The President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Mr. Pier Ferdinando Casini, has sent a message warmly congratulating the new President of the European Parliament, Mr. Hans-Gert Pöttering, on his election.

"This is a well-deserved election", Mr. Casini said in his message. "As a member of the European Parliament, and later as IPU President, I have had many opportunities since 1979, when he joined the European Parliament, to appreciate Mr. Pöttering's capabilities and impartiality. I am certain that cooperation between our two organizations will be excellent".

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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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