IPU to adopt resolution on preventing ‘outside interference’

The five-day Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly is likely to adopt a resolution on “the role of parliament in preventing outside interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states and Dhaka declaration” on the concluding day on Wednesday.

Members of the Standing Committee on Peace and International Security of IPU continued discussion on amendments to the draft resolution for the second day today. The debate will continue tomorrow to finalise the draft.

Representatives of the IPU member states took part in the discussion on the draft resolution presented by the co-Rapporteurs Ms. S. Koutra-Koukouma of Cyprus and K. Kosochev of Russian Federation.

Senator of Mexico Laura Rojas chaired the discussion session held at Celebrity Hall of Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC). However, Bangladesh and 35 more countries brought some amendments to the draft resolution on the first day of the discussion yesterday.

They favoured adopting a strong resolution to prevent interference of some ‘powerful’ countries in the internal affairs of small countries in the name of countering militancy and terrorism.

“We are working on adopting a resolution in which views of majority participants are reflected,” Senator of Mexico Laura Rojas told BSS emerging from the session. Laura added, “We need a threadbare discussion on the issues since it is a crucial one in the global perspective. So, we need to take a concerted decision in this regard”.

German Vice-President Bundestag Claudia Roth said, “I do think the essential role of parliament to make law not to control the government for preventing inference.”

Besides, over 100 amendment proposals were made on various points of the draft resolution following the perspective of different developments which are taking place globally with the rise of militant outfits in Iraq and Syria.

Meanwhile, Col (rtd) Faruk Khan said bringing amendment to the draft resolution is crucial as some developed and powerful states have been interfering in the internal affairs of other sovereign states in the name of corruption, democracy, militancy and human right issues.

Mentioning Bangladesh’s role in the meeting, he said delegates from the host country raised the issue of genocide committed by the Pakistani occupation forces in 1971 and pleaded for a halt to mass killings throughout the world.

However, delegates from some developed countries pleaded for adopting the draft resolution saying that the particular resolution is enough to prevent outside interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.

Apart from this general discussion on the assembly theme, “Redressing inequalities: Delivering on dignity and well-being for all” was held today with Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

Delegates of different IPU countries, who took part in the discussion, emphasised taking a holistic approach to redress inequalities in all spheres of life for building a peaceful world.

Mentioning terrorism and militancy as a major impediment for redressing inequalities, they suggested countering the social menace along with empowering women and ensuring their more involvement in state affairs.

Besides, Ms. Gerda Verburg, Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement made a presentation on the global nutrition issue.

The five-day Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly began here on Saturday with a theme “Redressing inequalities: Delivering on dignity and well-being for all” at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 136th IPU assembly on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises.

As many as 1,345 delegates of 131 IPU countries are attending the assembly to be concluded on Wednesday following adoption of the resolution and Dhaka declaration.

Source: BSS