Press release of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Berlin, 11 October 1999
N° 6

The theme of "the contribution of parliaments to peaceful coexistence, marked by tolerance, of ethnic, cultural and religious minorities within one State" (a subject proposed by the Groups of Germany and Mexico) was chosen as the supplementary item by the some 720 MPs meeting in Berlin in connection with the 102^nd Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The President of the Bundestag, Mr. Wolfgang Thierse, who was elected President of the Conference, received the German Federal Chancellor, Mr. Gerhard Schröder, the President of the ICRC, Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Mary Robinson, as guests of honour.

The German Chancellor stated that "although the move of the parliament and government to Berlin does constitute a historic event in Germany, it by no means implies the start of a new republic. In moving from Bonn to Berlin, the Federal Republic has taken along "in its luggage" its traditions of politics based on tolerance, openness and good-neighbourly relations". Schröder looked back on the "last IPU Conference held in Germany in 1980 in former East Berlin. At the time the city was divided and GDR citizens were denied their civil liberties. For that reason, particular mention should be made of the "historic decision" taken by the freely elected GDR Chamber of Deputies in 1990 to become part of the Federal Republic of Germany". The Chancellor added that "democracy and parliamentarism are making headway". In this context, he recalled the developments in South Africa and Latin America in recent years. Government without democratic participation is a "model without a future", Schröder stated. He called on the parliamentarians from all around the globe attending the Conference to "make their voices heard when ethnic groups are incited to hatred against each other or when minorities are oppressed and persecuted. The appropriate stance to take here is one of admonition and resistance". In this context, the Chancellor praised the "way in which the IPU has stood up for MPs in all parts of the world who have been persecuted or imprisoned as a result of their political views."

For his part, Mr. Sommaruga affirmed that "... the parliamentarians' role of monitoring the Executive is highly significant. Parliamentarians can and should do their utmost to ensure that the rules of international humanitarian law are respected both at home and abroad. And there is also another way in which they can protect human life and dignity: facilitate the work of the Red Cross and safeguard its independence."

"I feel that a degree of vigilance is justified whenever we hear the word "humanitarian" used", he added. "If troops both take part in the hostilities and participate in a humanitarian operation, that operation's credibility is severely jeopardised. The same is true when politicians engage in "humanitarian action" that is part of a political agenda."

"... Moreover, in military operations such as the war in the Balkans, it is not enough to apply the provisions of international humanitarian law when choosing the means and methods of warfare to be used. Military officers and politicians must also consider the consequences in humanitarian terms of the strategies they adopt. International humanitarian law requires this in all circumstances, in Kosovo, in Timor, in Colombia, in Angola and in all other conflict situations", he stressed.

"... And here parliamentarians have a key role to play. That you take your role seriously is evidence by the Handbook for MPs (on international humanitarian law, see press release N°5) which has just been published in time for the opening of the Conference." ...

"... The challenge that I see is the one posed by war as profitable business. Action must be taken to curb illegal weapons sales world-wide in order to prevent enormous quantities of arms - mostly light weapons - from finding their way into the wrong hands. The price of the generous distribution and untrained use of these weapons is one that innocent civilians too often have to pay with their lives", concluded the President of the ICRC.

As for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Mary Robinson, she declared that "since I was appointed United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights two years ago, I have been continuously confronted by the challenge of how human rights can best be secured and defended. Most people know about the gross human rights violations that are all too common in our modern world - whether in East Timor or Kosovo or Sierra Leone - but I would like to draw your attention today to less well-known forms of abuse that are all too prevalent. I refer to the countless individual communications received by my Office each day on behalf of people in detention, women who are victims of violence, children who have been abused and tortured, human rights defenders who are harassed, journalists who have been kidnapped, people who have disappeared, migrant workers who have been victimised, people who have been displaced, refugees and indigenous people who have been intimidated."

"... But the biggest challenge that faces us in the field of human rights remains prevention of conflicts. We must devote more attention and resources to preventive measures; as the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has said, our goal must be to embark on an age of prevention."

"... Parliaments and parliamentarians have a key role to play in championing human rights, both nationally and internationally. It is parliaments which are responsible for the ratification of international human rights treaties and conventions, for the development of domestic legislation in conformity with international human rights norms, and for the adoption of policies, programmes and strategies informed by a rights based approach."

"More than that, parliamentarians can be a strong voice for those deprived of their human rights. Whether raising issues in parliament or playing an active role in Foreign Affairs or Human Rights Committees, or simply by speaking out, parliamentarians are well placed to focus public attention on rights issues and many have done so to considerable effect."

"As a world organisation of parliaments, the Inter-Parliamentary Union is an important - indeed unique - forum for parliamentary dialogue and work for peace and co-operation among people, for the promotion of democracy and for the defence and promotion of human rights and the protection of the rule of law. I am aware of, and applaud, the stands taken on human rights issues by the IPU over the years. In July of this year, a memorandum of understanding on co-operation between the Inter-Parliamentary Union and my Office was signed by the President of the IPU Council, the IPU Secretary General and myself. I strongly hope that this momentum will facilitate co-operation between our organisations in an area of common interest for us all - the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms."

"My Office has been considering the possibility of organising, in the year 2001, perhaps in conjunction with one of the IPU's bi-annual meetings, a seminar on the fundamental role which parliaments play in the establishment of effective national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights. I believe that such an initiative could further our cooperation."

The General Debate on the political, economic and social situation in the world has begun and will continue until 14 October. Such topical issues as the situation in Kosovo and East Timor will be discussed. The Conference decided not to prepare a resolution on the "Worrying Situation in East Timor" because the proposal by the Portuguese Group failed to obtain the requisite four-fifths majority (738 votes to 360, with 270 abstentions).

The Inter-Parliamentary Council decided to affiliate the Parliaments of Nigeria and Ukraine and to suspend the Parliament of Niger, thus increasing the number of the Union's members to 139.

Contact: Mrs. Luisa Ballin, IPU Information Officer in Geneva. Tel.: (41.22) 919.41.16 or 919 41 27, fax: (41.22) 733 31 41 or 919 41 60, e-mail: lb@mail.ipu.org or cd@mail.ipu.org, (in Berlin from 6 to 16 October): tel. (49.30) 3038 6203/04 or (0049) 0172 326 77 01, fax: (49.30) 3038 6067.

The IPU also has a Liaison Office with the UN in New York. Tel.: (1 212) 5575880, fax: (1 212) 5573954, e-mail: ny-office@mail.ipu.org