Month: March 2013

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UK delegation plays leading role in 128th IPU Assembly deliberation

The 128th IPU Assembly in Quito, Ecuador from 22 to 27 March 2013 was attended by more than 1350 participants from over 118 parliaments. The UK delegation was prominent and active throughout the Assembly, including as a member of the Emergency Item Drafting Committee, as moderators of panel discussions, in detailed Committee work and in a range of targeted bilateral exchanges.

The mission, led by Lord Judd from the UK House of Lords met UN officials and PLC members to hear their views on security, human rights and the humanitarian situation in the Gaza strip.

Time for Talks is Now, Says IPU Middle East Committee

A delegation from IPU’s Committee on Middle East Questions says there is an urgent need for regular and inclusive dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian legislators to begin now. It would help ensure progress on peace negotiations by capitalizing on political developments in the region. The statement follows a recently concluded visit to the West Bank and Israel as the second part of a mission to the Middle East

Inter-Parlimentary Union

Visit of the Delegation of the Parliamentary Friendship group with Great Britain of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia to Westminster

A delegation of Parliamentarians from the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia visited the UK Parliament from 12th to 14th March 2013. The Slovenian Members of Parliament Ms Tamara Vonta and Mr Roman Jakič were joined by the Secretary of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Ms Milojka Nemanič. The visit was organised by Neil Parish MP, Chairman of the British-Slovenia All-Party Parliamentary Group, who are affiliated with the British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The meeting heard perspectives from Lord Harrison and Baroness Hooper who represented the BGIPU at the 2012 session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO in Geneva held 15-16 November 2012 which was jointly organized by the IPU and the European Parliament

WTO and Parliaments – Parliaments should be active in debating global trade developments

BGIPU convened a roundtable discussion on 13 March to discuss multilateral trade with a specific focus on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the role of Parliaments.  The meeting heard perspectives from Lord Harrison and Baroness Hooper who represented the BGIPU at the 2012 session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO in Geneva held 15-16 November 2012 which was jointly organized by the IPU and the European Parliament.

BGIPU delegation with Members of the EU Integration and Foreign Affairs committees of the Croatian Sabor .JPG

Ahead of EU accession BGIPU Delegation meets with counterparts in Zagreb

The work of the delegation reflected three connected themes. Firstly, our message of how the European Union stands to benefit from Croatia’s forthcoming membership. Secondly, how Croatia’s economy can now be improved through its 2013 European Union membership as well as through its existing Council of Europe membership. Thirdly, how in 2013 the UK can continue to help Croatia in general, and in particular advise on evolving sound working practices between its government and parliament and Brussels.

President of Croatia, Ivo Josipovic during the meeting with BGIPU Delegates.JPG

A fascinating and informative BGIPU visit to the next country to join the European Union

Our visit to Zagreb was timely, given Croatia’s imminent entry into the European Union as its 28th member. Our party’s interests ranged widely in the educational, cultural, community and civil stability fields. Trade, tourism, economic matters featured strongly with a natural UK bent. The sub-set of Scottish (and Yorkshire!) interests played well against complementary Croatian regional concerns. 

Roberta Blackman-Woods MP & Mary Macleod MP attended CSW57 for BGIPU

BGIPU ensures UK Parliamentary voice is heard at CSW 57

This was an excellent visit that really benefitted from the preparatory work undertaken before the visit. The briefing meetings with the Gender and Equalities Office and the meeting with representatives from NGOs attending the conference were particularly beneficial. Both meetings helped us to focus on key issues that would be discussed at the conference and […]

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Visit of the Speaker and Delegation of the Majils Ash-Shura, Saudi Arabia

A delegation from the Majils Ash-Shura of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia led by the Speaker, H.E. Dr. Abdullah Bin Muhammad Bin Ibrahim Al-Sheikh, undertook an inter-parliamentary visit to the UK Parliament from 4-6 March 2013.  Accompanying the Speaker were Shura Council Members, Hamza Bin Hussein Al-Sharif, Zuhair F. J. Al-Harthy, Saud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Shammari, Dr. Said Abdulla Al-Shaikh and Dr. Omar Bin Ibrahim Rajab and two of the recently appointed 30 women members of the Council, Thuraya Bint Ahmed Obeid and Dr. Nihad Mohammed Al-Jishi and parliamentary officials.

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Bahrain delegation visit UK Parliamentarians in Westminster and Portsmouth

The BGIPU hosted a delegation from Bahrain to Westminster in March. The visit was a key opportunity to engage with parliamentary counterparts from Bahrain on bilateral interest between our two countries and Bahrain’s 6 perspectives on developments in the Middle East region. The visit also provided an important opportunity to seek perspectives on ongoing human rights concerns in the country in the context of a broader discussion about governance and justice issues.