The Annual Parliamentary Hearing, organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at the United Nations, was held in New York on 13 and 14 November. It brought together close to 200 delegates from some 50 countries. Focusing on the questions of conflict prevention, peace-building and good governance for sustainable peace and development, the Hearing attracted legislators, United Nations officials, permanent representatives and leading academics, who engaged in an interactive exchange on the main challenges facing the United Nations system and the way ahead.

The Hearing, which comes only a few weeks after the adoption of a forward-looking General Assembly resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU, also considered practical ways and means of further consolidating the operational partnership between the two organizations in the areas of democracy, conflict prevention and peace-building.

In his message to participants, United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, underlined that "country ownership of peace-building is essential, meaning that the role of national institutions such as parliaments is crucial to success. As already expressed by the recent General Assembly resolution [on UN-IPU Cooperation], we are committed to strengthening our partnership in each of the core areas that make up peace-building".

In his opening address, IPU President Pier Ferdinando Casini pointed out that "as experience has shown, the UN cannot act alone. It needs allies who can open up new paths of dialogue and understanding and help address grievances within a fractured body politic. We, the parliamentarians, and the political leaders closest to the people on the ground, are best situated to provide support and, in some cases, lead the way".

During his visit to New York, IPU President Casini met with the President of the General Assembly, Mrs. Haya Al Khalifa, and United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Mr. Mark Malloch Brown.

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Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the IPU, the oldest multilateral political organisation, currently brings together 148 affiliated parliaments and seven regional assemblies as associate members. The world organisation of parliaments has an Office in New York, which acts as its Permanent Observer at the United Nations.
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Contact for additional information or interviews:

Mrs. Luisa Ballin, IPU Information Officer 5, ch. du Pommier, CH - 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex / Geneva Phone: +41 22 919 41 16 Fax: +41 22 919 41 60 E-mail: lb@mail.ipu.org or cbl@mail.ipu.org