PRESS CONFERENCE on Annual Forum of Parliamentarians for Global action

The Secretary-General of Parliamentarians for Global Action today previewed the group’s twenty-eighth annual forum in a Headquarters press conference, accompanied by the Ambassador of Japan, the country playing host to the event next week.  The conference will take up issues related to human security, with particular attention focused on promoting post-conflict justice.

Ms. Shazia Rafi, the Secretary-General of the Parliamentarians for Global Action, kicked off the press conference by describing the group as “very activist, and ‘Global Action’ means more than just words.”  She said the organization’s roots were in a global effort to promote entry-into-force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

She noted that the group’s twenty-eighth annual forum, to be hosted by members of the Japanese Diet and Senate on 4 and 5 December 2006 in Tokyo, would look at the topics of human security, post-conflict reconstruction, rule of law, and post-conflict justice.  She also recalled that a special session of the Parliamentarians for Global Action in the 1980s had been the launching point of the International Criminal Court.

Japan’s Ambassador, Kenzo Oshima, next said he was honoured to welcome the annual Parliamentarians for Global Action Forum to Japan.  He described the group as very active in addressing issues that were dealt with in the United Nations, particularly in the areas of human security and the International Criminal Court.

He described Japan’s commitment to issues of human security, reflected especially in its contribution of $250 million to the United Nation’s Human Security Trust Fund, which had supported 150 projects in 66 countries.  He also said Japan intended to sign on to the Rome Statute and join the International Criminal Court next year.

Expressing satisfaction with the attendance at the forum of delegations from the parliaments of Afghanistan and Timor Leste, he observed that “participation of parliamentarians from fledging democracies is going to be quite important.  I am sure there will be a lot for them to learn and much for others to learn” from those States.

Ms. Rafi then added that a delegation from Iraq would also attend the event.  She believed Japan had much to share, due to its experience in social and economic reconstruction, that would be helpful to countries emerging from difficult wars.

During a brief question and answer session, Ms. Rafi was asked whether there would be any outcome from the Forum.

She responded that it would likely yield a declaration on human security issues and added that many side meetings would also take place.  It was possible that parliamentarians from Afghanistan and Pakistan would be able to “interact across the border on security issues.”  She also noted that the speaker of Sudan’s legislative body would be in attendance at a time when his country had a case pending at the International Criminal Court.

She then added that although the question of nuclear testing in North Korea and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) was not on the formal agenda, it was expected some discussions on the matter would take place.  A parliamentary delegation from South Korea, visiting Japan for bilateral discussions next week, would likely choose to join the annual Parliamentarians for Global Forum.

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For information media • not an official record