, follow-up on 93. In another recent initiative, German development commitments and oversight of parliamentarians were standing up for their international instruments and commitments. colleagues in places where they were He reaffirmed the recommendations made in threatened for their political work. She the Millennium Declaration and was optimistic expressed her incomprehension that about the outcome of the debate on the best representatives of two States had been way to ensure more structured interaction prevented from attending the Conference, in between the United Nations and national contradiction of the purpose of IPU, which was parliaments. to promote democratic structures through 99. Mr. Karoui (Tunisia) said that world events dialogue. National parliaments could become required a re-examination of the international workshops to forge a vision of global cooperation system to allow international democracy. organizations to play a major role in combating 94. Mr. del Picchia (France) said that the conflict, poverty and terrorism, as well as challenges of the twenty-first century called for natural disasters. a global response through action at the national level to exchange information

41

100. He called on IPU to help in developing a better system for delivery of assistance to combat poverty through North-South partnerships and such initiatives as the Global Solidarity Fund. He hoped that the forthcoming High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly would find ways to make the Millennium Development Goals a reality and to eradicate poverty, defuse tensions and ensure a more equitable distribution of wealth and modern technology. The meeting rose at 7.30 p.m.

42

Inter-Parliamentary Union Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments

Summary record of the 4th meeting Held at United Nations Headquarters, New York, on Friday, 9 September 2005, at 10 a.m.

President: Ms. Meyer (Vice-President) (Switzerland) Later: Mr. Majali (Vice-President) (Jordan) Later: Mr. Marín González (Vice-President) (Spain)

Contents

General debate on parliaments and multilateral cooperation: meeting the challenges of the twenty-first century (continued)

Ms. Meyer (Switzerland), Vice-President, took discuss common problems, and a the Chair. memorandum had been signed providing for the start-up of the Southern Caucasus The meeting was called to order at 10.05 a.m. Parliamentary Assembly on 1 January 2007. In

order to promote a progressive society General debate on parliaments and committed to the principles of justice, equality multilateral cooperation: meeting the and freedom, the National Assembly of challenges of the twenty-first century Armenia had adopted an electoral code and (continued) had instituted constitutional reforms aimed at decentralization of power and fair, transparent 1. Mr. Baghdasaryan (Armenia) said that the and democratic elections. involvement of parliaments in settling global issues had become imperative. Strong 3. Mr. Drilon (Philippines) said that five parliaments were necessary to a viable years ago Governments had been presented democracy, since they were the institution with the challenge of halving the proportion of most closely related to the people, and the world’s population suffering from extreme democracy was the most efficient way to meet poverty and hunger by the year 2015. At the the challenges of the millennium: terrorism, United Nations Millennium Assembly they had violation of human rights, hunger and poverty. committed themselves to addressing the The power of the parliament should be problems of international peace and security, guaranteed at the constitutional level, and democracy, respect for human rights, restrictions on its power should be resisted. sustainable development and social progress. Parliaments should operate on the principle of His Government was committed to those goals transparency and be open to inter- and over the past five years had made some parliamentary cooperation. modest gains. The Philippines had enacted the Magna Carta for the Poor, to provide them with 2. Unfortunately, parliamentary colleagues sustained opportunities for development. In from Azerbaijan were using every possible the area of security, it had enacted a forum to denounce Armenia, instead of taking comprehensive dangerous drugs act to curb the the opportunity to advance cooperation and influx and use of prohibited drugs in the good relations with their neighbours. It was country and had passed a strong anti-money- widely understood that the Karabagh conflict laundering act. In the area of human rights, it was about the struggle of the Karabagh people had enacted a Magna Carta for Women, to for self-determination and freedom, which they afford women protection against violence and had managed to achieve through a war exploitation and promote their full integration unleashed by Azerbaijan itself. In the lengthy into the mainstream of development. It had peace process, Armenia had consistently also established a comprehensive juvenile advocated regional cooperation as a justice system and a delinquency prevention confidence-building measure, since isolation of programme. any of the countries would threaten the stability of the region. As President of the 4. But the Philippines, like most developing National Assembly, in the past few years he countries, had been kept from making had been meeting with Speakers of the substantial gains towards achieving millennium parliaments of the Southern Caucasus to targets by a number of roadblocks: oil price

43 increases, the high cost of servicing the public the sixth General Assembly of AAPP in debt, corruption, weak infrastructure, an November 2005. If adopted, the Charter inefficient financial sector and trade barriers. would constitute a historical breakthrough and Many of those roadblocks could only be would represent a major contribution by Asian eliminated through global effort and parliaments to the strengthening of democracy multilateral cooperation. The challenge that and human rights. Parliaments and their confronted parliaments in the twenty-first members should cooperate more vigorously century was to tip the scales in favour of and take a proactive role in bilateral and improvement, rather than deterioration, in the multilateral relations in order to bring lasting quality of human life. peace and well-being to the world. 5. The Philippines supported proposals to 8. Mr. Guterres (Timor-Leste) said that, strengthen and reform the United Nations, in thanks to the determination of its people and particular the establishment of a Peacebuilding the long-standing solidarity of the international Commission to assist countries emerging from community, Timor-Leste was a new nation with conflicts and a Human Rights Council. It was its own national parliament and was striving to also in favour of the creation of peacebuilding live in ethnic and religious harmony and to and democracy funds, the early adoption of a build a pluralistic and participative democracy. comprehensive convention on terrorism and The role of a parliament was no longer the revival of the moribund United Nations confined to merely internal policies but disarmament machinery. Liberalized inter- embraced the function of a catalyst for the country migration was a special development State’s commitments at the regional and global concern that nations should consider to levels. Capacity-building and inter- promote common and complementing growth. parliamentary contacts were necessary to Parliamentarians, who were responsible for enable parliamentarians to understand the creating the legal framework within which global reality, so that they could fully represent Governments fulfilled their commitments, their constituents. could make an immense difference in creating 9. Since the adoption of the Universal a world free from poverty, hunger and other Declaration of Human Rights, equality without forms of deprivation. distinction of race, origin or social condition 6. Mr. Norodom Ranariddh (Cambodia) said had become a concept evoked by all peoples, that many countries in the developing world but there was still a wide gap between were facing poverty, but were forced to choose constitutional instruments and the human between paying insurmountable debt and rights conventions, between the rhetoric of addressing great social ills. Parliaments must act political parties and their practice. Parliaments collectively and energetically with should not only monitor the action of the State Governments, civil society and the private but should work actively — through legislation, sector to meet the Millennium Development the control mechanisms available to Goals and set the situation right. Rich nations parliaments and continuous contact with civil should honour their commitments to society — to overcome any inertia on the part development and seriously tackle the issues of of the State in realizing civil, political, debt cancellation, debt conversion for economic, social and environmental rights and financing Millennium Development Goal any tendency to favour specific social or projects and special designation for poor interest groups. countries. 10. Conscious of a common heritage and of 7. Parliaments of 39 nations were members the Earth as a shared home where no people or of the Association of Asian Parliaments for individual should be treated as superfluous, Peace (AAPP). Among other objectives, such as parliaments should include new items of global the establishment of an Asian parliamentary significance on their agendas, such as assembly and an Asian anti-poverty fund, AAPP environmental protection, management of had decided to draft a Charter of Human water and energy resources, globalization, Rights for Asian Nations, which would reflect human rights and the fight against hunger, the specific characteristics of Asian civilization poverty, disease and illiteracy, and should and cultures, while respecting the fundamental expand their effectiveness through inter- principles contained in the Universal parliamentary cooperation, including on a Declaration of Human Rights and all relevant regional level or on the basis of a shared international conventions. Cambodia had been language. entrusted with the task of chairing the drafting 11. Dr. Al-Hasani (Iraq) said that committee, which had just unanimously parliamentary democracy in Iraq was still in adopted the draft Charter, to be submitted to 44 crisis. The loyalties of Iraqis were divided along 14. The Second World Conference had the ethnic, sectarian or partisan lines. The fact that further aims of reflecting on how best to Iraqi political parties were adopting policies of promote international cooperation and support revenge instead of reform, dialogue and the United Nations and how best to expand reconciliation could be attributed to the lasting the involvement of parliaments in international damage caused by the former Iraqi regime, relations. International relations could not be whose dictatorial practices were responsible for left solely to technicians; since representatives the difficulties faced at present in introducing a to parliament were elected by the people, it democratic system in Iraq. Furthermore, some was high time for them to take a more active decisions taken after the fall of the former part in reflecting on key questions of regime — such as the disbanding of the army international cooperation: how to strengthen and security forces and the exclusion of the democracy in international relations, and Baath party — had undermined the process of specifically in decision-making mechanisms reconstruction, led to widespread boycotting of within the United Nations; how to equip the elections and resulted in the formation of an United Nations better to meet the millennium unbalanced National Assembly. There was still challenges; how to deepen the role of hope that differences over parts of the draft parliamentary diplomacy in international Iraqi constitution could be resolved, so that all relations; how to strengthen mechanisms for Iraq would take part in the referendum on 15 human rights protection; and how to resolve October 2005 to approve it. If the constitution the debt problem threatening the growth and was adopted, new elections could be held by development of the poorest countries. the end of the year. He urged all countries and 15. For many, the right to development meant regional and international organizations to simply the right to be clean and fed. Such was send international observers to Iraq during the the case, for example, for the thousands of referendum and elections. Despite their women and children of the Niger suffering struggles to rebuild their country’s shattered from hunger and disease owing to drought, infrastructure, while at the same time plagues of locusts and poor sanitation facilities. combating the dark forces of terrorism, the He wished to thank the international Iraqi people had nonetheless displayed their community for its help to the Niger in its time determination not to revert to tyranny but to of need and for the solidarity shown by the pursue the path to democratic government. Secretary-General of the United Nations in his 12. Mr. Ousmane (Niger) said that the recent visit. conference was taking place in the context of 16. Mr. Hughes (Ghana) said that the United major upheavals. Trade globalization was Nations was at a crossroads and was facing marked by unequal competition between the many challenges and threats in an increasingly stronger and weaker economies and had led complex global environment. The legislative not only to multilateralism but also to multi- capacity of parliaments, and in particular their polarization in international relations, which treaty-making functions, gave them an were seriously threatened by the diverging important role in tackling global issues and opinions concerning reform of the United challenges, through regular interaction among Nations, especially the sensitive issue of parliaments to envision common solutions. enlargement of the Security Council. The Ghana, for example, was cooperating Second World Conference of Speakers of multilaterally with the Economic Community of Parliaments provided the opportunity to review West African States (ECOWAS), the African progress in implementing the commitments Union and the United Nations in dealing with contained in the Declaration issued by the civil and ethnic conflicts in the West African Conference of Presiding Officers of National subregion. The Parliament of Ghana was Parliaments in 2000. working closely with others in the region to 13. Since that first conference, the various make good governance the cornerstone of national parliaments had shown great interest Africa’s development path. African in international cooperation. The National Governments and leaders had established Assembly of the Niger, for example, had made concrete frameworks for collaboration in parliamentary diplomacy one of its main resolving common problems. In other regions, priorities and had re-established its cooperative too, there was an increasing trend towards the relations with inter-parliamentary organizations establishment of parliamentary and other types after a suspension of some years due to of collaborative institutions to meet common political instability in the country. challenges, with the European Parliament being a trailblazer in that regard, and there was a

45 potential for cross-collaboration among such Millennium Development Goals, in spite of a regional and subregional institutions. The growing willingness, including on the part of answer to the challenges of the contemporary parliamentarians, to implement those world was to be found, not in the individual objectives. Furthermore, virtually all countries strengths of nations, but in the realization that in Africa needed the help of international security should be sought collectively. partners to address the problems facing them. Participants had therefore stressed the need for 17. Mr. Rawiri (Gabon) said that the greater international partners and States to implement involvement of parliamentarians in their international commitments, including international issues reflected progress in with regard to good governance; mobilize democracy and freedom around the world. resources to support parliamentary initiatives; Nonetheless, that progress had not brought and strengthen the role of parliaments. with it the hoped-for development of all countries. In Africa, for example, most States 20. In view of the deteriorating social and faced enormous difficulties in reaching the economic situation of certain States, in Millennium Development Goals. In addition to particular in the Sahel region, parliaments must the problems of worsening poverty and the balance population growth and available rapid spread of HIV/AIDS, the health and resources to reduce pressure on national education systems in the region remained budgets and the environment. In addition, the weak. The industrialized countries needed to international community as a whole should make good on their promises of increased promote fair and equal redistribution of development assistance, greater debt relief and wealth, which was a prerequisite for security, real support for fairer international trade. For democracy, development and human rights. their part, the poorer countries recognized the 21. The Conference of Speakers of African need to make sustained efforts to manage National Assemblies had looked to the future available resources more effectively. and reaffirmed its commitment to the New 18. Gabon welcomed the draft document Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). containing proposals for ambitious reforms of It had also approved the efforts of national the United Nations and hoped that world parliaments to provide their peoples with an leaders could reach agreement on it in the acceptable standard of living, and promote coming week. Parliamentarians intended to recognition of the idea that people had a right participate fully in that collective effort by the to expect that their basic needs would be met. international community. Since peace and 22. The declaration to be adopted by the solidarity among peoples were important Second World Conference should send a clear factors in securing stability and prosperity for message to Heads of State and Government. humankind, the Senate of Gabon had thrown The latter should take advantage of the its support behind the initiatives of President opportunity provided by reform of the United Bongo Ondimba in favour of peaceful Nations to facilitate the participation of settlement of conflicts and promotion of parliaments in multilateral cooperation efforts, fundamental rights. Aware that multilateral so that parliaments could work with the cooperation was necessary to promote peace, international community to face the challenges democracy and development, Gabon of the twenty-first century. subscribed fully to the draft declaration to be adopted by the Conference. 23. Mr. Suchon (Thailand) said that parliaments, which truly represented the 19. Mr. Ouaïdou (Chad) said the Second peoples of the world, should play a larger role World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in international diplomacy. Inter-parliamentary provided an opportunity for delegates to organizations, including the Inter-Parliamentary review the situation of parliamentary Union, provided a forum for parliamentarians participation in international affairs, progress to express their opinions on issues of towards achievement of the Millennium international interest and to formulate Development Goals and above all the recommendations for action by their national contribution of parliaments to the Governments. Inter-parliamentary strengthening of democracy. At the Conference organizations should develop common of Speakers of African National Assemblies on legislative guidelines or even draft laws to serve Issues of Population and Development, held in as a basis for national legislation on common N’Djaména on 18 and 19 May 2005, problems such as terrorism, drugs, epidemics participants had noted that a lack of financial and others. That shared framework for national resources was hindering implementation of the legislation would ensure coherent action at the outcomes of the International Conference on international level. Population and Development and the 46

24. Inter-parliamentary organizations should underdevelopment and terrorism would be make greater effort to ensure that decision- more effective if parliaments, as the legitimate takers at the national and international levels representatives of peoples, played a decisive recognized the contribution that such role in international relations. The Second organizations could make, and the importance World Conference of Speakers of Parliament of cooperation with them, so that executive provided an opportunity to take stock of the branches, which control resource allocation, work of parliaments, review the proposed would be more inclined to implement solutions reform of the United Nations and further proposed by them. strengthen cooperation between the Inter- Parliamentary Union and the United Nations. 25. Mr. Majali (Jordan), Vice-President, took In that context, he welcomed the many the Chair. cooperation initiatives between those two 26. Mr. Severino Cavalcanti (Brazil) organizations and the excellent work done by expressed protest and outrage against the the Office of the Permanent Observer of the decision of the Government of the United Inter-Parliamentary Union to the United States to deny visas to the delegations of Cuba Nations in promoting a parliamentary and Iran, which had wished to participate in perspective in international relations. A greater the Conference. role for parliaments in the negotiation of international instruments which would affect 27. He said that Brazil was strengthening the the peoples they represented would improve autonomy of parliament and the participation the implementation of those instruments at the of citizens in the legislative process. national level and guarantee that they reflected Mechanisms had been established to give all the aspirations of the peoples of the world. As Brazilian citizens the opportunity to express was stressed in the declaration adopted in their views to members of Congress. Parliament 2000 at the first conference parliaments should was also playing a major role in meeting play a more active role. They should act as Brazil’s commitment to the Millennium intermediaries, rather than simply allowing Development Goals. Financial resources had their respective executive branches to act been allocated to social programmes, and without their consent. Continued cooperation policies aimed at achieving those Goals, even between the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the before 2015, had been debated. United Nations would be beneficial to 28. Democratic parliaments, which gave mankind because international relations were legitimacy to government action, were playing above all inter-governmental relations, in greater roles in the field of international which parliaments had an essential role to play. relations. In keeping with his parliament’s 31. The parliament of Djibouti had made commitment to parliamentary diplomacy, more efforts to implement the recommendations and than 70 bilateral parliamentary groups had suggestions emanating from the first conference been established with a view to promoting with regard to the achievement of the peace through dialogue and cooperation Millennium Development Goals. For example, among parliaments. Legislation for a plebiscite regulatory and legislative measure had been on the country’s current disarmament process, adopted to increase the representation of to take place in October 2005, had been women in decision-taking at all levels. adopted. Small arms in particular were a major Awareness-raising measures had been taken in concern. parliament to promote gender issues, and a 29. International peace was closely associated quota of 10 per cent for women members of with economic development and the parliament had been voted and would be promotion of justice in trade relations. His raised considerably in coming years. The basic parliament therefore closely followed issues of sustainable development, peace and negotiations on international agreements, in security should be at the heart of discussions particular trade agreements, and was directly during the Second World Conference in order involved in negotiations regarding the Free to promote concrete actions, so that Trade Area of the Americans and the creation development assistance, in accordance with of a MERCOSUR parliament. His delegation the Millennium Declaration, the outcome of supported the draft declaration of the Second the World Summit on Sustainable World Conference of Speakers of Parliament. Development and the Monterrey Consensus, would be mobilized to promote the 30. Mr. Ali (Djibouti) said that international development of the peoples of the world. The efforts to promote democracy in a world facing Second World Conference should also present the challenges of hunger, illness, a united front in addressing the great

47 challenges facing mankind and reaffirm that 36. Mr. Mukhamejanov (Kazakhstan) said that democracy must be founded on the rule of law elected representatives had a great and respect for human dignity; human-centred responsibility to address the burning issues sustainable economic and social development; facing mankind, including poverty eradication, proportional representation for women in discrimination, human trafficking, drug parliaments; and protection of the trafficking and the proliferation of nuclear environment, which was essential for weapons. Kazakhstan had worked consistently sustainable development. for the prohibition of the production and testing of all weapons of mass destruction and 32. Mr. Mendez Herbruger (Guatemala) said had been the first country in the history of that the Second World Conference had mankind voluntarily to renounce its nuclear brought together men and women who were weapons capability, which had been the fourth the sovereign representatives of their peoples largest in the world. In 1993 the parliament of and of democracy in their countries. In Kazakhstan had voted to ratify the Nuclear attending the Conference, delegates reaffirmed Non-Proliferation Treaty. It appealed to all the the commitment of their parliaments to nuclear-weapon States to reduce their nuclear democracy and the strengthening of arsenals, called for stricter compliance with international relations and cooperation. It was non-proliferation regimes and stressed the significant that the conference was being held need to ensure that weapons of mass in the General Assembly Hall, the seat of the destruction did not fall into hands of highest parliament of the modern world. international terrorists. 33. Bearing in mind the outcomes of the first 37. Other matters of grave concern were the conference, parliamentarians had enacted political and social consequences of drug legislation to adapt their legal structures to the trafficking and drug addiction, which were needs of their people and to implement the directly linked to illegal migration, organized Millennium Development Goals. Steps had crime and international terrorism. It was also likewise been taken to combat terrorism, necessary to work actively to eliminate poverty although such efforts must not affect full by increasing assistance to States in need and respect for human rights. deepening regional trade and economic 34. His parliament had also consolidated ties cooperation. with the other Central American countries and 38. In the light of problems such as the the Dominican Republic, with whom a gradual disappearance of the Aral Sea and the strategic degree of economic and political after-effects of nuclear testing in its territory, integration had been attained. A free trade protection of the environment was a priority agreement had also been entered into with the for his country. The sustainable development United States of America as part of an effort to not only of Kazakhstan but of the whole of better integrate with the process of Central Asia continued to be affected by the globalization and create better opportunities social and economic consequences of such for the peoples of the region. disasters, and he would urge the developed 35. In the context of the United Nations, countries and international organizations to parliaments were the standard bearers of the devote greater attention to those issues, which rule of law and respect for human rights, were global in nature. principles which contributed to the 39. Since joining the United Nations in 1992, maintenance of international peace and and under the guidance of its first President, security. Participation of parliamentarians in Kazakhstan had carried out social and the Second World Conference was vital, so that economic reforms unprecedented in the post- the recommendations adopted by the Soviet countries and had become one of the Conference could become a reality in most rapidly developing countries in the world, participants’ respective countries. Guatemala with an economic growth rate of 9 per cent a actively supported the work of the Inter- year. Numerous educational, social and health Parliamentary Union and the regional programmes had been established to promote parliaments. Lastly, in its area, recalling the employment of women, provide State benefits principles of equality and self-determination to low-income wage earners, develop small- enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and medium-sized business, promote universal he wished to express the solidarity of the secondary education and improve the quality Congress of the Republic of Guatemala with of education, among other things by sending the people of Taiwan, whose aspiration to some 3,000 students a year to study abroad. In representation in international organizations addition, a National Fund to provide for had not yet been fulfilled. economic stability had been established. 48

40. Progress towards democracy and the would bring to its term on the Security strengthening of civil society was continuing; Council. Central European nations still there were currently 10 active political parties remembered that it was difficult to build and and some 4,000 non-governmental easy to destroy mutual understanding and that organizations. A moratorium on the death the problems of small regions could be the root penalty had been introduced, and the cause of a world catastrophe. That experience penitentiary system was to be transferred to could be of some benefit to the Security civilian authority. Freedom of expression was Council, in a world which was reminiscent of guaranteed; there was no censorship, and Central Europe between the First and Second there were more than 2,000 registered media World Wars. enterprises, 80 per cent of which were private 44. Dealing with the difficult challenges facing enterprises. In the context of democratic the world would require a willingness on the reform, the powers of parliament would be part of individual States to assume their share increased with regard to the formation of of international responsibility. His delegation Governments and other constitutional bodies, was prepared to support rapid and energetic and local authorities would become subject to reform of the United Nations but believed that election. The forthcoming presidential it was important to recall the founding elections would be held in full compliance with principles of the United Nations. international standards. As a committed member of the international community, 45. Ms. Castro (Uruguay) said that the world Kazakhstan, a country of diverse ethnic groups had slid into catastrophe, leaving behind and religions, would continue to be actively ecological damage, depleted natural resources, engaged in tackling the major issues facing unemployment, violence and poverty. The only mankind. way to combat the situation was to shift the concentration of wealth and power and end 41. Mr. Hrusovský (Slovakia) recalled that the consumer wastefulness. It was also imperative United Nations had been established in the that nations should work together to build a aftermath of the Second World War, with a different, more caring world where human view to applying the lessons learned from that rights were respected. As a multilateral arena conflict. The current international environment for debate and decision-making, the Inter- was changing rapidly, but there were basic facts Parliamentary Union could play a significant and moral imperatives which had not changed. role in generating such changes. Although there had been no global war since the establishment of the United Nations, which 46. Mr. Cukjati (Slovenia) said that the must be considered a success, there continued existing international structures had proved to be armed conflicts in which innocent insufficient in providing security and stability. civilians, including children, had died in great Inter-parliamentary cooperation at the global numbers. That situation remained level could help create a better world by unacceptable. providing a forum where tensions between nations, cultures and religions could be 42. International organizations such as the analysed and hopefully solved. However, a United Nations could not alone resolve the more active and concrete approach to solving problems of the world, even if the current international tensions was required. First, any proposed reforms of the Organization were parliament should have the chance to identify successful. Just as national parliaments a burning issue and propose a solution. The reconciled the competing interests of the proposer would then draw up a draft communities represented in them to approve declaration and organize a debate among binding regulations and standards, rules concerned parliaments. In the case of governing the coexistence of nations must be agreement, the Speakers of parliaments would based on respect for their particular interests then adopt a declaration to be ratified by and situations. national parliaments. Since the proposed 43. He represented a small State which had manner of work required careful regulation, his had to cope with many problems, including the delegation proposed that the new President of effects of totalitarianism. Its citizens, the Inter-Parliamentary Union appoint a core nevertheless, currently enjoyed more rights and team to prepare draft rules of procedure by the a higher standard of living than most of the next conference. world’s inhabitants. It would, however, be 47. Mr. Weiler (Luxembourg) said that the immoral to seek to simply protect one’s own Inter-Parliamentary Union’s primary concern advantages while ignoring the suffering of was to help nations find solutions to challenges others. That was the perspective his delegation

49 such as armed conflict, terrorism, poverty, parliaments of Member States and the call for human rights violations and the deterioration an “International Day of Parliaments”. of the environment. Although international 51. Mr. Marín (Spain), Vice-President, took the parliamentary forums were clearly Chair. indispensable, they served mainly as forums for dialogue. Parliaments could, however, make a 52. Mr. Spiric (Bosnia and Herzegovina) said significant contribution at the national level by that many armed conflicts could have been influencing foreign policy. For many years, the averted if parliamentarians, who were the Parliament of Luxembourg had pushed legitimate representatives of the people, had cooperation for development into the forefront had the opportunity to convene regularly and by raising public awareness and pressuring the participate in negotiations and decision-making Government. As a result, Luxembourg now processes. In that regard, his delegation was allocated nearly 1 per cent of its GDP to pleased that the United Nations had granted development aid. the Inter-Parliamentary Union observer status. Bosnia and Herzegovina was of the opinion 48. Mr. Somparé (Guinea) said that the that the Conference should be institutionalized political bipolarization of the past, which had and convened on a regular basis, so that enriched the wealthiest nations, must be parliaments could play a more active role in replaced by a world where sharing and international relations. tolerance enriched all of mankind. That aim could not be achieved without an intensive 53. Although the United Nations remained reorganization of national practices and an the ideal forum for the solution of conflicts, it ambitious reform of the United Nations system. needed to be streamlined and democratized to In that context, the Inter-Parliamentary Union allow for a more balanced representation of was an asset that should be used to the fullest. Member States. In view of the fact that the It was to be hoped that parliaments would do Organization had been ineffective in resolving their utmost to eliminate the ongoing crises several crises around the globe, Bosnia and resulting from poverty, intolerance and a dual Herzegovina felt that the Security Council system of justice, thereby building a more should be given a more important role. peaceful and equitable world. However, the United Nations should proceed cautiously with its reform, remembering that 49. Mr. O’Hanlon (Ireland) said that the full consensus of all Member States must be parliamentarians had an obligation to obtained and preserving the basic principles of encourage dialogue and debate by developing the Charter, including respect for the bilateral and multilateral relationships. sovereignty and territorial integrity of all Although there had been substantial growth in nations. Bulgaria fully supported the Secretary- cooperation in the areas of economic General’s efforts to reform and strengthen the development, security, trade and agriculture, it United Nations and the proposals in his report, was clear that much remained to be done to “In larger freedom” (A/59/2005) as a basis for eradicate hunger, disease and hatred. negotiation. Multilateral cooperation against terrorism, for example, was essential for success. But the 54. Achieving the objectives of the challenges facing the international community Millennium Declaration would require must be understood in terms of their multilateral effort, both globally and regionally. underlying causes as well as their effects. In combating organized crime, Bosnia and Ireland recognized that conflict, inadequate Herzegovina had significantly improved governance and lack of development cooperation among its national institutions and characterized the daily lives of many human with other countries in the region. beings. A greater involvement of members of 55. Mr. Pirinski (Bulgaria) said that parliaments in debates on issues such as the cooperation between parliaments had acquired ongoing crises in Africa would impact on public new importance, given that the democracy gap policies and help to keep development at the was the basic factor threatening international top of political agendas. peace and security, sustainable development 50. The decision of the United Nations to and respect for human rights. National grant observer status to the Inter-Parliamentary parliaments were called upon to play a central Union was a positive step towards providing a role in overcoming the challenges facing parliamentary dimension to international today’s world. Priorities included the cooperation. His delegation welcomed the promotion of employment, the eradication of draft declaration circulated to the Conference, starvation and poverty and the need to take particularly the paragraphs referring to the the social dimension of globalization into strengthening of the role of national account. 50

56. Mr. Hastings (Parliamentary Assembly of situation of small island developing States like the Organization for Security and Cooperation Nauru must be fully recognized. in Europe) said that the Inter-Parliamentary 61. Nauru had ratified most of the Union was the oldest international international conventions relevant to global parliamentary assembly in the world, whereas security, human rights and world peace. Of the Parliamentary Assembly of the concern to the international community was Organization for Security and Cooperation in the effort made by Nauru to combat money- Europe (OSCE) was one of the youngest. The laundering. Parliament had passed a series of missions of both, to promote parliamentary laws to deal with the problem, and Nauru diplomacy in order to bring about freedom, hoped that those efforts of compliance would liberty and democracy for the people of the be recognized by the relevant institutions. His world, were identical and remained as country was concerned about bridging the gap important as ever. in decision-making in international relations 57. When the Inter-Parliamentary Union had and addressing areas ignored by the been founded in 1889, there was no Internet international community. For Nauru, the or e-mail, there were no fax machines or world’s continued rejection of the plight of the cellular phones, no airplanes or automobiles. 23 million Chinese on the island of Taiwan Opportunities for parliamentary diplomacy amounted to a shirking of international were limited. In the current interconnected obligations. It was incumbent upon the world, parliamentarians could communicate representatives of the peoples of the world to with their colleagues in Brussels or Bali or encourage peaceful dialogue towards a lasting Bombay in a matter of seconds. With all the resolution by, as a first step, securing Taiwan’s facilities available, history would remember participation in the United Nations. parliamentarians only for how they acted and 62. Mr. Soomro (Pakistan) said that national interacted to articulate the voice of the people parliaments expressed and embodied the and to make the world a freer, more secure, sovereign will of the people; hence the more prosperous place. He called on all allegiance of the national parliaments to the present to act boldly, to be creative and to give Charter of the United Nations was not just not only a voice but hope to constituents. The symbolic but natural. He reaffirmed his attainment of human rights would make efforts country’s commitment to the Charter and to a towards other goals easier and give meaning to cooperative and inclusive approach to life in a safe and prosperous world. addressing the intractable political, economic 58. Although he was addressing the and social challenges facing the world in the Conference as President of the Parliamentary twenty-first century. Over the years, the Assembly of OSCE, as a member of the United magnitude of those challenges had grown in States Congress, he intended to push for its complexity and scope, so that parliaments had return to the Inter-Parliamentary Union. a special responsibility to synergize their efforts. Pakistan was committed to peace and 59. Mr. Dowiyogo (Nauru) said that the dialogue and to the peaceful settlement of Republic of Nauru had 18 single-member disputes. constituencies. There were no recognized parties and all members were independent; in 63. Terrorism with extremism had emerged as the past, that had caused difficulties when a one of the major security issues of the times. A Government needed nine parliamentary votes comprehensive strategy needed to be to defeat a motion of no-confidence. In the implemented through multilateral means to current parliament, the Government was counter that threat. The strategy pursued must supported by 16 members, and that should address those root causes having to do with enable the necessary economic measures to be political and economic injustices and the passed to put Nauru back on its feet. regional asymmetries of weaponry. Accordingly, the President of Pakistan had proposed the 60. Owing to geographical isolation, Nauru concept of “enlightened moderation” to tackle did not face all the social challenges faced by the underlying causes of terrorism. The success larger countries, but its economy was weak and of that initiative would be contingent upon the underdeveloped, its capacity limited and its collective action of the international ecological system fragile. Nauru’s very community. existence was threatened by rising sea levels and climate change. For multilateralism to 64. Parliaments should promote just solutions work in the twenty-first century, the special to situations of grave political injustice prevailing in territories under foreign

51 occupation. The treatment of the occupied parliaments to strengthen the parliamentary people should be vigilantly monitored and the dimension in international relations, create a realization of their inalienable right of self- more stable world and secure respect for determination facilitated in accordance with international law, the Charter of the United the Charter. Peace and development were Nations and the diversity of peoples. The interdependent, and parliaments should United Nations was making commendable promote job creation and income generation efforts to mobilize groups and resources in in order to eradicate the poverty that support of peace and development. To create a threatened human security. Governments more stable world, the culture of peace and should be urged to explore innovative ways of justice must be consolidated, the use of force strengthening international cooperation to abandoned, and developing countries helped realize the Millennium Development Goals; as they pursued progress. Weapons of mass expedite the establishment of an equitable destruction should be eliminated and a financial, investment and trading regime; and conference held to consider the phenomenon generate and mobilize resources to speed up of terrorism, unify efforts to combat terrorism development. and identify its underlying causes. Capacities to cope with poverty, ignorance and illness must 65. Cultural stereotyping and defamation of also be mobilized. The international community religions could seriously undermine all efforts must shoulder its responsibility for resolving to promote harmony and understanding among conflicts, especially those in occupied Palestine cultures and civilizations, which was critical for and Iraq. In the past few years his country had global peace and security. National parliaments made considerable strides in human-centred should develop close partnerships to prevent development. pernicious attempts to link violent acts of isolated individuals with any specific religion, 69. Mr. Riccardi (San Marino) said that, with region or culture. the advent of the third millennium, it had been hoped that war, hatred and oppression would 66. National parliaments were duty bound to forever become remote threats, so that all strengthen the foundations of good governance efforts could be directed towards building a and democracy in their societies in keeping world of peace, human rights and prosperity with their specific political, social and cultural for all peoples. In that same hope, the first realities. Inter-parliamentary relations should conference in 2000 had reaffirmed the be promoted to share national experiences, confidence of its participants in democratic particularly in the fields of literacy, disease, institutions, particularly in parliamentary health, education, economic and social democracy, and their will to cooperate with development and the empowerment of women one another and with the United Nations, and minorities. Pakistan had taken steps to which had acknowledged the importance of enhance the participation of women in the the Inter-Parliamentary Union by granting it electoral process. At the local government level observer status. Those hopes had been dashed 33 per cent of seats were reserved for women, by the tragic events that had marked the start and their presence in the provincial and of the century. San Marino believed that no national parliaments exceeded 20 per cent. effort should be spared by the international The demand of minorities for joint electorates community to implement the Millennium had been accepted. Declaration. On the occasion of the upcoming 67. Pakistan attached great importance to high-level plenary meeting of the General enhancing cooperation between two people- Assembly, the Republic’s Heads of State, who centric organizations, the United Nations and were also its Speakers of Parliament, would the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and remained renew the commitment of San Marino and its committed to the realization of global peace, institutions to the goals stated in that universal prosperity and development. There Declaration. should be full awareness of the competitive 70. Participation in the Inter-Parliamentary challenges of globalization and standardization. Union had helped to guide and inspire the The quality of life could be universally Government of San Marino to ratify major improved on the basis of mutual respect and international legal instruments; ensure broader an understanding of the diversity that existed in and more effective support for human rights; the world. protect freedom at all levels and combat 68. Mr. Elfirjani (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) said terrorism; promote democracy and that the first conference had reaffirmed the independence throughout the world and affirm principles and policies adopted by the General the rule of law; protect the environment and Assembly and encouraged action by preserve the world’s natural and cultural 52 heritage; implement humanitarian projects in a committed itself to work towards the goals set number of less favoured regions; and forth in the Conference declaration. strengthen international cooperation as the 73. Ms. Tourné (Latin American Parliament) crucial instrument for achieving peace. said that Latin America was among the most Reaffirming his country’s support for the unequal of the world’s regions, and that United Nations, where all States, irrespective created a structural barrier to the achievement of size, could play a significant role in of the objectives of the Millennium strengthening and revitalizing the Organization, Declaration. It was imperative to provide he expressed the hope that the Conference stronger support and to rethink the would make a valuable contribution to development strategies for Latin America and parliamentary democracy all over the world. the Caribbean, since in most countries of the 71. Mr. Gaombalet (Central African Republic) region progress towards the eradication of said that the Central African Republic had just extreme poverty and hunger had been instituted a new parliament, marking its return insignificant. to constitutional legality and democratic 74. The Latin American Parliament had normalcy. Upon achieving independence, most proclaimed 2005 as the Year of the Latin African countries had embraced democracy American and Caribbean Woman and was based on the separation of the executive, stressing the need for a gender perspective. In legislative and judicial branches of government, Latin America and the Caribbean, extreme but for the most part the initial impetus had poverty had a female face and to avoid a not been sustained. In his country few regimes gender analysis was to fail to address the over the past 45 years could be described as reproduction of poverty. Social inclusion must truly democratic according to universal be extended to the thousands of women standards. Worse still, the past decade had without social security, education or a decent been marked by military interventions in job. Providing modern birth control methods politics, which had impeded development, and would help prevent 52 million unwanted jeopardized security, human rights and national pregnancies, 142,000 maternal deaths and 1.4 unity. With help from other Central and West million infant deaths each year. In Latin African States and United Nations agencies, the America, where 21 per cent of maternal deaths people of Central Africa had been able to turn were caused by high-risk abortions, it had that page of their sad history and hold become imperative for sexual and reproductive presidential and parliamentary elections in health to become an integral part of national April and May 2005. Learning from the development planning and to be included in mistakes of the past, the new National country reporting on the achievement of the Assembly had introduced innovations: the Millennium Development Goals. Moreover, majority and opposition parties were both more than 60 per cent of those between 15 represented among its officers and the same and 24 years of age with HIV/AIDS were young principle applied to the establishment of women. Only if regional and global agendas standing committees. Gender had been taken were updated to reflect a gender perspective into account, among other things, by extending could sustainable development be achieved. the mandate of the National Human Rights Commission to population, gender, The meeting rose at 12.55 p.m. development, human rights, international humanitarian law and advocacy issues. 72. His country hoped for assistance in strengthening its new parliamentary institution and supported the United Nations proposal to establish a Peacebuilding Commission. It hoped that other government partners would follow that lead in assisting with development problems. The people of the Central African Republic were justly proud of having achieved the return to constitutional rule but were aware that an inadequate approach to the country’s economic and financial problems would lead it once again into an impasse. On its part, the parliament of the Central African Republic

53

Inter-Parliamentary Union Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments

Summary record of the 5th meeting Held at United Nations Headquarters, New York, on Friday, 9 September 2005, at 3 p.m.

President: Ms. Burdjanadze (Vice-President) (Georgia) Later: Mr. Paéz Verdugo (President) (Chile)

Contents

General debate on parliaments and multilateral cooperation: meeting the challenges of the twenty-first century (continued) Adoption of the Declaration Closure of the Conference

Ms. Burdjanadze (Georgia), Vice-President, took 3. Cooperation, not cooption, based on a the Chair. two-way flow of information and insights, must characterize the multilateralism of the future. The meeting was called to order at 3.05 p.m. Parliamentarians from small countries like Saint

Kitts and Nevis had a valuable store of essential General debate on parliaments and and unique insights that could spare countries multilateral cooperation: meeting the large and small from unintended consequences challenges of the twenty-first century and help to formulate policies that truly (continued) benefited the common man working in the factory and the sugar cane fields. She called for 1. Ms. Liburd (Saint Kitts and Nevis) said greater cooperation by multilateral agencies that exchanges of views at international and institutions, and for greater understanding, conferences must be carried over into in a truly integrated approach to addressing the legitimate policy prescriptions long after those major problems of the twenty-first century, conferences were over. Faced with the task of from combating HIV/AIDS to eradicating implementing the Millennium Development poverty and hunger, to guaranteeing human Goals and dealing with human conflict and rights and good governance. The English- natural disaster in every corner of the globe, speaking nations of the Caribbean had a proud elected representatives must dedicate tradition of stable, parliamentary democracy themselves to controlling unrest and turmoil and stood ready to cooperate with other within their national borders and beyond, nations of the world to support that new form while preserving the principles of democracy. of multilateralism. 2. Saint Kitts and Nevis, the smallest 4. Mr. Tomeing (Marshall Islands) said that in independent nation in the Western order to effectively discharge their duties — Hemisphere, was forging alliances with more law-making, representing the interests of their prosperous nations in an effort to buttress its constituents and holding the executive branch own national initiatives and achieve its of government accountable for its actions — development goals. In a mutually reinforcing parliamentarians must first have the necessary dynamic, parliaments and parliamentarians capacity. Sadly, many parliaments continued to must create an enabling democratic face great challenges and were in need of environment for the successful implementation assistance from the international community. of United Nations peace and development The parliament of the Marshall Islands had activities while United Nations institutions been fortunate to receive assistance from the reformed anachronistic features that impeded Pacific Islands Forum Presiding Officers and the advancement of democracy. In that Clerks Conference and was currently working connection, she called on the United Nations with development partners to begin the first to take a proactive stance in maintaining peace phase of its capacity-building projects. in the Taiwan Strait and to uphold the principle Parliaments with inadequate capacity were in of universality by giving a voice to the 23 very real need of practical assistance in order million people of Taiwan, who had espoused to address the pressing problems of the times, the principles of democracy. particularly terrorism and HIV/AIDS.

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5. He also appealed to the Inter-9. Mr. Lupu (Republic of Moldova) said that Parliamentary Union to consider the it was incumbent on parliaments to play a application by Taiwan, whose 23 million stronger role in international affairs, and that people represented too significant a portion of the Inter-Parliamentary Union was the most the world’s population to be denied a voice in appropriate framework for that purpose. international affairs. Parliaments were expanding their focus beyond the specific concerns of their own countries to 6. Mr. Zaoralek (Czech Republic) said that global issues in a world characterized by his country cherished the freedom and globalization and regional integration, a trend democracy it had been able to build in the past reflected in the granting of observer status by 15 years, having been occupied by the Nazis the United Nations to the Inter-Parliamentary and a satellite of the Soviet régime throughout Union. The involvement of parliamentarians much of the twentieth century. The pressing brought legitimacy to efforts to address such issues of poverty and development and the major issues as international security, arms unpredictability of natural disaster and terrorist proliferation, failed States, terrorism and attacks highlighted the continuing need for the separatism. United Nations, the establishment of shared goals among nations and respect for the 10. Younger democracies should be intent on principle of compromise and negotiations. strengthening the democratic process by Although the United Nations had been a protecting and promoting human rights and recent target of criticism, the reality was that it maintaining constructive dialogue with civil was only as imperfect as each of its Member society. In Moldova, parliamentarians had States. It made no sense to recreate a different become increasingly involved in strengthening institution; rather, there was an urgent need to democracy and security in the region. In the reform the Organization and to increase summer, the Moldovan Parliament had solidarity among the countries of the world. supported a Ukrainian plan for settling the conflict in the eastern region of Moldova, with 7. Mr. Marini-Bodho (Democratic Republic emphasis on the need for democratization and of the Congo) said that parliamentarians could demilitarization. For the first time in history, provide vital support to international the Moldovan Parliament was seeking to cooperation and the United Nations through cooperate with non-governmental international, regional, subregional and organizations and to maintain a dialogue with national parliamentary organizations. civil society. It was also deepening its Cooperation between the United Nations and cooperation with United Nations agencies in the Inter-Parliamentary Union was a positive order to implement such national projects as development and should be reinforced through the Human Rights National Action Plan and the a clear division of labour and the establishment Strategy for Economic Growth and Poverty of a structure for ongoing dialogue between Reduction. them. 11. Mr. Sobotka (Czech Republic) said that, 8. Parliamentarians were called upon to owing to their consensual nature, parliaments support international cooperation through the were often criticized for being ineffective and adoption of sound legislation and the did not enjoy the respect they deserved. establishment of specialized commissions Sometimes they were undermined by the very within their organizational structures. The executive branch that depended on their Government and Parliament of the Democratic confidence, or by lobbyist groups intent on Republic of the Congo cooperated and promoting their own narrow causes. If consulted regularly with the United Nations, its parliaments were to be strengthened, no one specialized agencies and the United Nations must be allowed to usurp their role as the Observer Mission in the Democratic Republic watchdog of power. of the Congo (MONUC). The Congolese Parliament had ratified international 12. Because it was also consensual and agreements on multilateral cooperation, whose collective in character, the United Nations was implementation by its sectoral ministries was often subjected to the same type of criticism. monitored by a permanent commission on United Nations support for the initiatives of the foreign affairs within the Senate. Parliaments Inter-Parliamentary Union would be an should also disseminate the Millennium excellent starting point for a strategic Development Goals and support the project to partnership between the two organizations. reform the United Nations and make it more The enforcement of democracy around the participatory and more representative of the world should be a key mandate of a reformed world’s peoples. United Nations, and the experience of

55 democratic parliaments could be of assistance. number of Caribbean countries, the Executive Reform should not be aimed at the endless appeared to regard Parliament as an irritant expansion of the Organization’s functions, or and an impediment to the exercise of transforming it into a world Government — executive power. Such exercise of executive which it could never be — but rather on power was often anchored in the “winner- clearly defined and realistic goals, such as takes-all” syndrome, a dominant feature of the providing unconditional support for, and first-past-the-post system. Among the socially protection of, democracy. detrimental consequences of the situation, particularly in small countries, was the 13. Mr. Ranabhat (Nepal) said that polarization of intellectual capital and a enthusiasm for general and complete resulting brain drain that impoverished small disarmament in the world, a prerequisite for States. Faced with government largely by peace and cooperation, appeared to be executive fiat, few members of minority parties lacking. The Inter-Parliamentary Union should made sufficient use of the option to direct call for total disarmament, peace and written questions to ministers, nor was cooperation among nations. The continuing government conduct questioned in select economic imbalance between developed and committees of Parliament. However, neither of developing countries was another serious those options was an acceptable substitute for obstacle to world peace. There was an urgent strict adherence to the constitutionally need for action in favour of the developing mandated role of Parliament as the source of world, particularly the least developed the Executive’s ongoing legitimacy and countries, including the cancellation of the authority. huge foreign debt burden of the least developed countries and a reversal of the 17. Noting the urgency of the need for every declining trend in official development Executive to accord to Parliament its essential assistance. status as the forum to which the Executive was at all times answerable, she expressed the hope 14. There was no alternative to multi-party that the current Conference could catalyse democracy as a guarantor of equal opportunity, throughout the world a dedication to the basic freedoms and the fulfilment of basic principle that the Executive should be needs for all in society. However, democracy in accountable to the people through Parliament, many parts of the world had not been able to and called for a dedicated programme to put down deep roots. elevate, in functional terms, the role of 15. In recent years, Maoist extremists had Parliament envisioned by the framers of the sown violence and destruction in Nepal, constitutions of the parliamentary democracies. terrorizing innocent civilians, sabotaging the 18. Ms. Marshall-Burnett (Jamaica) said that national economy, and derailing the Jamaica supported the continued cooperation democratic process and the Constitution between the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the introduced after the restoration of multi-party United Nations. Jamaica fully respected the democracy 15 years earlier. Elections for rule of law and the principles and purposes of parliament and the local councils had not been the Charter of the United Nations, and had held in three years, and the absence of elected embarked on a comprehensive programme to bodies had undermined government structures. complete the domestic legislation relevant to The temporary unilateral ceasefire announced implementing the international conventions to by the Maoists was a welcome development. which Jamaica was a party. Most recently, it National reconciliation among the legitimate had enacted counter-terrorism legislation to political forces was crucial and could be fulfil its obligations under Security Council brought about with help from the international resolution 1373 (2001). Its role as a staunch community. defender and promoter of human rights was 16. Ms. Mason-Francis (Antigua and exemplified by the increasing access of women Barbuda) said that her Government supported to parliament and the growing number of the agenda of the Conference and the ideas female parliamentarians. contained in the draft declaration, and noted 19. As current Chairman of the Group of 77 that the constitutions of parliamentary and China, Jamaica was helping to provide a democracies recognized a symbiotic voice to developing countries on such relationship between Parliament and the important issues as development, eliminating Executive. While Parliament was designed to poverty, protecting the rights of women and act as a check against abuse of executive children, and achieving the Millennium authority and administrative power, in a Development Goals. It firmly believed that

56 active cooperation between North and South mitigate and adapt to its impacts. Small island was the best basis for tackling such complex developing States like Tuvalu urgently needed challenges as food security, natural disasters financial and technical support to adapt to the and HIV/AIDS, and called on all impact of climate change from those who had parliamentarians to work actively on those contributed to its cause. There was an urgent issues. global need to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by switching to renewable energy 20. Ms. Boyd-Knights (Dominica) said that sources. Doing so made sound economic and Dominica fully supported the strengthening of social sense and could contribute to poverty multilateral cooperation in the interests of eradication. However, such action required enabling mankind to face the challenges of strong individual and collective leadership, so fighting poverty, promoting democracy, far lacking. Lastly, his delegation strongly securing peace and ensuring human rights for supported proper consideration for Taiwan’s all. She noted that small States such as her own representation in international bodies such as had been rendered vulnerable by the trade the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary liberalization process, but no matter how small Union. or how strong, no State could prosper without cooperative linkages with others. It was crucial 23. Mr. Lucero (Ecuador) said that democracy for parliamentarians worldwide to urge their as a system could not be separated from the Governments to support reforms to strengthen activities and desires of the people and the United Nations and make it a more acquired strength, recognition and legitimacy influential body. Multilateralism was essential as a tool for enhancing them. Democracy for the realization of the development goals to referred not only to the political system of which the global community had committed relations between the citizenry and those who itself at the Millennium Summit. held power, but to the integral popular development entailed in the quest for justice as 21. As parliaments were charged with the a solid foundation for peace. The great duty of giving legislative effect to treaties and challenge of the twenty-first century was conventions, parliamentarians should be finding ways to humanize power, technology encouraged to familiarize themselves with and money for the greater good of humanity international conventions and protocols in and to take the best and most reliable policy order to promote greater dialogue and decisions in light of their importance for multilateral cooperation, thereby enabling the humanity’s very existence. When the greater ordinary citizens they represented to become part of humanity suffered from poverty, disease active participants in the formulation of foreign and ignorance, meaningful borders could no policy. In order to address the perceived lack longer exist. In preparation for war, of public input in institutional decision-making, expansionist policies and arms races, science, parliamentarians should hold ministers to civilization, technology and human intelligence higher standards of accountability. Through the were being put at the service of the destruction dissemination of accurate information by the of all that humanity had worked to develop media, citizens must be made to feel and build. He stressed the need to turn aside connected to a process whose outcome they from that path and called on all countries to were able to influence. IPU was ideally join together and work to achieve a better positioned to persuade Governments through world, one dominated by democracy, equality, their parliaments that multilateral cooperation peace, security and full respect for human would become more relevant to the citizenry rights. when the executive and legislative branches of their Governments acted in unison in their 24. Mr. Pawanteh (Malaysia) said that the interest. function of the Conference, only the second such to be held in five years, was to ask for a 22. Mr. Tausi (Tuvalu) said that the more meaningful role for legislators in interdependency of countries driven by international affairs. In its primary objectives, globalization forces required a stronger role for the Conference appeared to have the support parliaments in international relations on a of career and professional diplomats in the range of issues beyond democracy and good service of their respective countries as well as governance. His delegation supported the draft from within the United Nations Organization declaration of the Conference where it itself. The Conference did not seek to usurp discussed the Millennium Development Goals from the executive branches of Governments and the United Nations reforms, but would their central and primary role in the conduct of also like to stress the importance of the threat diplomacy and foreign policy, nor did it of climate change and the urgent necessity to

57 threaten the principle of the sovereignty of democracy in the country and throughout nation-States. He therefore confessed inability Africa. It was deeply involved in international to understand the need to wait a further five and regional affairs through its active years for the next Conference, and urged participation in institutions and mechanisms instead that it be held sooner. put in place by the African Union and other organizations. In the context of realizing the 25. Mr. de Venecia (Philippines) said his Millennium Development Goals, the country’s hopes for long-lasting peace in the Parliament of Benin had set up a mechanism Asia-Pacific region hinged on the founding of a called “the deputy on the road to the village”, “federation of nations” incorporating both affording deputies constant contact with the shores of the Pacific Ocean. To that end, the realities of people’s lives in order to better Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace had reflect them in policymaking. already decided, as the Philippines had proposed, to convert itself into an Asian 29. The challenges facing countries in Parliamentary Assembly on the model of other responding to the pressing needs of their regional European, Latin American and African peoples were too numerous for any one parliaments. country to deal with by itself. They called for the pooling of the efforts of all elements of the 26. His delegation proposed that the United international community, including Nations should immediately initiate inter-faith Governments, parliaments, academia, civil dialogues, rejecting the so-called “clash of society and non-governmental organizations. civilizations”, in order to heal schisms and The sole and irreplaceable framework for that isolate the extremists who advocated terrorism global alliance was the United Nations, whose in the name of religion. Such dialogues could Secretary-General had launched a fundamental help to heal conflicts among religious groups in reform of the system in order to enable it to many areas throughout the world; a unit to better meet the needs of the world’s countries initiate, oversee and monitor such dialogues and peoples. The opportunity to provide could be created within the United Nations humanity with a chance of survival must not be system as part of the United Nations reforms. missed. The current divergence of viewpoints 27. His delegation also proposed that, in on such issues as Security Council expansion, accordance with the Millennium Development the transformation of the Commission on Goals, 50 per cent of the debt-service Human Rights and so on must be surmounted payments received by creditor countries should in order to arrive at a consensus. All parties to be ploughed back into the economies of the the current discussion on United Nations debtor countries as equity investments in such reform must come to agreement on the areas as reforestation, water systems, schools, concept of a threat to peace, the conditions for infrastructure projects and anti-poverty resorting to force within a collective security programmes. The proposal constituted neither framework, and the right and duty to protect. debt-forgiveness, debt-cancellation, debt 30. Mr. Blöndal (Iceland) said that moratoriums nor debt discounts; it required no parliaments could not fulfil their roles in new monies from parliaments or governments isolation, but must play an active role in of rich countries, nor did it entail any reduction international relations and develop in the creditors’ financial assets. Participation relationships among themselves. One result of by creditors would be voluntary, with creditors the ongoing Conference was a decision taken able to choose which projects to support in a that very morning by the small States of Europe specific debtor country. The proposal had to develop cooperation and discussion on already been welcomed by the Governments issues of common interest. Among the of Italy and Germany; it was being reviewed by problems that could only be solved through a technical committee set up by the Paris Club global effort, climate change was of particular and with the collaboration of the poverty concern. The warming of the Arctic would reduction and debt relief sections of the British have global effects, which parliaments must Treasury, and had aroused the interest of the address and must place at the top of the International Monetary Fund and the World international agenda. Bank as well as the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The time had come to defeat 31. Althingi, the Parliament of Iceland, had the poverty of nations and help change the been founded in the year 930, and world. parliamentary tradition had shaped the country’s history and culture. In a global 28. Mr. Bio-Bigou (Benin) said that the context, it was through democratic Parliament of Benin was working to foster parliaments, fair and free elections and truly

58 representative assemblies that humanity would must respect the international agreements to at last reach its goals of freedom, human rights which they were signatories. and brotherhood for all. 35. Globalization had emerged as a dominant 32. Ms. Junejo (Pakistan) said that the ideology binding nations, yet the concepts of parliamentarians of the world had an important human rights and good governance that it responsibility for the maintenance of entailed had sometimes been manipulated by international peace and security. Innocent the dominant forces in the world to punish civilians had unfortunately been the principal States not under Western influence. victims and targets of the ever-mutating threat Globalization was not a panacea and could of terrorism, and a united front was required to only be meaningful if it brought sustainable defeat that evil. That would require agreement development to the poorest countries. It on a legal definition of terrorism and a should not be envisaged merely as a process comprehensive strategy to address its root creating free movement of capital. causes. There should be an end to the 36. The United Nations Member States had maligning and defamation of Islam and Muslim agreed to the Millennium Development Goals peoples and nations, such as Palestinians and aimed at poverty eradication, and the New Kashmiris, who were subject to political and Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) military repression. Her President’s two- had also pledged to eradicate poverty and pronged strategy of “enlightened moderation” place countries on the path of sustainable was predicated on global solidarity in fighting growth and development. Unfortunately, it extremism and terrorism; it deserved seemed that the world’s powerful nations were international support. applying the notion of the “deserving poor” as 33. Parliaments had an important role to play a condition for the granting of assistance. in ensuring equality and human dignity by 37. On the eve of the sixtieth anniversary of encouraging and facilitating the ratification of the United Nations, he hoped that a reformed international human rights instruments and United Nations would pay greater attention to monitoring their implementation. The United the role of parliaments as representative Nations reform was comprehensive, and was democratic institutions. not just about adding a few new members to the Security Council. The reforms should make 38. Mr. Páez Verdugo (Chile) took the Chair. that body more relevant to the interests of all nations. The current discontent between Adoption of the Declaration United Nations conference rooms and national 39. Ms. Udre (Latvia), Rapporteur, presenting parliament chambers must be rectified so that the draft declaration, said that the text was the cooperation with the United Nations would result of a long and careful process of foster global peace, security and development. consultation in an effort to build a broad 34. Mr. Nkomo (Zimbabwe) said that, as consensus among parliamentarians Africa sought to deepen democracy and a represented. The core message of the draft democratic culture, the Southern African declaration was that parliaments had an Development Community (SADC) had recently essential role to play to bridge the democracy adopted principles and guidelines for the gap in international relations. Starting from the conduct of democratic elections. The peaceful premise that parliaments embodied settlement of conflicts in the Sudan and Angola democracy, the draft declaration acknowledged and the commitment by the countries of the daunting challenges but also saw opportunities Great Lakes region to peaceful resolution of for the world community, which would conflicts was also encouraging. However, he succeed in facing those challenges only by noted with regret the continuing inadequacy of acting together. international efforts to deal effectively with 40. The draft reaffirmed the United Nations as conflicts in Member States; broad statements of the cornerstone of global cooperation, and good intent were not translated into practical stated that the proposed reforms of the policies. Current global security initiatives Organization must recognize the link between tended to be directed by certain developed democracy, security, development and human countries, and United Nations involvement in rights. In response to comments received, a peace initiatives was thus compromised. While new paragraph 6 bis covering human rights had he condemned the increasing number of been added to the draft. Language had also terrorist attacks, he urged the powerful States been added to paragraph 4 calling for effective to avoid unilateral action outside the United management reform. Nations framework. All nations, big or small,

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41. In the section of the draft concerning the 46. The President declared the Conference relationship between parliaments and the closed. United Nations, it was emphasized that The meeting rose at 5.15 p.m. parliaments must contribute to and monitor international negotiations, oversee the enforcement of government commitments and ensure national compliance with international norms. IPU could be considered a unique global parliamentary counterpart of the United

Nations. Among possible future tasks, it could ensure that national parliaments were better informed about United Nations activities, hold more parliamentary hearings and specialized meetings at the United Nations and cooperate more closely with regional parliamentary assemblies with a view to enhancing coherence in parliamentary cooperation. The text also proposed to consolidate the ability of IPU to promote democracy, defend human rights and improve equitable gender representation. 42. In the debate on how best to organize inter-parliamentary cooperation, some would like to create new international and regional structures to work with multilateral institutions, while others felt that there was no need to create new entities, but there was a need to work differently. The declaration called on IPU to avail itself of the expertise of standing and select committees of national parliaments in dealing with specific issues requiring international cooperation.

43. Suggestions made during the debate which could not be reflected in the draft declaration included holding more frequent conferences and setting up a parliamentary partnership for the Millennium Development Goals. These suggestions had been noted and would be followed up. She would now submit the draft declaration to the Conference for adoption by consensus. 44. Mr. Weisglas (Netherlands) said that, in his parliamentary system his role as Speaker of the House was non-political, and thus he was not authorized to endorse the political aspects of the draft declaration. He did, however, wish to express a reservation: in his view, IPU in its current form was not yet equipped to be the one and only body to exercise democratic control of the United Nations. National parliaments should focus on monitoring their own Governments.

45. The Declaration of the Second World

Conference of Speakers of Parliaments was adopted.

Closure of the Conference

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