PRESS CONFERENCE BY INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION

 

The bonds of cooperation between members of Parliaments around the globe and the United Nations should be strengthened to help government officials tackle the problems -- from poverty to international trade to terrorism -- that are facing today’s world, several members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) said today at a Headquarters press conference.

Three members of the IPU spoke about the work of their organization and the issues facing legislators at the upcoming Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, which will be held 7 to 9 September at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Björn von Sydow, the Speaker of the Parliament of Sweden, said he expects 150 speakers to attend the upcoming conference, which aims to set up stronger collaboration between parliaments and the United Nations.  “We, parliaments, embody democracy and the UN embodies international order.  We are here to enhance the collaboration of these two contributors”, Mr. von Sydow said.

Ibrahim Keita, the speaker of the National Assembly of Mali, said stronger links between parliamentarians and international agencies would be beneficial for the world and democracy as the stronger ties help global leaders work out solutions to such problems as world trade and poverty.

“We parliamentarians can be relays to the UN”, said Mr. Keita.  He also agreed that the UN reforms are a move in the right direction.

And María Sauri, the representative of the speaker of the Mexican Senate, also stressed the need for stronger links between the United Nations and national parliaments.  “Parliaments need more involvement”, said Ms. Sauri, adding that the national bodies can help initiatives adopted by international agencies by ratifying agreements and adopting the necessary budgets.

Based in Geneva and created in 1889, the IPU is the international organization of parliaments of sovereign States and the oldest multilateral political organization.  It is a centre for dialogue and parliamentary diplomacy among legislators representing every political system and all the main political leanings in the world.  The group’s has Permanent Observer status at the United Nations.

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