Press release of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Berlin, 16 October 1999
N° 8

The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) of India, Mrs Najma Akbarali Heptulla, has been elected as President of the Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). This is the first time that a woman has held the highest office in the world organisation of parliaments.

"I am deeply conscious of the fact that this is the first time in its 110 years of existence that the IPU is electing a woman President [to the Council]. This is a clear reflection of the importance women have come to occupy in parliamentary life. It is also a recognition of the fact that to build a democratic society based on justice and freedom for all, equality of women and partnership between men and women are a fundamental necessity", declared Mrs Heptulla after her election.

Born on 13 April 1940, Mrs Heptulla has held the office of Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha from January 1985 to January 1986 and from 1988 to the present. She has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union since 1995 and has been Vice-President of that body since 1999. Within the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Mrs Heptulla chaired the Meeting of Women Parliamentarians in 1993 and has been a member of the Co-ordinating Committee of that body since that date. She was further Vice-President of the Specialised IPU Conference on "Towards Partnership between Men and Women in Politics", held in New Delhi in 1997. She is a member of the Union's Gender Partnership Group, set up in 1997.

Mrs Heptulla also participates actively in the work of the United Nations. She is Founder President of the Parliamentarians' Forum for Human Development, established in 1993 and sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Mrs Heptulla is also a Distinguished Human Development Ambassador for UNDP.

Mrs Heptulla is married and has three daughters. She earned an M.Sc. (Zoology) in 1960 and obtained a doctoral degree in Cardiac Anatomy.

During the 102nd Inter-Parliamentary Conference held in Berlin from 10 to 16 October, the Executive Committee had elected Mr Fernando Solana (Mexico) to the post of Vice-President, to replace of Mrs Heptulla.

The Committee on Middle East Questions met on 13 and 14 October 1999 in Berlin under the chairmanship of Mr C.E. Ndebele, Speaker of the Parliament of Zimbabwe. The members of the Committee welcomed the further improved spirit of dialogue and cooperation that prevailed throughout the proceedings.

In addition to hearing the views of the parties and reporting to the Inter-Parliamentary Council, the members of the Committee believe that their role includes encouraging the representatives of all parliaments in the region to take concrete actions in support of the positive developments currently under way.

Although some positive measures have been taken, problems relating to freedom of movement, release of prisoners, settlements, water use and distribution remain. These problems require practical action by governments and parliaments in the region. Current discussions in legislative bodies are welcome signs, which the members of the Committee wish to encourage. The members of the Committee wish to be informed of progress in these discussions.

The members of the Committee call for the participation of Syria and Lebanon and a more comprehensive representation of Israel and Palestine in future sessions as a further contribution to parliamentary action in favour of the peace process. Members from the Arab Groups and from Israel are called upon to inform the Committee at its next session of parliamentary action and initiatives undertaken to redress outstanding problems and advance the peace process.

The 103rd Inter-Parliamentary Conference will be held in Amman, on the invitation of the Jordanian Parliament from 30 April to 6 May 2000. The subjects of the Conference will be the following:

• Achieving peace, stability and comprehensive development in the world and forging closer political, economic and cultural ties among people;

• The dialogue among civilisations and cultures.

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