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Iraq's Kurdistan host meeting of Arab
parliamentarians
11.3.2008
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The Arab Parliamentary Union conference kicks off in
Kurdistan
March 11, 2008
Erbil-Hewler, Kurdistan region 'Iraq, --
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani addressed Tuesday the
annual meeting for Arab parliamentarians (APU), held
for the first time in Erbil, the capital of the
Kurdistan autonomous region. Parliamentary
representatives of 19 Arab countries, including
Bahrain, Algeria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, attended
the opening of the three-day-conference.
Libya did not attend the meeting, stating the
justification that Iraq is an occupied state.
During their meeting, the Arab parliamentarians plan
to discuss the appointment of a new head for the
next conference, the current Arab situation and the
role of parliamentarians in enhancing Arab
solidarity and developmental issues in Arab
countries.
Arab Parliamentary Union Secretary General Nour
al-Din Boushkog said the APU conference, started in
Erbil on Tuesday morning, is working on "many
objectives" like enhancing Arab solidarity and
democracy.
"There are problems suffered by a number of Arab
countries like Iraq, Palestine, Sudan and Somalia.
The conference is starting its sessions one week
ahead of convening an Arab summit in the Syrian
capital Damascus," Boushkog said during a speech
before the inaugural session of the event.
Addressing the session, Iraqi Parliament Speaker
Mahmoud al-Mashhadani said "I'd like to welcome all
of you in your second country, Iraq, the nation of
glory and civilization, with all wishes of success
for this conference." |
Kurdistan President Barzani with Dr Mahmoud al-Mashadani,
Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, and
other AIPU delegates |
Addressing the session,
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani said
"I'd like to welcome all of you in your second
country, Iraq, the nation of glory and civilization,
with all wishes of success for this conference."
"Assuming an active role in the Arab parliaments
requires us to have a serious pause in the
legislative structure to attain the highest degree
of legal cooperation and coordination," Mashhadani
said.
The Iraqi parliament speaker extended thanks to
Abdul-Hadi al-Majali,www.ekurd.net
the former head of the
APU's expired term over "his achievements" and also
thanked "the brothers in the Iraqi Kurdistan region
for their efforts to render the conference a
success."
The APU conference raised its inaugural session to
have a 30-minute break and then start the activities
of the meeting in accordance with the items on its
agenda.
Activities of the 50th APU conference had started
earlier on Tuesday in Erbil, capital of the
autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan Region, where Iraqi
President Jalal Talabani and the region's President
Massoud Barzani attend the event along with
representatives of 19 Arab and Islamic states.
"We are meeting in Erbil just like we are meeting in
Baghdad. The hosting of this conference on the lands
of the Iraqi Kurdistan region sends a clear message
to whoever has doubts about a unified Iraq,"www.ekurd.net
Iraqi Parliament Speaker
Mahmoud al-Mashhadani said.
"The conference is a genuinely legitimate step that
paves the way for Iraq to return to the Arab and
Islamic fold. It indicates that the new Iraq is
rising again with bonds of fraternity," Mashhadani,
who arrived in Erbil along with his two deputies,
Khaled al-Aatiya and Aref Tayfour, said.
On the countries that would not attend the
conference, like Comoros, Djibouti and Mauritania,
Mashhadani replied that they would not participate
in the event "due to financial and economic
problems."
An official on Saturday said that nineteen out of 22
Arab countries will take part in the APU conference,
to be held under the auspices of Iraqi President
Jalal Talabani.
"Three countries announced they would not attend the
conference: Somalia, Comoros and Libya," Nour al-Din
Boushkog, the APU Secretary General, said in a press
conference on Saturday.
"Libya's position regarding the Iraqi Kurdistan is
positive and a Libyan official would pay a visit to
the (autonomous) region soon," said Boushkog, adding
he was still having contacts with Libyan officials
to persuade them to participate in the meeting.
Boushkog had said last week that he believed Arab
presence in the conference would be at a "very good
level."
The APU secretary general, a Moroccan, had arrived
in Erbil last week to check preparations for the
coming meeting on March 11-13.
The Arab Parliamentary Union APU was established in
1974, being a part of an atmosphere of Arab
solidarity and collaborative work spreading among
Arab countries during this period.
It includes representations of Arab parliaments and
aims ato achieve Arab cooperation in political and
professional fields.
DPA | VOI
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