In progress at UNHQ

GA/8998

ASSEMBLY CALLS FOR AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION BETWEEN UNITED NATIONS AND INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION

15 November 1995


Press Release
GA/8998


ASSEMBLY CALLS FOR AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION BETWEEN UNITED NATIONS AND INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION

19951115 The Secretary-General was requested to conclude an agreement on cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in a resolution adopted without a vote by the General Assembly this afternoon. The resolution specified that the agreement should make provision for consultations, appropriate representation and cooperation between the two organizations.

Speaking in the debate on the matter, the representative of Nepal said that cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU was important because the two organizations served similar ideals. The IPU contributed to spreading information about free and fair elections, the participation of women and men as equal partners in social, economic and political life and the protection of human rights.

The representative of Italy also spoke of the efforts of the IPU to promote free elections and democratic institutions, foster the participation of women in political life and support the protection of minorities. Keeping the activities of the IPU in mind, he said, it was appropriate to quote the statement of the Secretary-General that "the Inter-Parliamentary Union is today in the front line of the struggle being waged by international institutions".

The representative of Tunisia said that the relationship that would be established between the two organizations was consonant with the reforms being undertaken by the United Nations to achieve greater transparency and efficiency.

Also taking part in the discussion were the representatives of Burkina Faso, Spain, Senegal, Uruguay, Chile, Republic of Korea and Poland.

The General Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 16 November, to hold elections to the Economic and Social Council.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this afternoon to continue its consideration of cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). (For background, see Press Release GA/8997, issued today.)

Statements

DILLI P. SITAULA (Nepal) said the world had witnessed a rapid expansion of representative democracy. For parliamentarians, the greatest challenge was sustaining that democratic process. However, the necessary institutions, mechanisms, resources and capabilities at the disposal of States were inadequate to meet the emerging popular aspirations accompanying democracy. Parliamentarians not only had to express those aspirations as laws, but to goad governments into implementing them.

He said the IPU provided a venue for parliamentarians of 135 countries to share information and their experiences. It contributed to spreading information about free and fair elections, participation of women and men as equal partners in social, economic and political life and protection of human rights. Cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU was important because the two organizations served similar ideals. His country supported the draft resolution. Cooperation would pave the way for launching joint programmes and exchanging information and documentation, and would facilitate the participation of the IPU in other organs of the United Nations. Nepal, a land-locked least developed country, believed that without democracy, peace and development were not possible; and without development, peace and democracy could not endure. "Our first and foremost preoccupation, therefore, has been to strive for the promotion of socio-economic development within a human rights-oriented democratic framework", he said.

GAETAN R. OUEDRAOGO (Burkina Faso) said that it was no mere chance that the IPU was meeting the United Nations as it celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. The IPU had 134 countries as its members, including Burkina Faso.

The United Nations and the IPU shared common principles and objectives, he said. Mutual assistance and coordination of activities would benefit both organizations.

JUAN ANTONIO YANEZ-BARNUEVO (Spain) said the IPU was a key institution in international life. The importance of cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU had recently been highlighted by the Secretary-General in his report on support of the United Nations system for the efforts of governments in consolidating or restoring democracies. It stated that the IPU was an especially important partner of the United Nations which had long been active in the field of democratization. The IPU was working to turn the

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ideals of the United Nations into reality. It was well-placed to assist the United Nations in the areas of human rights, peace-keeping and democratization. The adoption of the draft would constitute an important step forward in the development of the fruitful relationship between the IPU and the United Nations and it should be supported by all States.

KEBA BIRANE CISSE (Senegal) fully supported the statement made by the representative of Egypt in introducing the draft resolution before the Assembly. Created a century ago, the IPU was the first permanent forum for multilateral political collaboration, he said, and it had contributed to the rise of democracy in the world. And for some years, the consolidation of democracy had become one of the main tasks of the United Nations in the promotion of peace and sustainable development. The draft resolution provided the means for establishing fruitful dialogue between the two organizations, he said, and spoke of the crucial role the IPU played in implementing decisions taken by the Assembly. The draft mandated the Secretary-General to define a framework which would break new ground, he said. That framework should extend to matters of consultation and coordination and also allow effective representation of the IPU in various United Nations bodies.

FRANCESCO PAOLO FULCI (Italy) said the IPU was an organization of national parliaments. In a world more interdependent than independent, parliaments were called on to play an unprecedented role in international cooperation. The IPU, since its establishment, had promoted free elections and democratic institutions, fostered the participation of women in political life and supported the protection of minorities.

Quoting the statement of the Secretary-General that "the Inter- Parliamentary Union is today in the front line of the struggle being waged by international institutions", he said the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU would be beneficial to both institutions.

JORGE PEREZ-OTERMIN (Uruguay) said the challenges facing the United Nations must be met by its Member States, and many decisions taken in parliaments were directly linked to the work of the United Nations. Greater cooperation would make it possible for the Organization to meet many of those challenges, including democratization. Democratization of the United Nations must guide all efforts at reform. The activities of the IPU complemented those of the United Nations. The parliaments of Member States were striving to pursue basic principles enshrined in the Charter. Democracy had always meant equality -- equality of all rights and obligations of Member States.

JUAN LARRAIN (Chile) said his country firmly believed in democracy as the cornerstone of peace, which was also a goal for the United Nations. The national parliaments were responsible for giving life to the United Nations. It was, therefore, in the very nature of things that there be closer cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU.

Among the many areas in which cooperation between the two institutions was possible, he said, a vital one was in the promotion of democratic ideals.

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PARK SOO GIL (Republic of Korea) said enhancement of the relationship between the United Nations and the IPU would have a salutary effect on the future of the United Nations and strengthen its links with the public. The IPU had been a tireless peacemaker and advocate of the peaceful settlement of international disputes. It had a crucial role to play in advancing United Nations goals, particularly because of the experience and expertise of its members.

In view of the current trends of extremist nationalism and isolationism which had regrettably resurfaced in some parts of the world, he said, the IPU should take a leading role in renewing the commitment to multilateral cooperation. It was instrumental in carrying out the work of the United Nations at the national level; and through the work of national parliaments, the political support of States could be extended to the United Nations in all fields, including peace-keeping and peace-building. He hoped the forthcoming arrangements between the two organizations would contain provisions for consultation, IPU's participation in the political work of the United Nations, and increasing cooperation in the fields of representative democracy, human rights, the status of women and sustainable development -- in which the IPU had been able to develop its expertise.

CHEDLIA BOUKHCHINA (Tunisia) said the institutionalization of the link between the United Nations and the IPU was a tribute to the latter, which had increased its influence by bringing together elected representatives of almost all Member States. Cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU could only serve the interests of all nations. It would expand prospects for comprehensive discussions within the United Nations. The Secretary-General had urged that the IPU be accorded its proper role within the United Nations. That would make it possible for the Organization to understand the problems of peoples around the world and to respond to their aspirations for sustainable development. The relationship that would be established between the two organizations would be in keeping with the reforms being undertaken by the United Nations to secure greater transparency and efficiency.

ZBIGNIEW MATUSZEWSKI (Poland) said deepening the cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU would prove instrumental in fulfilling the Organization's objectives. United Nations programmes could hardly succeed without the full support and understanding of the parliaments of Member States. Areas in which the two organizations could cooperate included democracy, human rights, status of women, and sustainable development. In order to facilitate such cooperation, the two should exchange information. Stronger cooperation between them would further the goals of providing countries in the process of reconstructing political systems with the opportunity to examine the experience of parliamentary democracies. It would also make the countries that had reached their democratic maturity more aware of the needs of developing countries.

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Action on Draft Resolution

Benin, Cyprus, Nepal, Nicaragua, Argentina, Turkey, Panama, Croatia, Ireland and Gabon joined in sponsoring the draft resolution.

The Assembly then adopted the resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU without a vote.

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For information media. Not an official record.