Inter-Parlamentary Union - The whole world in Belgrade

THE WHOLE WORLD IN BELGRADE 141st Assembly of Inter-Parlamentary Union

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141 IPU ASSEMBLY INAUGURAL CEREMONY st

The event gathered 2,000 participants from approximately 150 countries

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he 141st Assembly of the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) opened on 13 October at Sava Centre in Belgrade. The Assembly was inaugurated by the Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and was attended by the Speaker of the Serbian Parliament Maja Gojković, IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron and Director General of the UN Geneva Office Tatiana Valovaya.

“I am proud that you are all in Belgrade, in Serbia. It seems that Serbia is the only country which can organise such a session in Europe today because in all the other countries there are some blockages, obstacles. Here, in Serbia, there are no barriers for any of you. We are a free, sovereign and independent country which seeks to foster friendship with all. There-

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fore, welcome to Serbia and feel at home here", said President Vučić.

President Vučić emphasised that there is no higher value than freedom and reminded the attendees of the establishment of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

“This assembly today is one of the most important events in our contemporary history. It is not only the testimony of the influence of the IPU but of something even more remarkable - how little it is necessary sometimes to make the big dreams true. It is important that we never stop dreaming big. The world of dialogue, the world of compromise, the world of peace remains possible. Parliament as such was created so that people could solve their disputes through dialogue, so that rules can be established ensuring equality and fair

chances in any society”, underlined president Vučić. He also said that people feel again that the independence, sovereignty and freedom of decision-making are something worth fighting for.

Vučić noted that today, in a world which still faces political nightmares, parliamentarians are apart of community that can and must dream different dreams.

"It doesn't matter how big the obstacles are, and how strong different inter-

MEMBER

Serbia became one of the first members of the IPU in 1891, shortly after the founding of that international organisation in 1889.

ests are, it's important that we don't give up on those dreams. A world of dialogue, compromise and peace is possible, just like Frédéric Passy and Randal Cremer, the founders of Inter-Parliamentary Union did, word by word, meeting after meetingto have faith and not give up", Serbian President emphasized.

He expressed hope that parliamentarians from around the world would have the opportunity to get to know Serbia and its people, who as he said, highly appreciate and love them.

"We have learned to love people from Africa, Latin America, Asia, from all continents, because we were part of the NonAligned Movement.We also knew that we

THEME

The central theme of the IPU Assembly session was “The Role and Mechanisms of Parliament in Strengthening International Law and the Contribution of Regional Cooperation”

should never turn our backs on our friends in hard times because we know that only few of them stood by us when Serbia was going through turbulent times ", Vučić said, opening the 141st IPU session.

Serbian Assembly Speaker Maja Gojković welcomed the delegations from 150 countries from around the world, promising that the open, cosmopolitan Belgrade will conquer their hearts.

“We have gathered here to strengthen the old and build new bridges of cooperation. We are here in the land of Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andric who said that bridges “are places where a man came across an obstacle and did not stop before it, but overcame and bridged it the best way humankind could, according to understanding, taste and circumstances”. It is up to us today , on behalf of the people we represent, to encourage our governments to build bridges of cooperation, rather than tear them down.”

Gojković said that in these complex times, parliamentary diplomacy is of essential importance and when traditional diplomatic

mechanisms fall short it is the only means of support to international dialogue.

Gojković said that Serbia had been committed to the values and objectives of the Inter-Parliamentary Union for 128 years now, since the Kingdom of Serbia joined the community of parliaments in 1891.

She said that it was no coincidence that we had selected a Pirot rug motif, the symbol of our tradition dating back five centuries, as the visual identity of the Belgrade IPU Assembly.

“According to our lore, it protects families and spreads positive energy. This motif relates to the art of conversation always ending in agreement”.

UN Office Geneva Director-General Tatyana Valovaya spoke at the Inaugural Ceremony, UN Secretary Antonio Guterres addressed the participants via a video message and the delegates were also welcomed by the IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Ana Brnabić, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development Mladen Šarčević, Minister of Health Zlatibor Lončar, Minister of Labour, Employment, Veterans’ and Social Affairs Zoran Đorđević attended the opening of the IPU Assembly. The central theme of the IPU Assembly session was “Strengthening International Law: Parliamentary Roles and Mechanisms in and the Contribution of Regional Cooperation”.

Participants discussed gender equality, youth empowerment, protection of MPs’ human rights and universal health coverage.

Serbia became one of the first members of the IPU in 1891, shortly after the founding of that international organisation in 1889.

The IPU is a global organisation of national parliaments, founded 130 years ago as the first multinational political organisation in the world to foster cooperation and dialogue between countries.

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INTERVIEW

GABRIELA CUEVAS BARRON The IPU President

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THERE IS NO ONESIDED SOLUTION I believe that parliaments need to adapt to new times

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ne of the main topics of the IPU’s session in Belgrade was strengthening international law and better regional cooperation. The Inter-Parliamentary Union President, Ms Gabriela Cuevas Barron is confident that parliamentarians will find ways to influence their governments for the benefit of both citizens and democracy. She explains that parliamentary delegations can demand from their governments to respect international law and encourage them to liaise and cooperate regionally.

"If we, parliamentarians, can influence our governments, then every one of the 179 parliamentary delegations in the Inter-Parliamentary Union can demand that their governments respect international law and influence them to liaise and cooperate regionally," the IPU President said in the beginning of her interview for Diplomacy&Commerce.

She added that it was the duty of parliamentarians around the world to work on promoting the international law, as well as “friendship, trust and love among nations".

"The people have chosen us to build bridges and solve problems. They have not chosen us to promote hatred. Today, again, we have the important task of finding and implementing sustainable solutions (...) International law is a map that shows us how to reach peaceful coexistence. That's why

international law is our main ally today, " Ms Cuevas Barron added.

How did you decide to hold an IPU assembly session in Europe after 20 years? And how did you decide it to be in Serbia?

— We’ve been trying to organize an IPU Assembly in a European country for literally two decades. We realised that very few countries in Europe don’t didn’t have sanction policy against other countries. We contacted the Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, Ms Gojković. She, of course, asked us to give her some time to see if it was possible to organize the Assembly session in Serbia. In the end, she made it possible.

PARLIAMENT

Last year, you said that the Serbian Parliament’s practice was noted as an example of good parliamentary practice. Do you still think that today, when the government and the opposition can speak to each other only with the help from European parliamentarians?

— I am familiar with those political developments. I think it is important to seize the opportunity for dialogue and that parliament is the best place to talk. This is the only way we can build democracy.

We are absolutely clear that if a parliament is not strong enough and does not respect democracy, it is not going to function properly

What is the cooperation between the IPU and Serbia like?

— It is very good. Believe it or not, I was talking with the Speaker of the Parliament Maja Gojković exactly about that, since I believe that in the last two years, we have seen improvements in the participation of the Serbian delegation. Serbia is also our host, so we have a very strong cooperation; even a partnership bond with the Serbian Parliament. This is mostly due to our good political will. Sometimes the cooperation is about that, i.e. finding the coincidences but also the will and the possibility to make it happen.

The Belgrade conference marks the jubilee - 70 years of the Geneva Convention and 30 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The world is witnessing a serious violation of those rights. How can you protect them?

— We simply have to. These rights must be incorporated into our laws, but the most important thing is to monitor that our governments respect them and to make them accountable to the people and to the international system. Lately we can hear people who blame globalization for national challenges or advocate unilateral solutions. We all see what is happening on our planet. There is no one-sided solution to the problem of respecting borders.

There were manys topics on the conference agenda. Which ones would you single out?

— They are all important. The debate about dignified work was challenging. The global economy is slowing down, our products are changing and we want to know what will happen with salaries and jobs. Then there is climate change, displacement of people and achieving a universal health coverage in the world.

What are the main problems of parliaments in the world today and what are the solutions?

— Well, we have many problems, I believe that parliaments need to adapt to new times. Parliaments are institutions that were created centuries ago, and now, the 21 century requires that we bring institutions closer to people, provide faster solutions, with more inclusive processes.

This is not a problem; more like a challenge. The problem is more with governments that become more authoritarian or some governments that are trying to dissolve parliaments. In those cases, the IPU has different approaches. I can’t use the word solution because we don’t have authority to find a solution to those issues. However, we have a possibility to talk with governments and countries, and to look for the roadmaps that show us how to go back to democracy and parliaments that adhere to it fully.

We are absolutely clear that if a parliament is not strong enough and does not respect democracy, it is not going to function properly.

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INTERVIEW

MARTIN CHUNGONG IPU Secretary General

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artin Chungong made double history in 2014 by becoming the first African and first non-European to be elected as IPU Secretary General. He has more than three decades of experience and knowledge of parliaments at national and international levels. He has dedicated his professional life to promoting and building democracy worldwide. After 14 years working in the Cameroonian Parliament, he spent more than 20 distinguished years within organization before being elected IPU Secretary General—the eighth person to hold the position. He had previously served as Deputy Secretary General and Director of Programmes. He has become a leader in his field through his work on developing programmes to help parliaments become more transparent, accountable, representative and effective democratic institutions. Martin Chungong has further contributed to establishing governance benchmarks to strengthen democracy, as chair of the Management Committee on Accountability of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Governance Network. He has also built an impressive portfolio in the promotion of dialogue and conflict resolution, issues that remain at the heart of our global work. His focus on helping countries emerge from conflict or in transition has been widely acknowledged by our membership and partners globally. Since 2012, Martin Chungong has made a push to strengthen parliamentary engagement on sustainable development and accountability through his role as Parliamentary Representative on the Steering Commit-

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OPPORTUNE MOMENT TO ENCOURAGE THE PARLIAMENTARIANS OF THE WORLD This is the second time that Belgrade has hosted an IPU Assembly; the 52nd Assembly was held in Belgrade in 1963 so we are happy to be back. We are certain very important outcomes was result from the deliberations of the Assembly

tee of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, an international group which helps nations, business and organizations work better together to end poverty. As part of IPU's commitment to gender parity, Martin Chungong is an International Gender Champion, part of a network of decision makers, male and female, who have committed to breaking down gender barriers. He is also leading IPU’s work to dramatically reduce maternal and child mortality rates through effective legislation and its implementation, as well as ensuring governments’ accountability to international commitments in this area. A linguist by training, Martin Chungong speaks English, French and Spanish. He holds degrees from both the University of Yaoundé and the University of Ottawa. He has been made a Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Pléiade, an honour awarded by what is now known as the International Organisation of La Francophonie to people who have distinguished themselves in the service of its ideals of cooperation and friendship.

Is this your first time in Belgrade? What is your impression of the Serbian capital city?

— Indeed, it is my first visit to Belgrade and to Serbia in general. I am delighted to be in Belgrade, in this beautiful and dynamic city. Serbia has a special place at the IPU as it was one of the first members of the IPU, joining in 1891, shortly after the organization was founded in 1889. This is the second time that Belgrade has hosted an IPU Assembly; the 52nd Assembly was held in Belgrade in 1963 so we are happy to be back. We are certain very important outcomes was result from the deliberations of the Assembly.

meetings to encourage greater regional cooperation and understanding between its Member Parliaments.

You are an exception to the 125-year-long tradition of only Europeans helming the Inter-Parliamentary Union. You were also the first African to be elected as a high official of this body. How did this come about?

— I have dedicated all of my professional life to promoting and strengthening parliaments and empowering parliamentarians.

After 14 years working in the Cameroonian Parliament, I spent more than 20 years within our organization in various capacities including Director of Programmes, Director of Democracy and as Deputy Secretary General before being elected IPU Secretary General—the eighth person to hold the position in our organization’s 130year history. I believe that the membership of the Organisation, in electing me to this office, was convinced of my capacity, on account of this experience, to help the Organisation deliver on its mandate. I am heartened by this trust which has been my driving force throughout my tenure. I am very keen to live up to this trust. The IPU should have the capacity to reflect the voice of parliaments on the global scene and to mobilise parliaments worldwide in support of global commitments and their implementation at the national level.

You are particularly noted for your work pertaining to the development of pro-

grammes to help parliaments become more transparent, accountable, a true representative and effective democratic institutions. What do you think of the Serbian Parliament? Are you familiar with its work?

— At the IPU, we are keen to promote the values and principles of democracy as practised by parliaments. We work hand in hand with parliaments to make them more representative and inclusive to reflect all the people. In our view, the more representative a parliament, the stronger the democracy and the better able to address effectively the expectations of all of society. The Serbian parliament is making good progress from this point of view. For example, 38% of Serbian MPs are women, well above the global average of 24%. Serbia ranks 27th out of the 193 countries in the world.

Furthermore, the parliament is particularly youthful, with close to 45% of MPs under 45 years old, which is important to ensure youth engagement and mobilization in politics. The IPU has been pleased to work with the parliament to assess and strengthen its capacity to contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

PLACE

Serbia has a special place at the IPU as it was one of the first members of the IPU, joining in 1891, shortly after the organization was founded in 1889

How did you choose the theme of the 141st IPU session: Strengthening international law: Parliamentary roles and mechanisms, and the contribution of regional cooperation?

— We chose this theme in partnership with our Serbian hosts working closely together to refine the theme and build the programme. Since the IPU’s creation 130 years ago, political dialogue, the rule of law and the peaceful resolution of conflict through parliamentary diplomacy have remained its guiding principles. However, we are beginning to see cracks worldwide in the rule of law and respect for international agreements - so our 141st Assembly is an opportune moment to encourage the parliamentarians of the world to recommit to these principles and the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue.

Indeed, as at all IPU Assemblies, we facilitate hundreds of parliamentary bilateral

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SERBIA JUSTIFIED THE TRUST We, as parliamentarians need to continuously search for responses and solutions to meet citizens’ needs, and to enhance transparency of our work in order to get closer to citizens

INTERVIEW

MAJA GOJKOVIĆ The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia

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fter full 56 years, Belgrade regained trust and an opportunity to once again host such a big IPU Assembly, one of the largest Assemblies in IPU history. This is best indicated by over 2000 participants from 150 countries, as well as 300 official bilateral meetings held.

This proves how important this Assembly is for parliamentary world and diplomacy in general, and that despite numerous challenges, it is still possible to build up a world of dialogue and compromise”, said at the beginning of the interview The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Maja Gojković.

How comes that Serbia hosted the 141st IPU Assembly, after over 50 years?

— I am really proud about and very satisfied with the fact that this was a successful and substantial Assembly, and with fact that after 20 years this Assembly was hosted by one of the European countries that proved to be open for parliamentarians from all over the world, without any limitations. Moreover, the session in Belgrade proved an increasing role of parliaments and parliamentary diplomacy in these complex times, as well as the importance of parliaments in building up trust and cooperation, at both regional level and wider. Numerous discussions between parliamentarians showed that these themes are topical and important for practically every region in the world. This is why it is up to MPs to promote observance of international law and United Nations’ Charter, conventions and other international legal instruments that guarantee international law and order.

The Belgrade Declaration, adopted at the end of the Assembly, is an outcome of the general debate in which over 150 Speakers and Deputy Speakers of Parliaments participated, as well as Heads of delegations, MPs and representatives of international organisations. I really believe that Serbia justified the trust and support it received from the IPU management and the whole parliamentary world to host this Assembly.

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How important is this event for our country and Parliament?

— Hosting such a big convention is a great recognition accorded to Serbia. The fact that we gathered 77 Speakers and Presidents of Parliaments, 66 Deputy Speakers and over 2000 participants indicates that this was one of the largest meetings in recent history of Serbia. This is a great recognition given to our country, a confirmation of our role in the international arena, and I believe that our hospitality made all the parliamentarians feel welcome in Belgrade and Serbia. Furthermore, for more than seven days, our country was the hub of the whole parliamentarian world, and besides for the Belgrade Declaration which calls for observance of international law, the Belgrade Assembly will also be remembered for the Resolution on Climate Change discussed as an emergency item, and the Resolution on Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030: The role of parliaments in ensuring the right to health”. These are all very important results of the Assembly.

POSITION

Which are the countries with whose parliaments you have the best cooperation?

— During the Assembly, I had numerous bilateral meetings with Speakers and Presidents of Parliaments, over 60 official meetings. We really used all the opportunities provided by the parliamentary coopera-

The IPU Assembly certainly improved the position of Serbia on the global political map and at the same time it opened numerous possibilities for presenting economic and tourist potentials

tion and such a multilateral conference within the oldest and the biggest international parliamentary organisation for developing and enhancing cooperation, and for establishing and renewing contacts where they have not existed for a long time. I had meetings with many countries, with Speakers of Parliaments from our region, with partners from within the EU, and in this context, particularly important was the meeting I had with the ‘Slavkov Group’ consisting of Speakers of Austrian, Slovak and Czech Parliaments.

Moreover, it is in our interest to develop cooperation and relations with our traditional friends such as countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America, and many of them were represented at the highest parliamentary level. Many of them remember cooperation within the Non-Aligned Movement and the support they received from us. Based on this tradition, they are also ready today to develop our relations in the field of economy, education, culture, etc. We as a Parliament showed unquestionabe readiness to enhance these relations both through cooperation between our working bodies, parliamentary groups of friendship and our delegations, and already now we have Memorandums of Cooperation signed with many countries.

To what extent may this event be significant for the economy and business environment?

— The IPU Assembly certainly improved the position of Serbia on the global political map and at the same time it opened numerous possibilities for presenting economic and tourist potentials and for overall promotion of our country. In the numerous talks I had, I received confirmation of many

countries’ interest in Serbia at all levels.

They particularly showed interest in enhancing business ties and cooperation in the field of economy. Moreover, they are familiar with the situation in our country and with the fact that Serbia is making a stable political and economic progress, that we have successfully tackled difficulties and that we have achieved a financial consolidation. They really showed interest in what Serbia had achieved, including the fact that today we attract a great number of investments, that unemployment is reducing and that our country is achieving an appreciable economic growth. All of this makes numerous countries see Serbia as a reliable and desirable partner for cooperation in the field of economy.

Particular focus of the convention was placed on marking the 30th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Could you tell us more about this?

— I am particularly proud of the fact that we marked the 30th Anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at this Assembly. This is the documents that our county was among the first to ratify and it was printed in both Cyrillic and Latin script at the time. Furthermore, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is certainly the document ratified by the largest number of countries, which indicates its great significance. I am particularly proud of the fact that as a part of this Anniversary, we promoted a famous musician Goran Bregović into a regional UNICEF Ambassador, because, being familiar with his energy and dedication, I am convinced that he will certainly contribute to a better protection of children’s rights and ensure greater attention to the promotion of the children’s rights and protection of children.

Where do you see the Serbian parliamentarism with regard to other IPU member states?

— We spoke about the challenges faced by Parliaments in 21st century and how important it was to be willing to make critical self-assessment and establish how we could improve our performance in the best interest of citizens we represent. Only in this manner can we build up the future trust of citizens that elect us, at global level. This is why improving democracy and strengthening parliaments is an important task being tackled within the Inter-Parliamentary Union. We, as parliamentarians need to continuously search for responses and solutions to meet citizens’ needs, and to enhance transparency of our work in order to get closer to citizens. The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia is fully committed to all IPU principles.

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PEACE AND COOPERATION VLADIMIR ORLIĆ Head of the National Assembly delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union

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ladimir Orlić spoke at the general debate with the topic “Strengthening international law: Parliamentary roles and mechanisms, and the contribution of regional cooperation”. He stressed that the role of the parliament has been internationalized and we can speak of parliaments as active participants on the international scene.

Peace and Cooperation at the global and regional level, commitment to the rule of law and respect of international law are the cornerstones of Serbia’s domestic and foreign policy efforts. He stressed that today, as we face a world of constant change, speaking of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, trying to predict its implications for, among other things, national and international security, the importance of international law becomes patently clear.

“It clearly demands that we get more involved with international policies and follow international developments.

In that sense, the role of the parliament should and must be strengthened through direct engagement in the political systems and through international organizations, primarily the IPU, its institutes and mechanisms of action”, Orlić concluded.

STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL LAW PROF. DR VLADIMIR MARINKOVIĆ National Assembly Deputy Speaker and member of the IPU delegation

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ladimir Marinković took part in the IPU General Debate on strengthening international law: parliamentary roles and mechanisms, and the contribution of regional cooperation in the segment for young parliamentarians. The Deputy Speaker said that peace and stability are being called into question on a daily basis by the mounting challenges and conflicted interests shaking the world. He reminded the attending that the motto of the founders of IPU was peace, dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflict in line with international law, a pledge the parliamentarians are duty-bound to keep today, 130 years later. “The instrument to do so is to strengthen the parliament as an institution that reflects the will of the people and is the key player in ensuring democracy, the operation of democratic institutions, well-being of the citizens and preservation of the rule of law at the national and international level”, said Marinković.

He added that unresolved bilateral or regional relations that can trigger disturbances to world peace are responsible for many of the challenges to peace and security. “In that sense, the mechanisms of parliamentary diplomacy as IPU instruments gain particular meaning and role that can, should and finally must be adequately expressed in regional problems”, said the Deputy Speaker.

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SELECTIVE JUSTICE PROF. DR ŽARKO OBRADOVIĆ National Assembly IPU Delegation Member

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he member of the National Assembly delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union and Chairman of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee Prof. Dr Žarko Obradović took part in the panel discussion on the topic of Respect for international law in keeping with the UN Charter and other relevant resolutions, at the 141st IPU Assembly in Belgrade. In his address, Prof. Dr Žarko Obradović said that in the 1990s the Balkans played out as a theatre of international law violations and the lesson learned at the time was that a breach of international law, however justified, despite the arguments and power of the force behind it, cannot lead to peace and stability, but to an ever longer and worse conflict. The fallout of such conflict is long-term and often irreparable, he said. That is why in the context of strengthening international law, international criminal courts and tribunals, should not be subject to political abuse, but must have a clear mandate solely to establish criminal liability for serious violations of international law, especially international humanitarian law, Obradović opined, adding that if international criminal tribunals administer “selective justice” they can easily be accused of being instrumentalized and acting in the interest of a policy contradictory to the objectives of international law.

THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE SNEŽANA BOGOSAVLJEVIĆ BOŠKOVIĆ National Assembly IPU Delegation Member

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Snežana Bogosavljević Bošković spoke about climate change on behalf of the Serbian delegation. “The consequences of these changes are potentially so far-reaching and serious for our planet. Therefore, Serbia, as a member state of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and as a signatory of the accompanying Kyoto Protocol and other international agreements in this area, has implemented a number of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” she said.

Bogosavljević Bošković also explained that the mentioned activities were numerous and that they related to both migration and adaptation (that is the adaptation to the changing climatic conditions).

“In June 2015, Serbia submitted the Intended Nation-Specific Contributions to the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions to the Convention’s Secretariat, and in December of the same year, Serbia signed the Paris Agreement, which, as a new, globally legally binding document on climate change, defines the obligations of the Convention’s signatories post-2020 in regard to preventing the global temperature rising by more than two degrees Celsius,” the Serbian delegate added.

Snežana Bogosavljević Bošković went on to say that, under the principle of early or timely development, Serbia was very dedicated to drafting a Climate Change Law which is in its final stages. At the end of her presentation, she announced that Serbia was also planning to adopt a law on reducing greenhouse gas emissions this year.

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BILATERAL MEETINGS OF SERBIAN DELEGATION

Serbian Parliament Speaker Maja Gojković has held countless bilateral meetings during the 141st session of the IPU. Introducing some of the highlights 14 OCTOBER 2019

Meeting the Chairperson of the Russian Federation Valentina Matviyenko

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atviyenko thanked her host for the hospitality extended to the Russian delegation at the Belgrade IPU Assembly, congratulating the vast and good organization of this important event, which is both a huge honour and responsibility for any country. Matviyenko said that the very number of high-level delegations in attendance is testament to the deep respect for the Serbian Parliament and Serbia as one of the oldest members of the IPU, and to Serbia’s global image which is vital for its positioning in the international arena. Gojković and Matviyenko stressed the importance of maintaining international law, which is the overreaching theme of the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Belgrade, and Matviyenko said that Serbia had experienced the rule of force in the NATO bombings. Matviyenko said that parliamentarians have their role to contribute to the protection of international law and the UN has to play the key role in international relations

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Meetign with Moon Hee-sang, Korean Parliament Speaker

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he Korean Parliament Speaker said that the relations between the two countries are very positive in the spheres of political, economic and cultural relations and that they are ready to share experiences in the areas of e-governance, digitalization, customs systems, environmental issues and education. Speaking of Kosovo-Metohija, Moon said that his country believes that problems should be resolved through dialogue and when it comes to international organizations, the Republic of Korea will not vote in favour of “Kosovo” joining INTERPOL. Gojković thanked him for the support of Serbia’s efforts to resolve the problems with Pristina through dialogue and come to a compromise solution.

15 OCTOBER 2019

Meeting Chinese National People´s Congress Vice Chairman Hao Mingjin

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he Vice Chairman of the Chinese National People´s Congress reminded the host of the words of Chinese President Xi Jinping that Serbia is a firm friend to China opining that the mutual support of the two presidents helps further the comprehensive strategic partnership and achieve significant results in the realms of economic cooperation and culture. He said that the Serbian cultural centre in Beijing and Chinese cultural centre in Belgrade will contribute to the development of relations, adding that the noticed a significant increase in the number of Chinese tourists in Serbia. Hao Mingjin said that President Aleksandar Vučić’s attendance of the Belt and Road gathering in Beijing in April opened new perspectives for cooperation, hoping that the two countries would continue to develop relations and that the volume and quality of cooperation would be raised to an even higher level.

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15 OCTOBER 2019

Meeting with Austrian Parliament Speaker Wolfgang Sobotka

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obotka said that Austria’s foreign policy is committed to EU enlargement, at the level of government, parliamentary and economic cooperation the country has shown that enlargement is essential, and emphasized the importance of the Euro-integration of the Western Balkans for stable development. Sobotka congratulated Gojkovic for the organization of the IPU Assembly, for bringing it home to Europe, its point of origin, agreed that Europe’s engagement is very important and that Serbia is like a bridge, and reminded the Serbian Assembly Speaker that Austria will next year be host to the IPU Conference of Speakers of Parliament.

16 OCTOBER 2019

Meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani

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he Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Larijani said that the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue to support Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and has supported Serbia’s stance in the international organizations of UNESCO and INTERPOL. Larijani said that the two countries enjoy good and friendly relations, remarking that the Serbian Assembly Speaker’s visit to Iran was substantive and truly important for the strengthening of parliamentary and overall relations.

16 OCTOBER 2019

Meeting with Indian Parliament Speaker Om Birla

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he officials highlighted the decade-long traditional friendship and understanding, grounded in the cooperation in the NonAligned Movement. Birla stressed that India supports Serbia in all key areas, respects its territorial integrity and sovereignty and stands firm by its principled non-recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo-Metohija. As a true friend, India always supports Serbia’s side in international forums. Birla said that the economic ties between the two countries have been strengthened in the last few years, with Indian companies investing into tractor production and other areas and India taking part in the agricultural fair in Novi Sad this year.

16 OCTOBER 2019

Meeting with Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Şentop

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ustafa Şentop said that the leaders of the two countries have an excellent, friendly relationship which in turn strengthens the level of cooperation, opining that the Serbian and Turkish parliaments should advance and further the contacts and ties existing on the presidential level. Şentop also said that Turkey will not forget Serbia’s support immediately after the unsuccessful coup in the country. The Turkish Parliament Speaker stressed that Turkey believes that Serbia has the central position in the region and contributes to its peace, stability and well-being, which is why it should take active part in furthering relations in other organizations, such as IPU.

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THE 130 ANNIVERSARY th

What began in 1889 as a small group of parliamentarians, dedicated to promoting peace through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue, has since grown into a truly global organization of national parliaments

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special segment of the General Debate of the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union marked the 130th anniversary of the IPU as the oldest international parliamentary organization.

The Serbian Assembly Speaker said it was an honour to be marking this important historical date today, as we remember the first Conference in Paris when the vision of connecting people of different cultures, languages, religions, customs and habits through parliamentary cooperation was born, sure of the strength of our organization and its crucial role in modern times.

CHANGES

First Conference in the Paris Hotel Continental in 1889 to the present one in Sava Centre, our parliaments have changed, developed, as have the circumstances in the world Gojkovic said that from that first Conference in the Paris Hotel Continental in 1889 to the present one in Sava Centre, our parliaments have changed, developed, as have the circumstances in the world.

“Still, however complex they might be, we, parliamentarians, understood our

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citizens’ wish to cooperate and together respond to challenges. So the idea of parliamentarians William Randal Cremer and Frédéric Passy is still alive today in the debate we lead in this Belgrade week of parliamentary diplomacy”, said Gojković.

Gojković said that the world is at a crossroads and we are witnesses to the abuse of rules and tenets of international law, adding that the many challenges our parliaments face in the 21st century are the reason why we must be ready for a self-critical reassessment to ascertain how to improve our work in the best interest of the people we represent.

“That is why advancing democracy is now more than ever the IPU’s most important task. At the same time we have to keep encouraging the national parliaments to seek solutions and answers to the citizens’ problems”, said Gojković.

Gojković said that the Serbian Assembly marked this important jubilee for the parliamentary world on 30 June, International Day of Parliamentarism, with the exhibition “1889-2019 Celebrating 130 Years of the Inter-Parliamentary Union”, adding that historical testaments best warn us that it is our to build a world of cooperation, understanding and trust for the generations to come in the next century.

Russian Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko presented the report from the

meeting of the IPU “Quintet” in Geneva, 30 June, marking the 130th anniversary of the IPU and attended by the presidents of the most recent and future IPU assemblies.

The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments.

What began in 1889 as a small group of parliamentarians, dedicated to promoting peace through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue, has since grown into a truly global organization of national parliaments. Today, their membership inches ever closer to being universal, with 179 Member Parliaments ,12 Associate Members, and increasing numbers of parliamentarians from all over the world involved in our work.

Their slogan is “For democracy. For everyone.” Their vision is “We want a world where every voice counts, where democracy and parliaments are at the service of the people for peace and development.”

Their mission is “The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. We promote democratic governance, institutions and values, working with parliaments and parliamentarians to articulate and respond to the needs and aspirations of the people. We work for peace, democracy, human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment and sustainable development through political dialogue, cooperation and parliamentary action.”

30 ANNIVERSARY OF THE UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD th

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Maja Gojković took part in the workshop to mark the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, organized under the auspices of the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Belgrade, where famous musician Goran Bregović was promoted to UNICEF regional ambassador

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ojković said she was pleased that a new UNICEF regional ambassador was promoted at the Belgrade IPU Assembly, one who will, knowing his energy and efforts, contribute to a better protection of child rights. Gojković said she expected Bregović’s recognisability in the region would garner more media attention for issues concerning child rights, their advancement and protection. As Chairperson of the Serbian Assembly’s Committee on the Rights of the Child, Gojković said she was very happy that Serbia is the place where this document so globally important for child rights will celebrate its 30th anniversary, seeing how our country was among the first to ratify the Convention.

Gojković said that as we remember this historic moment today it is important to ask ourselves what we have done and what other tasks await us. Gojković said that today, according to UN data, hundreds of millions of children worldwide are exposed to violence and live in poverty, the most vulnerable among them living in conflict zones or forced to leave their homes due to conflict. This shows us that our work is not done, that as societies individually and together at the level of international organizations such as the Inter-Parliamentary

Union, we have to focus our attention on the implementation of sustainable development goals to make sure children grow up in better environment. Gojković noted that Serbia, as well as the countries in the region, is tasked with improving the status of children and protecting children's rights, adding that though Serbia has made significant progress in this area, it still needs to pass a law on child rights and children's ombudsman. “Caring for children today means caring for the society and our world tomorrow! That is why the common task of all of us - parliamentarians, civil society organizations, celebrities and influencers, the media - must be to make additional efforts to improve the conditions for children’s education and growing up”, said Gojković.

Bregović thanked the IPU for inviting him to participate in this session and said that he was honoured to promote and advocate the rights of every child, recalling that 30 years ago, leaders made a promise by signing the Convention on the Rights of the Child that they wanted to improve their lives, but the reality is that millions of children face the violation of these rights.

Bregović said that we all know that the experiences we had as a child shaped our growing up and, for example, when he lived

in Sarajevo, he was surrounded by diversity, a fact still reflected in his music. Bregović pointed out that in many ways children in Europe and Central Asia live better than they did 30 years ago, however Roma children belong to the most vulnerable group and are more likely to be born prematurely, less likely to be vaccinated and more likely to leave school without finishing it.

He also said that there are many faced by child migrants. "I will do everything I can, and you as parliamentarians can do much

ASSEMBLY

The UN General Assembly adopted the Convention and opened it for signature on 20 November 1989 more, to fulfil the promise of 30 years ago that every child, even the most vulnerable, has their rights," Bregović said. The participants of the workshop were also addressed

by IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron and UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Afshan Khan who said that the Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most ratified UN document.

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YOUNG PEOPLE AND WOMEN IN FOCUS At the 141st IPU session, parliamentarians from around the globe debated many important topics such as human rights, climate change and international law, with women and young people in their focus

30th FORUM OF WOMEN MPS The 30th Forum of Parliamentarians was held under the auspices of the 141st IPU session in Belgrade.

The Deputy Speaker of the Serbian National Parliament, Gordana Čomić chaired the forum. The main focus of this working meeting was health care and its accessibility for women and girls worldwide, as well as forms of violence against women and a full representation of women in parliaments.

Under the working title "How can we change the world?", Čomić addressed the audience, noting how important and complex the topic was, as she said, "if it were that simple, there would be men everywhere here".

In the opening address, the forum participants learned about the impact the IPU has on the whole world.

“Let's imagine, for a moment, that there is no Forum of Women MPs and that men and women are not focused on these changes together,” said Čomić while welcoming who attended the forum which sent a good message to women.

Citing the fact that women are in the minority when it comes to the decision-making process, IPU Assembly President, Gabriela Cuevas Barron took the podium next. She

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welcomed the task force and thanked for a warm welcome, noting that she was glad to be there. “We are trying to write a new chapter in the history of women and to provide new opportunities for the younger generations,” said Cuevas, adding that the IPU’s goal is to fully represent women in all parliaments wherever they are in the world, with inclusivity.

“We need to do this for democracy sake,” she underlined.

Citing percentages concerning women’s participation in the various private and business spheres, Cuevas announced workshops that will focus on positive discrimination, to encourage women and young people. She also said that the IPU needed more women and that everyone who had the will and time was welcome.

The IPU members - from Iran, Germany and the Philippines to Thailand and other countries -expressed their opinions and talked about current situations and experiences. Members agree on the following – there has to be a focus on girls' and women's rights, global health care, consideration of ways to unite and help nature that is an indispensable element of future functioning regardless of gender, promotion of breastfeeding and im-

munization to avoid high mortality rates , guaranteeing the quality of health services and many other important topics.

Representatives of 22 delegations, including Serbia, spoke on a variety of topics.

Regional Director of the UN Women for Europe and Central Asia, Alia El-Yassir said that "we have to move the course" and that "equality between men and women requires courageous people who are not afraid to say what they think."

OUNG PARLIAMENTARIANS Y FORUM MPs Sandra Božić and Jelena Mijatović spoke at the Young Parliamentarians Forum, which was also held under the auspices of the 141st Assembly of the Inter-parliamentary Union. Representatives of many countries were present at the forum: Germany, Egypt, South Africa, India, Russia, Rwanda, Thailand and others.

There was also talk about the future of young people in politics, the role of young generations in individual countries and their needs.

Sandra Božić said that young people were the future of every state and nation. “Youth’s driving force and

the fact that it’s an endless source of new ideas are important topics on which the Republic of Serbia has been working. Our country also has a line youth ministry and a Youth Law, passed in 2011. The Youth Council was also established in 2014. Furthermore, our country has the Youth Office, which is a very important mechanism for effectively stimulating the development of youth policy at the local level, “ Božić underlined.

She added that 2,500 young people have found jobs in the last five years, and more than 30,000 people have been trained in boosting their employability, career management and professional practices. “We, the young parliamentarians, need to highlight the need to create a new vision for youth prosperity. The future of our societies is in our hands, ”she said.

There was also talk of international law, the rights of refugees and how to improve those two issues in the future, as well as how to further improve the rights of children, to eradicate hunger and how to get the rest of the world to get involved in resolving this issue. There were also mentions of concerns about war crimes occurring in conflicts.

MP Jelena Mijatović said that young parliamentarians have already established communication with other young people in Serbia. “Also, I have to mention that, thanks to the continuous work of improving health care in Serbia, the quality and the length of life of the country’s population is extended. We are confident that, with this kind of work, we are going to ensure the health of our country in the future,” Mijatović concluded.

The Forum concluded that this kind of conversation should not take place only between the four falls, but, rather, it should be discussed in a much wider context. The Forum participants also concluded that young people need to be empowered and motivated to participate in political and social life as much as possible.

IPU ASSOCIATION OF SECRETARIES GENERAL OF PARLIAMENTS National Assembly Secretary General Srdjan Smiljanić addressed the session of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments at the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Belgrade

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miljanić emphasized the importance of the topics the participants of the 141st IPU Assembly will be tackling – the parliament’s control role, openness and accessibility for persons with disabilities. The National Assembly Secretary General said that, constitutionally, Serbia is a parliamentary democracy and procedures and regulated institutions with a strong parliament are crucial for a stable and strong parliamentary democracy. Parliamentarism has a long tradition in Serbia, since the beginning of the 19th century, with the Parliament acquiring the role it has today with the Constitution of 1903.

However, the institutions, procedures and standards that make up a parliamentary democracy need to be adapted and updated to be able to respond to modern challenges, said SmiljaniĆ.

He briefed the participants of the meeting on the position, structure and duties of the National Assembly with a special focus on the modern challenges faced by the Na-

tional Assembly, as well as the rest of the national parliaments in the world – openness, getting the citizens involved in the parliaments’ work and working toward promoting the parliaments’ representative and control role.

Speaking of transparency, Smiljanić said that numerous surveys identify the National Assembly as one of the most transparent state institutions in the Republic of Serbia.

The sessions of the National Assembly are aired live on the national public service and livestreamed on the official webpage, as are the meetings of the committees and other working bodies, sessions outside of the National Assembly seat, public hearings, press conferences and other activities of the National Assembly.

The Secretary-General added that the National Assembly had a number of notable mentions as a best practice example in the Global Parliamentary Report 2017 published jointly by the IPU and UNDP. Speaking of the National Assembly and

its Support Service’s prospects for further development, we cannot neglect to mention the United Nations 2030 Agenda, especially sustainable development goal 16 – “Peace, justice and strong institutions”, said Smiljanic. “Our response in the face of future challenges should lie in the implementation of this goal and development of good and accountable governance, strong par-

TRADITION

Parliamentarism has a long tradition in Serbia, since the beginning of the 19th century, with the Parliament acquiring the role it has today with the Constitution of 1903 liament and the promotion of other institutions, improvement of the election system and daily efforts to raise public trust in the National Assembly”, Srdjan Smiljanić concluded.

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BELGRADE DECLARATION ADOPTED International parliaments have adopted a resolution calling on all parliaments to implement all legal and policy measures to make universal health care globally available by 2030

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press conference dedicated to the 141st Assembly meeting of the Interparliamentary Union (IPU) took place at Belgrade's Sava Centre on October 17th. The conference was attended by Maja Gojković, the Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, Gabriela Cuevas Barron, President of the Interparliamentary Union, Martin Chungong, Secretary-General of the Interparliamentary Union, and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization. The members of the

HEALTH CARE

The resolution calls on parliaments to do everything in their power to ensure that national governments carry out the effective implementation of universal health care Interparliamentary Union have also adopted the Belgrade Declaration.

The speakers agreed that the Assembly meeting had been very successful and that many debates had led to clear and meaningful conclusions. International parliaments have adopted a resolution calling on

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all parliaments to implement all legal and policy measures to make universal health care globally available by 2030.

The resolution calls on parliaments to do everything in their power to ensure that national governments carry out the effective implementation of universal health care, monitor the impact of universal health policies and programmes, and establish parliamentary mechanisms to measure the improvement of access to health care by 2030.

The Serbian Parliament Speaker, Maja Gojković expressed her satisfaction with the attendance numbers. „We have reached a very important political record in terms of participation. This is great recognition for the Serbian Parliament, but also the Republic of Serbia. We are an open country and that was why we were chosen to host. We are truly proud that our region has represented all parliaments in the best possible light. What the Serbian parliament expects is for the legislation on climate change and nature protection to be adopted,“ Gojković added.

Gabriela Cuevas Barron, President of the Interparliamentary Union, said that the IPU's parliamentary resolution could have a real impact on people's lives.

„It's a matter of political will. As parliamentarians, we have to provide a better life to the people we represent by making universal healthcare a reality, especially for women, children and young people. This is one of the main priorities of the IPU, namely to transform international agreements into reality for states and citizens,“ Barron underlined.

Martin Chungong, Secretary-General of the Interparliamentary Union, said that the world had 11 more years to deliver on its promise from the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

"This IPU resolution is a roadmap designed to help parliaments pass the necessary legislation and provide the necessary resources for universal health care, as well as to make sure that governments keep their promises," Changong said. „I agree that this is a key resolution that will help parliaments highlight the issue of health. Hundreds of millions of people in this world do not have basic health care, so this is a very important resolution to help millions of people since their financial situation deteriorates when they pay for health care out of their pocket,“ Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , head of the World Health Organization, said.

VISIT TO THE CENTRE FOR PROTECTION OF INFANTS, CHILDREN AND YOUTH Members of the National Assembly delegation to IPU Jelena Mijatović and Mira Petrović, a group of IPU parliamentarians and representatives of the UNICEF Office Belgrade visited the Centre for Protection of Infants, Children and Youth

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he objective of the visit, organized under the auspices of the 141st IPU Assembly in Belgrade, was to present the situation and operation of the largest residential institution for children in Serbia. The Centre accommodates a total of 355 children and the professionals working there are constantly trying to improve the quality of care by engaging volunteers, organizing inclusive activities and actively facilitating contacts between parents and children whenever possible. The process of de-institutionalization was initiated in 2000 as a priority facet of the overall social system reform and as one of the long-term priorities of the Government of the Republic of Serbia. Today, Serbia is one of the countries with the lowest institutionalization rate in the region. However, despite the progress made, the overall rate of child/family separation remains high which calls for further investments in strengthening family support. Children with disabilities are of particular concern, as they represent 72% of all children in residential institutions.

RICH CULTURAL PROGRAMME

Fashion show at Beli Dvor and an evening of culture at Kombank Dvorana

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everal accompanying programmes were also held under the auspices of the Inter-parliamentary Union. The New Spirit of Heritage fashion show took place on October 15th at the Beli Dvor royal residence. Designers Aleksandra Lalić, Ana Ljubinković, BULKA, Marija Sindjelić, Nevena Ivanović, Svetlana Jaćović, SestreS and Sonja Krstić all presented their latest creations at the event which was attended by many members of the diplomatic

corps, political and cultural figures, both domestic and foreign. A day later, on October 16th, an evening of culture was held at Kombank Dvorana. Representatives of numerous diplomatic delegations were delighted with the compositions by Serbian music authors, performed by the RTS choir and orchestra. Musician Goran Bregović was a special guest of the evening. Furthermore, the visitors had the opportunity to see an exhibition dedicated to Saint Sava.

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