MADAM CHAIR, ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES FROM AROUND THE WORLD, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I AM INDEED HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO ADDRESS THIS AUGUST AND ESTEEMED ASSEMBLY OF PRESIDING OFFICERS OF NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS. MY DELEGATION COMMENDS THE ORGANIZATION OF THIS CONFERENCE AND THE SUPPORT RENDERED BY THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL AND HIS STAFF AS IT HAPPENS ON THE EVE OF THE MILLENNIUM SUMMIT OF HEAD OF STATES AND GOVERNMENTS.
AS THE HEAD OF STATES AND GOVERNMENTS SHORTLY CONVENE TO COLLECTIVELY EXPLORE WAYS AND MEANS TO STRENGTHEN THE UNITED NATIONS TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM, OUR UNION NECESSARILY IS IN THE POSITION TO CO-ORDINATE THE PARTICIPATION OF NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS IN ENHANCING INTERNATIONAL AND MULTI-LATERAL CO-OPERATION TOWARD THE BETTERMENT OF THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLES.
THE UNITED NATIONS, AS AN ORGANIZATION, IS ALL ABOUT FURTHERING THE CAUSE OF MANKIND. NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS BY TRADITION ARE BESTOWED WITH THE ROLE OF ACHIEVING THAT GOAL FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THEIR PEOPLES. REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND TREATIES REQUIRE LEGISLATIVE EXERCISES AND AT TIMES BUDGETARY APPROPRIATIONS. THUS, WE MUST BE REMINDED THAT NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS ARE NECESSARY INTEGRAL FACILITATORS OF THE UNITED NATIONS DREAM.
THE PASSING MILLENNIUM HAS BEEN FULL OF NUMEROUS EXPERIENCES CHARACTERIZED BY INDIVIDUALISTIC STRUGGLES BY NATIONS TO ACHIEVE SELF-IDENTITY AND SUSTENANCE. IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM A LOT MORE CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL CO-OPERATION AMONG NATIONS AND MULTI-LATERAL INSTITUTIONS WITH THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE CENTER. NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS, SMALL OR BIG, RICH OR POOR, ARE AN INTEGRAL PLAYER IN THE PROCESS OF FOSTERING SUCH CO-OPERATION.
MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES, AS CUSTODIANS OF PEOPLES’ RIGHTS, NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT ON BEHALF OF THEM TO BE PART OF THE PRESENT TREND AND STREAM OF GLOBAL CO-OPERATION AND INTER-DEPENDENCE BASED ON AN INCREASED TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THIS WILL ENHANCE INCREASED FAIR PLAY AND TRUST IN INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION AMONG NATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS.
IN THE PASSING MILLENNIUM, THERE HAS BEEN MUCH TALK WITH RESPECT TO CO-OPERATION AMONG NATIONS WITHOUT ANY ACTION. IN THIS MILLENNIUM, IT IS HOPED THAT THE EMPHASIS WILL BE ON TRANSLATING WORDS INTO ACTION, AS THE OLD ADAGE SAYS, “ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS.”
IN CONCLUSION, IT IS HIGHLY EXPECTED THAT OUR DELIBERATIONS WILL ENCOURAGE AND STRENGTHEN THE PROCEDURES, STRUCTURES, PROCESSES AND THE FUNCTIONING OF NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS, AND ALSO SERVE TO INDUCE ALL TO EMBRACE PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL PEOPLES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
