Speakers of Parliaments want to develop a framework of criteria and good practice for democracy

Ms. Katalin Szili welcomed the Commitee to Budapest

The second meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments was held within the gilded splendour of the Hungarian Parliament on 2 and 3 September 2004. The host, Speaker Katalin Szili, welcomed the Committee to Budapest and alluded in her opening remarks to the particularly exciting times that Hungary was experiencing after accession to the European Union five months earlier.

The Committee began its work by reviewing the report on the replies to the questionnaire entitled Best practices for action taken by parliament to consolidate its involvement in international affairs. The report was applauded as being an excellent compilation of information on the role of parliaments in the international arena and the different means by which that role was being consolidated. A final report will be presented to the Speakers' Conference in 2005.

At its first session, the Preparatory Committee had decided to explore the possibility of establishing indicators relating to parliamentary democracy. The Speakers suggested that the IPU avoid the term "indicators", which might be misleading, and instead develop a framework of criteria and good practice for addressing democracy within countries. The framework would focus specifically on representation, and hence on parliament. It was agreed that the IPU would set up a small working group composed of members of parliament and experts to start work on preparing the framework. Given the difficulties inherent to the task, it was considered unlikely that the work would be completed in time for the 2005 Conference. However, the Committee decided that a status report should be delivered to the Conference.

Speakers of Parliaments and the Cardoso Panel

Mr A.B. Johnsson, Mr S. Páez and Mr Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva

The Preparatory Committee for the Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments discussed the recommendations of the report of the Cardoso Panel on relations between the United Nations and civil society, which referred specifically to parliaments. While the report made some substantive recommendations which tallied with those of the IPU, much concern had already been expressed at the IPU's Mexico City Assembly because the report suggested that the United Nations, an intergovernmental institution, should create interparliamentary tructures. Apart from overlapping with work currently undertaken by the IPU, this ran contrary to the principle of the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches of government.

Given that the IPU had suggested to the United Nations Secretary-General that it would be advisable to consult first with it and with parliaments on how best to develop the substantive recommendations of the Panel, the meeting agreed that the Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments would provide the ideal occasion for the IPU to present its conclusions on the matter. Pending the outcome of those consultations, the General Assembly should defer any decisions on this subject until its 60th session.

The Committee gratefully accepted the invitation of Mr. A. Radi, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Morocco, to hold the Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments in Morocco from 7 to 9 September 2005, subject to confirmation of the venue by the IPU Governing Council. It then adopted the agenda for the Conference.

The Committee requested the IPU President and Secretary General to prepare a first draft of the declaration to be adopted by the Speakers' Conference, and to circulate it to members for comments. The Committee will finalise the text at its third meeting.

Speakers condemn the use of violence for political ends

On a less positive note, the Budapest meeting was being held at the same time as the Beslan hostage tragedy was moving towards its bloody culmination. The Speakers issued a joint declaration deploring the fact that terrorists increasingly resorted to hostagetaking, and condemning the use of violence as a means to achieve political ends.