Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Inter-Parliamentary Union - parliamentary diplomacy. Special and working committees and commissions
Originally Inter parliamentary union played a large role in the peace process and the creation of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, and a significant number of its figures, including Passy, Creamer, as well as its first secretary general Albert Goba and subsequent chairmen Auguste Beernaert and Fernand Buisson, were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, moreover Passy got the first one at .
The headquarters of the Inter-Parliamentary Union was located in Bern, was moved to Brussels, moved to Oslo with the outbreak of the First World War, and moved to Geneva, where it is located to this day.
Although initially individual deputies were members of the union, membership gradually passed to parliaments as a whole. For 2010, the members of the organization are the parliaments of 143 countries and 7 interstate parliaments, including all European countries, except for the Vatican, and most countries of the world, including Canada, China, Russia, India, although the US Congress is not a member of the organization. Inter-Parliamentary Union has observer status at the UN.
see also
- United Nations Parliamentary Assembly
External links
- Official site (English)
- Page dedicated to the cooperation of the Inter-Parliamentary Union with the UN (English)
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See what the "Inter-Parliamentary Union" is in other dictionaries:
INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION- one of the oldest international non-governmental organizations, uniting the national parliamentary groups of different states. Created in 1889. As part of M.S. includes parliamentary groups of more than 120 states, incl. interparliamentary ... ... Legal Encyclopedia
Created in 1889 international non-governmental organization uniting national parliamentary groups. The purpose of the Inter-Parliamentary Union is to encourage personal contacts between members of all parliaments and to unite them for a joint ... ... Financial vocabulary
One of the oldest international non-governmental organizations uniting national parliamentary groups of various states. Created in 1889 Encourages personal contacts between members of all parliaments and unites them in strengthening ... ... Law Dictionary
Modern Encyclopedia
Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
International non-governmental organization uniting national parliamentary groups. Created in 1889. The tasks of the Inter-Parliamentary Union are to encourage personal contacts between parliamentarians and to unite their joint activities to strengthen ... Political science. Dictionary.
Inter-Parliamentary Union- INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION, an international non-governmental organization uniting national parliamentary groups. Created in 1889. Tasks of the inter-parliamentary union: encouraging personal contacts between parliamentarians and uniting their joint ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
International non-government orgtion uniting organized in nat. parliamentary groups of members of parliaments of various countries. Created in June 1889 in Paris. Russian troupe. State Duma was a member of M. with. in 1909 14. Parl. the USSR group is part of M ... Soviet historical encyclopedia
An international non-governmental organization, which is an association of national parliamentary groups that share the goals of this organization and wish to participate in its work. Created in 1889 by pacifist parliamentarians of several ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
International non-governmental organization uniting national parliamentary groups. Created in 1889. The tasks of the Inter-Parliamentary Union: to encourage personal contacts between parliamentarians and to unite their joint activities to strengthen ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
In the second half of the 19th century, against the backdrop of a long depression in Western Europe and North America the struggle between the leading powers for the redivision of the world intensified. Military-political interstate groupings began to take shape, and the process of militarization of countries intensified. The answer to this was the emergence of pacifist movements, in which parliamentarians from different countries took an active part.
The main ones were the French Society of Friends of Peace (led by the famous scientist and politician, member of the Chamber of Deputies of France Frederic Passy) and the English "Association of the World of Working People" (led by the carpenter Randal William Creamer, who later became a member of the English Parliament). Their main goal was to achieve the settlement of all international disputes through arbitration. For this, the High Court of Nations was even established, and the "Workers' Peace Association" was transformed into " international league arbitration".
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So, Randal Creamer, having become a member of the English Parliament, even drafted an appeal to US President Grover Cleveland calling on him to resolve all disputes between the United States and England through arbitration, collected the signatures of 232 members of the English Parliament under it and went to the USA to present this document. His example was followed by Frederic Passy, who initiated the conclusion of the Franco-American Arbitration Agreement.
Passy and Creamer also organized a meeting of French and English parliamentarians to discuss this problem, which took place in Paris on October 31, 1888, with the participation of eight members of the English and 26 members of the French parliaments. The declaration adopted at it recognized the expediency of the participation of parliamentarians from as many countries as possible in solving international problems. A committee for the preparation of a conference of parliamentarians in a broader composition was also established here.
The conference was held on June 29-30, 1889 at the Continental Hotel in Paris with the participation of 94 parliamentarians from nine countries of the world. On the last day of its work, its participants decided to turn the conference into a permanent "International Parliamentary Union for the sake of international arbitration." The main document of the meeting contained an appeal to the governments of all countries to conclude agreements on the solution of all contentious issues by arbitration, without prejudice to the independence of States and without any interference in each other's internal affairs.
In the future, the range of problems discussed by the new institution expanded significantly, and from 1899 it became officially known as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The headquarters of the Ministry of Railways since 1892 was located in Bern, in 1911 it was moved to Brussels, with the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 it moved to Oslo, and since 1921 - to Geneva, where it is still located.
Initially, the IPU united individual parliamentarians, but after the Second World War it turned into an association of parliaments.
Thus, the first international platform for discussing political problems appeared. In fact, the IPU can be considered the ancestor of universal institutions for ensuring international peace, security and cooperation of peoples - the League of Nations and the UN, and he also played an important role in the creation of a permanent arbitration chamber in The Hague. The activities of the IPU in strengthening "peace" were so significant that eight of its leaders in different years became laureates Nobel Prize world, including the first three:
1901 - Frederic Passy (France)
1902 - Albert Goba (Switzerland)
1903 - William Randal Creamer (Great Britain)
1908 - Frederik Bayer (Denmark)
1909 - Auguste Beernaert (Belgium)
1913 - Henri La Fontaine (Belgium)
1921 - Christian Lange (Norway)
1927 - Ferdinand Buisson (France)
STRUCTURE OF THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION
(bodies formed in accordance with Article 8 of the Statute of the IPU)
INTER-PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE (FROM 01.10.2003 - ASSEMBLY)
Supreme body of the MPS. It convenes twice a year. Strict rule: if there are women among parliamentarians, then at least one woman must be included in the delegation to the conference. There should be no more than eight delegates from the parliaments of countries with a population of less than 100 million people and no more than ten from countries with a population of more than 100 million people.
INTER-PARLIAMENTARY COUNCIL
Leads the IPU between assemblies. The membership consists of three representatives from each national parliamentary group. The Chairman of the Council is elected for four years.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
An administrative body headed by the chairman of the IPU. Consists of 12 members belonging to different parliaments and the President of the Coordinating Committee of the meeting of women parliamentarians.
SECRETARIAT - INTER-PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU
A permanent working body chaired by a Secretary General who is not a member of any parliament and is appointed by the Council for a term of four years.
PERMANENT COMMITTEES
For peace and international security;
For questions sustainable development, finance and trade;
on Democracy and Human Rights;
For the UN.
SPECIAL AND WORKING COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS
On civil rights of parliamentarians;
For the Middle East;
To promote respect for international humanitarian law;
Cyprus Mediation Group;
Health Unit;
Tender Partnership Group;
Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians;
Forum of young parliamentarians of the IPU.
WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE IPU FUNCTION:
Association general secretaries parliaments
(consists of secretaries general of parliaments or international parliamentary assemblies and their deputies, regardless of whether these parliaments or parliamentary assemblies are members of the IPU or not);
International Center parliamentary documentation (special department of the Secretariat).
MAIN EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE IPU
1889- the "International Parliamentary Union for the sake of international arbitration" was created.
1899- renamed the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
1892- the Secretary General of the organization began to be elected (for a period of four years).
1909- the post of chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Council, elected for three years, was established (the first chairman was Auguste Beernart).
1922- the Charter was adopted, according to which the purpose of the IPU is "to encourage personal contacts between members of all parliaments ... and to unite them for joint activities ... in the strengthening and development of representative institutions, as well as in the interests of promoting the cause of international peace and cooperation."
1955- for the first time a delegation of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR took part in the work of the IPU (at the 44th Conference). The Soviet group was the largest, since it included all 1,500 deputies of the USSR Supreme Council, 750 deputies from each chamber.
1992- a delegation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation began to participate in the work of the IPU.
September 15, 1997- The Inter-Parliamentary Union adopted the Universal Declaration on Democracy (later the International Day of Democracy was timed to coincide with this date).
2001- an amendment to the Charter was adopted, according to which in federal states only the federal parliament can apply for membership in the Inter-Parliamentary Union. However, national groups that were members of the IPU before the adoption of the amendment may remain in its composition (art. 3). And international parliamentary associations formed by states and being members of the Union, in accordance with international law, can (at their request and after consultation with the relevant members of the Union) be admitted to the IPU as associate members.
2015- Chairman of the Council of the Interparliamentary Assembly of States - Members of the CIS, Chairman of the Federation Council V.I. Matvienko at a meeting with the Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Union S. Chowdhury and the Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union M. Chungong made a proposal to raise the status of the IPA CIS to an associate member of the IPU.
2016- the IPU Strategy for 2017-2021 was adopted under the title "Better Parliaments - Stronger Democracy".
2016. - an invitation from Russia to host the 137th IPU Assembly in October 2017 in St. Petersburg was officially sent to the IPU Secretariat. The decision was finally made on October 27
2016- at the 135th IPU Assembly. 2016 - at the 198th meeting of the IPU Governing Council, a decision was made to grant the status of an associate member to the IPA CIS.
2016. - during the work of the 135th Assembly of the IPU in Geneva, a meeting of the chairmen and deputy chairmen of the parliaments of the BRICS countries was held on the topic "Parliamentary cooperation of the BRICS countries in the name of achieving sustainable development goals".
In the last quarter of the 19th century, the world political process underwent a significant intensification, combining opposite directions and trends. There was a further industrial development of the leading countries of Europe, the USA and Japan, the struggle between them for the redivision of the world intensified. As a result, military-political groupings of countries began to take shape, and the process of their militarization intensified. In response to this, a pacifist movement emerges and consolidates, in which parliamentarians from different countries take an active part. These become French Society of Friends of the World"headed by the famous scientist and politician, member of the French Chamber of Deputies Frederic Passy and" Workers' World Association"led by carpenter Randal Kremer in England.
The goal of the Workers' Peace Association was proclaimed to be the settlement of all international disputes through arbitration. For its implementation, the High Court of Nations was established. Having become a member of the English Parliament, Kremer transformed the Peace Association into International Arbitration League. He drafted an appeal to US President G. Cleveland with a call to resolve all disputes between the US and England through arbitration, collected the signatures of 232 members of the English Parliament under it, and went to the USA to present this document.
Following the example of Kremer, F. Passy decided to induce the French House of Representatives to achieve a Franco-American agreement on arbitration. Passy and Kremer agreed to organize a meeting of French and British parliamentarians to discuss this problem. A meeting of 8 members of the English and 26 members of the French parliaments took place in Paris on October 31, 1888. The declaration adopted at it recognized the expediency of the participation of parliamentarians from as many countries as possible in solving international problems. A committee was also set up here to prepare a meeting of parliamentarians in a broader composition in 1889, especially since the World Exhibition, which opened in Paris, provided an opportunity for its organization.
The meeting took place on June 29 - 30, 1889 at the Continental Hotel in Paris with the participation of 94 parliamentarians from 9 countries of the world. Its participants decided (June 30, 1889) to turn the conference of parliamentarians into a permanent Inter-Parliamentary Union for international arbitration. The main document of the meeting contained an appeal to the governments of all countries to conclude agreements on resolving all disputes through arbitration, without prejudice to the independence of states and without any interference in each other's internal affairs.
In the future, the range of problems discussed by the new institute expanded significantly, and from 1899 it began to be officially called Inter-Parliamentary Union. The location of the headquarters of the Ministry of Railways in 1892 - 1911. was Bern, in 1911 - 1914. - Brussels, in 1914 - 1920. - Oslo, and from 1921 to the present - Geneva.
It is customary to consider the IPU as the ancestor of universal institutions (the League of Nations and the UN) to ensure international peace, security and cooperation between peoples. In many ways, this is true, the activity of the IPU in strengthening peace was so significant that 8 leaders of this organization at different times became Nobel Peace Prize winners. But the main task of the IPU was and is to assist in every possible way in the establishment of representative institutions in the countries of the world and in the development of democracy. Initially, the IPU united individual parliamentarians, but after the Second World War it turned into an association of parliaments.
Any parliament formed in accordance with the laws of a sovereign state, representing its population and functioning on its territory, can become a member of the IPU. In April 2001, an amendment was adopted to the Charter, according to which, in federal states, only the federal parliament can apply for membership in the Inter-Parliamentary Union. However, national groups that were members of the IGC prior to the adoption of the amendment may remain in it (Art. 3). International parliamentary associations formed by states and being members of the Union, in accordance with international law, may (at their request and after consultation with the relevant members of the Union) be admitted to the Inter-Parliamentary Union as its associate members. By mid-2003, the IPU included 145 national parliaments and 5 parliamentary assemblies.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union, as already mentioned, occupies a specific place among international political institutions. It is rather difficult to define its competence unambiguously. It is determined both by the place and role of the legislature in the life of a political society, and by the significance of the union of parliaments throughout the world.
Law regulates almost all aspects of public and political life, international relations. Therefore, the IPU can be considered the second global institution of general competence, which makes decisions not mandatory, but only recommendatory.
In order to achieve the goals of the IPU, Article 1 of its Bylaws states, it is necessary to:
strengthen contacts, coordination and exchange of experience between parliaments and parliamentarians of all countries;
consider issues of international interest and express their views on such issues with a view to activating the actions of parliaments and their members;
contribute to the protection and promotion universal rights human beings in a context in which respect for them is a necessary factor in parliamentary democracy and development;
contribute to the improvement of knowledge about the work of representative institutions in different countries, improve and develop the methods of parliamentary activity .
The IPU collects and disseminates information about the constitutional powers of representative power, its structure and methods of work, about electoral systems, national parliamentary elections and their results, about the status of deputies in different countries. It organizes international symposiums and seminars for parliamentarians, parliamentary officials, academics and other experts who study the problems of the functioning of parliamentary institutions.
The IPU is an exclusively democratic institution. Article 6 (para. 2) of the Statute of the IPU proclaims “ the sovereign right of each member of the Union to determine the forms in which it organizes its participation in the IPU". That is, each of its members works according to its own rules of activity and relations with the Ministry of Railways, with its bodies. At the same time, the duty of each member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union is:
presenting the decisions of the IPU to its parliament in the appropriate form; reporting them to the government;
encouraging the implementation of these decisions in their country;
notification of the Secretariat of the Union on the measures taken and the results achieved.
According to Article 8 of the Statute of the IPU, its bodies are: Inter-Parliamentary Conference (since October 1, 2003 - Assembly), Interparliamentary Council, Executive Committee and Secretariat .
Inter-parliamentary conferences are convened twice a year at places and at times determined by the Inter-Parliamentary Council. In critical situations, this issue can be resolved by the Chairman of the Council with the consent of the Executive Committee. The participants in the conferences are parliamentarians appointed as delegates by the respective member parliaments of the IPU. IPU strict rule: if there are women among parliamentarians, then at least one woman must be included in the delegation to the conference . There should be no more than eight delegates from the parliaments of countries with a population of less than one hundred million people, and no more than ten from countries with a population of more than one hundred million people.
The Conference works according to its own rules, its agenda is approved by the Inter-Parliamentary Council on the recommendation of the Executive Committee. Four K Study Committee:
on political affairs, international security and disarmament;
on parliamentary, legal and human rights issues;
on economic and social issues;
for education, science, culture and environment.
All committees are formed from representatives of all national groups.
Only delegates present at the Conference vote. The counting of votes is quite complicated, but democratic. Each member of the IPU has at least ten votes in the Conference plus additional votes, depending on the population of the countries, namely:
up to 5 million people - 1 additional vote;
Delegate votes may be distributed according to their party affiliations and faction shares in their respective national parliaments, but none may receive more than ten votes. Voting at the Conference may take place by roll call. Voting for the election of officers shall be by secret ballot, if requested by at least twenty delegates. Members indebted for two full years do not take part in voting in the bodies of the Ministry of Railways. The Inter-Parliamentary Council may, however, authorize such a member to vote if it is found that the contributions are delayed for reasons beyond the control of the debtor. When a member of the Union does not take part in the activities of the IPU for three years or does not contribute, the Board should study the situation and decide in favor of suspension of membership in the Union.
Interparliamentary Council- the body of the IPU for determining the policy of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and for the implementation of its statutory goals. He approves the agenda of the conferences, and his formation takes place at each of them (two representatives from each member of the Union). All members of the Council must be active parliamentarians. The Inter-Parliamentary Council elects the president for a term of three years from among the former officials of the Executive Committee of the Union. Re-election of the president is not allowed, since at the end of the term he must be replaced by a person belonging to another parliament. In the election of officials of the Ministry of Railways, geographical and geopolitical principles are observed. That is, they should be composed of representatives from all regions and groups of countries. In the event of the resignation or termination of the parliamentary activity of the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Council, his duties until the election of a new President shall be performed by the Vice-President.
The functions of the Inter-Parliamentary Council are detailed in Article 21 of the Statute of the IPU. It is designed to resolve issues of recognition of membership in the Union, its suspension and restoration; determine the place and time of the IPU conferences and all other inter-parliamentary meetings; approve, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee, the relevant agendas; nominate the president of the conference and the composition of standing committees to study specific problems. The Council makes recommendations on options for solving emerging problems, forms permanent or special committees and working groups to help it work to ensure geopolitical, geographical and gender balance in the structure of the IPU, determines the categories of observers of other international institutions at its meetings, their rights and obligations. It is also responsible for determining the Union's annual budget. The Council establishes the amount of contributions (contributions) of each member, controls all financial expenses, elects members of the Executive Committee, appoints the Secretary General of the Union, adopts and revises the rules of its activities. Each member of the Council has one vote, the President does not take part in voting. If the votes are divided in half, the decision is considered rejected by the Council.
Timed to coincide with the IPU conference Meeting of women parliamentarians. She works by her own rules. A report on its activities and rules of work are submitted to the Inter-Parliamentary Council.
Executive committee is the administrative body of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. It consists of the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Council, under whose chairmanship it serves, twelve members belonging to different parliaments, and the President Coordinating Committee of the Meeting of Women's Parliamentarians. At least ten of the 12 members of the EC must be elected by the Inter-Parliamentary Council from among its members, which they must remain for the duration of their mandate. At least two members of the Executive Committee must be women. When determining the representation of parliaments in the Executive Committee, both the contribution of each parliament to the activities of the IPU and the geographical principle are taken into account. The mandate of the executive committee is 4 years. But every year at least two of its members must be replaced by representatives of other parliaments. The presidents of the women's coordinating committee rotate after two years.
The Executive Committee shall be convened by the President of the Council in session at least twice a year. At the discretion of the President, as well as at the request of two or more members, an extraordinary session of the Executive Committee may be convened. The provisional agenda for each ordinary session is determined by the Secretary General with the consent of the President. It must be communicated to the members of the Executive Committee at least one month before its opening. Members of the Executive Committee may request that additional items be included in the agenda of the session.
Each year, at the last session of the Executive Committee, its Vice-President is appointed, who is called upon to replace the President of the Council in the event of his absence, resignation, loss of his parliamentary mandate (deprivation of his mandate, not being elected for a new term) and in other cases provided for by the Charter.
The powers of the Executive Committee are determined by the 24th Article of the Charter of the Union. Whenever any Parliament requests the Union to join it, the Board shall examine whether all the necessary conditions of the IPU Statute have been met and submit to the Inter-Parliamentary Council its opinion on the matter. He also convenes the Inter-Parliamentary Council in emergency cases, sets the date and place of the Council's sessions, outlines the temporary agenda; expresses its opinion on the inclusion of additional issues on the agenda of the Council. In addition, he submits to the Council the plans for the annual work and the draft budget of the IGC, informs the sessions of the Council about his work, recommends to him the agenda of the Conference, taking into account the proposals made by the members of the IGC.
The Executive Committee manages the administration of the Secretariat, controls its actions to implement the decisions taken by the conference or the Council, receives for this purpose all reports and necessary information. It is called upon to study all candidacies for the post of Secretary-General with a view to submitting appropriate proposals to the Council and to set the terms of his mandate. The Executive Committee may also request additional credits from the Council to cover the expenses necessary for the implementation of urgent programs of the Union, establish salaries and allowances for employees of the Secretariat of the Union, adopt Rules for its work.
Secretariat The IPU consists of the staff of the organization. Leads them General Secretary Union, appointed by the Inter-Parliamentary Council (on the proposal of the Executive Committee) for a term of four years. The General Secretary may be reappointed for a period determined by the Executive Committee. While serving entirely in the IPU, he shall not be a member of any Parliament.
The functions of the Secretariat are defined by Article 25 of the Statute of the IPU. It is intended to be the permanent headquarters of the Union, to receive and store the reports of the members of the Union, to make efforts to expand the ranks of its members, to support and stimulate their actions. The Secretariat prepares issues for consideration at inter-parliamentary meetings and all documents necessary for this, ensures the implementation of decisions of the Council and conferences, collects and disseminates information on the structure of representative institutions in the world, maintains constant communication between the Union and other international institutions, organizes the representation of the IPU at international conferences. The Secretariat shall prepare the final reports of the meetings, which shall be circulated within 60 days of their completion and submitted to the Council for approval at the opening of its next session. At each calendar session of the Council, the Secretary General presents a written report on the work of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and also assists the President of the Council during its sessions. He, like any member of the Secretariat, may be invited by the President of the Council to consult on issues under consideration.
The advisory body of the Inter-Parliamentary Union is Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (AGSP). It aims to facilitate personal contacts between members of parliaments of different countries, study the laws, practices and procedures of parliaments, make suggestions for improving the working methods of various parliaments and ensure cooperation between parliamentary services of different countries. As stated in the rules of the AGSP, each of its members must submit to the administration of the Secretariat, at the request of the Association or at the request of any of its members, information on the laws adopted by its parliament, on practices, procedures, working methods.
The AGSP consists of the Secretaries General of Parliaments or International Parliamentary Assemblies and their deputies, whether or not those Parliaments or Parliamentary Assemblies are members of the IPU. If these officials are not able to take part in the work of the Association in person, the Association may admit as its member another high-ranking official on the proposal of the Secretary General. The Association also has honorary members who have made important contributions to it. They take part in its work in addition to two members from a given country. Parliamentary representation in the Association continues even when the membership of this parliament in the IPU is suspended due to the circumstances provided for in the Charter.
Each year, the AGSP shall meet in two sessions at the same time as the Inter-Parliamentary Union conferences and at the same location. It may also meet additionally at the dates and at the place determined by its Executive Committee. Any representative of the IPU who has the right to speak, if he so wishes, may attend the sessions of the Association.
AGSP Executive Committee consists of the President of the Association, two vice-presidents, six other members, and former presidents with the status of members or honorary members of the Association. He is elected at the regular session of the Assembly for a term, as stipulated in Rule 18, "... for a period spanning six consecutive sessions».
All members of the Executive Committee, except for former Presidents, must represent different parliaments. There are also The Bureau composed of a president, two vice-presidents elected by the Association, and two secretaries appointed by the president. Representatives of parliaments whose membership in the IPU has been suspended cannot remain on the Executive Committee and Bureau of the Association.
The functions of the AGSP Executive Committee include the following responsibilities:
identification of issues for discussion and appointment of speakers;
development of the agenda of the sessions, time and place of their holding;
implementation of decisions of the Association;
preparation of the draft annual budget of the Association and the report for the last year;
making proposals at the session of the Association on additions to the Rules of its work and elections.
Only the decisions of the sessions are binding on the Association. It generally does not approve the report or authorize its publication until it has been considered in two sessions. Any decision can only be taken by majority vote.
The goals of the Inter-Parliamentary Union are realized through a multitude of committees,subcommittees,standing committees and working groups consisting of representatives from many countries of the world. Among them:
committee on human rights of parliamentarians;
sustainable development committee;
Committee on Middle East Affairs;
the Standing Committee for Promoting Respect for International Humanitarian Law;
Coordinating Committee of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments;
Coordinating Committee of Meetings of Women Parliamentarians;
Gender Cooperation Group and etc.
The Charter of the IPU proceeds from the fact that this structure is not established once and for all. It requires its change and improvement as new problems, tasks, goals and changes in the general situation in the world appear. At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, a new situation really took shape in the world, and the 108th Inter-Parliamentary Conference (Santiago, April 7, 2003) introduced amendments to the Charter and Rules of Work. Elected bureaus of three new Standing Committees:
Peace and international security;
Sustainable development, finance and trade;
Democracy and human rights.
The former Committee on Sustainable Development ceased its activities, and the Committee on International Humanitarian Law merged into the Committee for Peace and International Security. It was decided that from the next meeting of parliamentarians they would be called assemblies.
ST. PETERSBURG, 14 October. /TASS/. The 137th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which promises to be a record in terms of the number and representativeness of participants, will begin work in St. Petersburg on Saturday. Russian President Vladimir Putin will take part in the opening ceremony.
According to the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov, the head of state will address the participants of the meeting, listen to the speeches of the leadership of the assembly, as well as the speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko and the speaker of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin.
About the 137th Assembly
The IPU Assembly will be held from 14 to 18 October. It promises to be the largest in the history of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the organizing committee for the preparation of the forum said. About 100 chairmen of foreign parliaments, including from Turkey, Korea, Germany, Serbia and delegations from more than 160 countries representing five continents, confirmed their participation. The total number of registered participants exceeded 2300 people.
Russian parliamentarians headed by the chairmen of both chambers will take part in numerous events of the 137th Assembly of the IPU. Thus, Valentina Matviyenko earlier announced that on Monday, on the sidelines of the assembly, she would hold bilateral meetings with the First Deputy Chairman of the Parliament of the DPRK and the Chairman of the Parliament South Korea. Meetings with heads of delegations are also planned. Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, Hungary, United United Arab Emirates and other countries. Viacheslav Volodin plans to meet with heads of delegations from Iran, Iraq, China, Congo, Serbia, Syria and Turkey.
As part of the activities of the working group on Syria, bilateral meetings of the national delegations of those countries that are involved in the Syrian settlement will be held.
The program of the assembly also includes holding thematic meetings and sessions: the forum of women parliamentarians and the forum of young parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. More than forty meetings of bodies, committees, commissions and groups of the IPU will be held on the margins of the assembly. There will be meetings of six geopolitical groups - African, Arab, Asia-Pacific, Eurasian, Latin American and the "Twelve Plus" group, which includes the countries of Western and Central Europe, Canada and some other states.
In addition, a new chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Union will be elected in St. Petersburg.
The failure of attempts to isolate Russia
Valentina Matviyenko, on the eve of the opening of the session of the IPU assembly, told TASS that a record number of delegations had registered to participate in the forum, which was evidence of the failure of attempts to isolate Russia. "The very fact that the Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union is being held in St. Petersburg is a convincing evidence of the failure of attempts to isolate Russia and undermine its authority in the international arena. The upcoming assembly promises to be a record one both in terms of the number of delegations and the level of representation," the chairman said. Federation Council.
According to her, such big interest to the IPU Assembly taking place in Russia means that the discussion on the most pressing global and regional problems "promises to be thorough, profound, and will have a great political resonance."
Adoption of a resolution
One of the central events of the assembly will be the adoption of the resolution "On the 20th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Democracy: the Commonality of Our Diversity." "Its relevance is especially great against the backdrop of attempts by a number of states to impose on the international community the Western model of democracy as the only true, universal one. The draft resolution is based on a completely different point of view, which is reflected in the formula: the common in diversity," Matviyenko told TASS.
She added that life rejects and refutes the claims of certain states, regions to possess absolute truth in matters of democracy. "States, peoples have the right to independently create and implement models of social development, taking into account their own cultural, religious, other historical features and modern realities. The MPS Assembly provides parliamentarians with an excellent opportunity to exchange practical experience, take it into account when forming national legislation," the speaker of the Federation Council is sure.
In addition, the draft resolution supports the initiative taken by Interparliamentary Assembly(IPA) of the CIS member states: to establish on June 30 the International Day of Parliamentarism. June 30 is the date of the first assembly of the IPU in 1889 and, according to Russian parliamentarians, such a date would contribute to the consolidation of the parliamentary movement and inter-parliamentary solidarity.
The main theme of the assembly
Vice-Chairman of the IPU, head of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Konstantin Kosachev said on the eve of the opening of the assembly that the main theme of this session will be the promotion of cultural pluralism and peace through inter-religious and inter-ethnic dialogue. "Within the framework of the topic, the delegates will discuss issues of dialogue between the cultures of the world in general, the prospects for their further rapprochement. The topic of the general debate will allow them to be held in line with the promotion of intercultural and interreligious dialogue for peace and social stability, respect for diversity, as well as creating an atmosphere conducive to peace and mutual understanding at all levels," Kosachev told reporters.
Entry of new members into the IPU
Valentina Matviyenko also said that during the assembly, the admission of new members to the IPU is expected: there is a corresponding appeal from the Republic of Vanuatu and Turkmenistan. "We welcome the intention of these countries to join the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Joining the IPU opens up new opportunities for them to systematically interact with the parliaments of the world, participate in the preparation and adoption of documents that are significant for the entire international community," the senator said.
It is also expected that one new associate member will join the IPU - Parliamentary Assembly Black Sea economic cooperation(PABSEC).
Restrictions on the participation of parliamentarians in international forums are unacceptable
Matviyenko said the Russian authorities had provided all the necessary state guarantees that no parliamentarian included in the national delegation and registered as a participant in the 137th IPU Assembly would face a ban on entering Russia. Including those who are included in the Russian so-called restrictive lists adopted in response to Western sanctions. "We are categorically against any measures that impede the interaction of parliamentarians, their participation in international forums. We believe that such steps are in principle unacceptable in relation to people who have received a mandate from voters," the politician stressed.
She added that between parliamentary diplomacy allows you to achieve a lot. According to the chairman of the Federation Council, parliamentarians have certain "competitive advantages", since it is they who receive a mandate directly from citizens and express their will. "We have the opportunity to act freely and flexibly on international platforms. We can actively and skillfully use these advantages both in promoting national interests their states, and in solving the problems of world politics, economics, humanitarian cooperation," Matviyenko said.
IPU assembly free from pressure
The speaker of the Federation Council stressed that Russia would do everything to ensure that the upcoming assembly passed without any attempts to pressure and impose its positions on any of the participants, both during discussions and when adopting documents. "The IPU Assembly is called upon to consolidate and not divide parliaments and parliamentarians, the international community. This is our motto as the host, and we strictly follow it. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the forum is completely free from attempts to obstruct, pressure, impose anything on participants or, whether in the course of coordinating the agenda of meetings or discussions, or developing final documents," Matviyenko said.
She also noted that the Russian parliamentarians expect the IPU Assembly to oppose the cultivation of force in international relations, in support of the priority of equal dialogue, consideration and respect for the mutual interests of states, the peaceful settlement of all international problems, unconditional observance of human rights and freedoms.
MPS
The Inter-Parliamentary Union is the oldest (founded in 1889) and one of the most authoritative and influential international parliamentary organizations, the informal parliamentary dimension of the UN. 173 countries are members of the union, 11 inter-parliamentary associations are members of the IPU as associate members.
an international non-governmental organization, which is an association of national parliamentary groups that share the goals of this organization and wish to participate in its work. It was created in 1889 by pacifist parliamentarians of several states in order to promote the idea of arbitration in resolving international disputes. As of January 1, 1974, it unites the parliamentary groups of 72 states (including the USSR and other socialist countries). According to the charter adopted in 1922, the purpose of the union is "to encourage personal contacts between members of all parliaments ... and to unite them for joint action ... in the strengthening and development of representative institutions, and also in the interests of promoting the cause of international peace and cooperation. ..” Solutions M. s. are not binding, however, being the expression of the opinion of representatives of the legislative bodies of most countries of the world, they have some influence on the world community, on governments, on other international organizations.
M. s. It has consultative status "A" with the United Nations. His supreme body- an annual conference convened (by agreement) in the capital of one of the members of the union. Between conferences, the organization is managed by the Inter-Parliamentary Council, which includes 2 representatives from each national parliamentary group. The chairman of the council is elected for 4 years, he directs the work of the council and the Executive Committee - the administrative body of the M. s. (consists of 11 members, 10 of them are elected by the conference for 4 years from among the members of the council).
The main work on the consideration of certain issues, as well as the development of draft resolutions of conferences, is carried out by permanent study groups: on political issues, international security and disarmament; on parliamentary and legal matters; on economic and social issues; on education and science; Commission on Non-Self-Governing Territories and Ethnic Affairs. Other permanent or temporary commissions and subcommittees may also be created by decision of the council.
Secretariat M. s. - Interparliamentary Bureau- located in Geneva, it is headed by the gene. secretary appointed by the council for 4 years. The official body of M. s. - "Interparliamentary Bulletin" - "Bulletin Interparlementaire" (published once a quarter in English and French); the union also publishes the official records of the conferences.
Within M. with. there is the so-called Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments, which aims to exchange views and develop recommendations for improving the working methods and technical organization of parliaments. Since 1965 there is a page financed by M. International Center for Parliamentary Documentation.
