Press release of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Geneva, 11 January 2001
N° 105

The Committee on Middle East Questions of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), currently chaired by a French MP, Mr. Yves Tavernier, will meet with Israeli and Palestinian representatives on Monday, 15 January 2001 in the presence of IPU Secretary General Anders B. Johnsson. At the invitation of the French IPU Group, which is headed by Mr Michel Vauzelle, MP, this meeting will take place at the French National Assembly. A press briefing has been scheduled for 4 p.m., at the end of the meeting.

During this working day, the Committee will hear the points of view of the President of the Labour parliamentary group in the Knesset, Mr. Ofir Pines, a representative of Likud, Mr. Meir Shritit, and the President of the Political Committee of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Mr. Ziad Abu Amr. The Committee will strive to identify ways in which the IPU and MPs could employ to contribute to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and to stabilisation in the area.

Set up in 1987, the objective of the Committee on Middle East Questions is to promote direct contacts between the Arab and Israeli delegations and encourage parliamentary action in support of the peace process. The Committee meets during the statutory Conferences and at special sessions to arrange hearings with the Arab and Israeli delegations. It is composed of twelve MPs from all areas of the world. The following will be present in Paris: Mr. Raymond Ahouandjinou (Benin), Mrs Pensak Chagsuchinda (Thailand), Mr. Andrea Philippou (Cyprus) and Mrs Oddbjorg Ausdal Starrfelt (Norway).

Founded in 1889 and based in Geneva, the IPU is the organisation of the world’s parliaments. It currently has 140 member national parliaments and five regional parliamentary organisations with associate member status. It also has a Liaison Bureau with the UN in New York.