The President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Mr. Pier Ferdinando Casini, returned yesterday evening from a two-day official visit to Algeria, during which he was received by the country’s highest authorities.

Mr. Casini met the President of Algeria, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the Prime Minister, Mr. Abdelaziz Belkhadem, and the presiding officers of both chambers of the Algerian Parliament, Mr. Amar Saadani, President of the National People’s Assembly, and Mr. Abdelkader Bensalah, President of the Council of the Nation. He also held talks with the Algerian Inter-Parliamentary Group and numerous senators and deputies.

During his visit, Mr. Casini and his hosts discussed the IPU’s role, specifically its cooperation with the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO). IPU reform was also broached.

Both Mr. Casini and Algeria’s leaders said they wanted the IPU to continue dealing with issues relating to the Mediterranean and its southern shores, where Europe and Africa, the West and the Muslim world meet. They voiced the hope that the serious problems affecting the African continent would not be forgotten and that special attention would be brought to bear on matters relating to migration and on the potential consequences of major epidemics. Other issues of concern were the status of women and children, and the fight against terrorism.

Lastly, they also expressed the hope that the United States would return to the world organization of parliaments.

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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