Different experiences should be taken into account
Although democracy is a desirable system of government, different experiences should be taken into account. Several stages have to be undergone before democracy can be achieved. Democracy is a desirable system because it gives the people the chance to participate. Participation of the people is a good thing, but it must be informed. If there is a high level of illiteracy in a country, this first stage has to be overcome in order to provide the people with the appropriate conditions for meaningful participation.
Mr. Roberto de Almeida,
Speaker of the National Assembly of Angola

MP's important role to ensure democracy
We have a very important role to ensure democracy as parliamentarians. We have a duty to do that especially for schools and other avenues, but in general to the electorate that we represent and to the international community. We had a bilateral discussion with our colleagues from Timor-Leste, one of the new IPU Members. That would demonstrate the benefit of a truly parliamentary democracy. We have a role within our regions and in the world to promote democracy in different countries and within our own country, we make parliamentarians promote democracy.
Mr. Harry Jenkins,
Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia

Democracy needs continuity
Our return to democracy was not only celebrated in Pakistan, but also here, at the IPU Assembly and I am grateful for that. In Pakistan, the repeated intervention by the military has damaged democracy and our institutions a lot, because it is very important for any democracy to have continuity, no matter how bad the democracy is. All the institutions in Pakistan should work according to the provisions of the Constitution. It is a big challenge but now all the progressive forces are sitting in our Parliament. There is a coalition government of the two major political parties of Pakistan and I feel that this parliament, which has a will and a mandate, can strengthen the institution of parliament. With democracy and this new parliament, we plan to work very closely with our neighbours and with their parliament. Through greater interaction between parliamentarians, we can extend support to democracy and to the parliament. That can be extended to regional issues, such as the war against terrorism and the fight against poverty.
Ms. Fahmida Mirza,
Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan

Parliaments can implement democracy by putting the people at the centre
Parliaments can implement democracy by always putting the people at the centre of what it does. We have to listen to our people, we have to give our people an opportunity to have a say in the work that we do. Every step of the way, people must be at the centre. Only in that way will democracy be truly democratic. When I say people, I mean men, women, children, every citizen who has the right to access the work of parliament because it is addressing the conditions of our people. As presiding officers, we have the role and the honour - because we must always remember that it is a privilege - to be in the forefront of determining the agenda, the best methods and the kind of resources we have to put into various activities that Parliament has been charged by any society to pursue on behalf of the people.
Ms. Baleka Mbete,
Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa

Democracy is an ideal to which we should aspire
Democracy is not only about instruments, constitutions and rules. For democracy to succeed, societies have to assimilate a democratic culture, which gives legitimacy to decisions taken. Because democracy also encompasses human rights, it must imply a state of law and freedoms. That is part of a culture in which all these values are deepened, such as respect for human rights and for one another, not to mention protecting the rights of children. Parliament must adopt democratic conduct and rules. It must to its utmost because it is in constant contact with the people. It can therefore play the role of people's representative. Democracy is an ideal to which we should aspire. It is in dayto-day conduct that democracy flourishes. It is in respect for one another. All citizens are equal before the law land they have equal opportunities.
Mr. Abdelwahed Radi,
former Speaker of the Moroccan Chamber of Representatives and current Minister of Justice

Behind democracy, there is a government by the people for the people
I think that behind democracy, there is a government by the people and for the people. I think it is better than any dictatorship. In a democracy, people elect their leaders as well as their representatives. My country has 60 years' experience in democracy. It gained independence in 1947 and we have held 14 elections. We have millions of people who can cast their votes. And our parliament represents the will of those people.
Mr. Charnjit Singh Atwall.
Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha of India