CASE No - Inter-Parliamentary Union

- 44 - CL/183/SR.1
endure. He would seek Mr. A. Laksono’s support in fulfilling his mandate as President of
the IPU.
Leadership required courage, dedication, accountability, bridge-building across conflict
zones and competing interests, and helping to ensure a new beginning and mutual acceptance
of common humanity. The world needed trust. Leadership must remain in line with
developments throughout the world and mitigate change in order to face global challenges.
Parliamentarians were expected to influence change towards a better world. The future must
end wars, nuclear proliferation, regional conflict, domestic violence, poverty, hunger,
HIV/AIDS, youth unemployment, and disparity between cities and villages. Parliamentarians
must be committed to defending the rule of law, social justice, moral fortitude, human
compassion and public interest. In the context of the current global financial crisis, in which
the poor were the worst affected, consideration must be given to how to move forward to
attain the MDGs. Quoting Professor Joseph Stiglitz, he said that neoliberal market
fundamentalism had always been a political doctrine serving certain interests. It had never
been supported by economic theory or by historical experience. Learning that lesson could be
the silver lining to the cloud that was hanging over the global economy. The third world had its
work cut out. Although it would not be easy, the current climate of financial turbulence was
not a time to hold back development ambitions. Pressure on resources and energy could not
be solved without the involvement of Africa and developing countries.
Parliamentarians and international civil servants were duty bound to understand the
concerns and aspirations of the people, and take collective measures for their well-being and
security by providing them with the resources and means to acquire knowledge and obtain
information. By enlarging the opportunities for self-empowerment, parliamentarians
encouraged the people to interact more effectively as communities and peoples. He
emphasized the interdependence between peace, development, and observance of the rule of
law, which he had striven to embody as his personal commitments during his career, in the
search for human brotherhood, social development and harmony between women, men,
children and the environment. International calls for democracy and leadership required
promotion of dialogue, multilateralism, international law and political legitimacy as the
common heritage of humankind. By bringing a parliamentary dimension to the United Nations,
the IPU must protect its unique identity and mission, which stood for promoting public interest
and ensuring accountability. While the growing partnership sought to promote human
development and social stability and create economic opportunities for the people, the
oversight function of parliaments must be the priority for all parliamentarians. That partnership
must focus on complementarity and reciprocity, rather than fusion. The President of the IPU
and the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General had a vital role to play in bringing to
bear mutual understanding between the two Organizations. The IPU and legislators of key
powers should come together to promote dialogue and democracy, investment in human
development and make peace building a priority.
He offered his commitment, vision and service to the IPU through his internationalism,
dedication to the Organization’s mission and the ideas of democracy. He pledged to serve the
IPU without fear, favour or prejudice, and with loyalty and impartiality.
The President declared the 183 rd
Inter-Parliamentary Union closed.
session of the Governing Council of the
The meeting rose at 4.25 p.m.