"It is for the Iraqi people – and the Iraqi people only – freely to determine their future", declared the Speakers of Parliaments of the countries neighbouring Iraq at the meeting convened by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Amman (Jordan) on 12 and 13 May.

Chaired by the President of the IPU, Chilean Senator Sergio Páez, the meeting was hosted by the President of the House of Representatives of Jordan, Mr. Abdulhadi Majali, in the presence of Mr. Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al-Dahrani, Chairman of the Council of Representatives of Bahrain, Dr. Ahmed Fathy Sorour, Speaker of the People's Assembly of Egypt, Mr. Medhi Karoubi, Speaker of the Consultative Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Jasem Mohammad Abdulmohsen Al-Khurafi, Speaker of the National Assembly of Kuwait, Dr. Saleh Bin Abdallah Bin Humaid, President of the Shura Council of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Mahmoud Al-Abrache, Speaker of the People’s Council of the Syrian Arab Republic and Mr. Bulent Arinc, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Mr. Ross Mountain, acting Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, and Mr. Anders B. Johnsson, the IPU Secretary General, were also present.

A year after the IPU Conference in Santiago – which coincided with the war in Iraq - the Speakers of Parliaments present in Amman are convinced "of the urgent need to address the very precarious and complicated security situation throughout Iraq". They join the voices of many others in calling for respect for the rule of law, human rights and humanitarian law, and for an early, peaceful resolution of the crisis. "We are incensed at the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment that has been meted out by members of the occupation forces to some of the Iraqis who have been detained by them. We condemn this flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and basic principles of humanity and call for those responsible to be brought to justice." The Speakers also expressed their sympathy with the people of Iraq who are enduring immense suffering as a result of the continuing conflict that has resulted from the occupation.

The Speakers of Parliaments present in Amman call for sustained efforts by the international community to provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance throughout the country on an equitable basis so as to alleviate and put an end to the suffering of innocent Iraqi people. "We reaffirm that Iraq’s wealth should not be used, nor its natural resources depleted, to implement the reconstruction process. We reaffirm that the people of Iraq must retain sole ownership over all their natural and cultural resources". The Speakers stand by the agreed date of 30 June 2004 for bringing an end to the occupation of Iraq, even though it is clear that an elected government that is fully representative of the people of Iraq cannot be put in place by that deadline.

The Speakers also expressed strong support for the proposals being developed by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advisor to help provide a political transition in the country, including his proposals to set up a new caretaker government and a national conference. They called for a broader and more central role for the United Nations in Iraq based on "a clearly defined, realistic and achievable mandate from the UN Security Council focusing on facilitating the political transition in Iraq." Similarly, they underscored the need for the UN "to be given adequate resources to carry out its mandate effectively and to be provided with the necessary security on the ground."

The Speakers also adopted a catalogue of proposals for the world parliamentary community to provide concrete support to the Iraqi people in their efforts to build new and democratic institutions in the country.

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Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, the IPU, the oldest multilateral organisation, currently has 140 affiliated national parliaments and five regional assemblies as associate members. The organisation of the world's parliaments also has an office as Permanent Observer with the United Nations in New York.
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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 Tel. +4122 919 41 16/27 Fax: +4122 919 41 60 E-mail: lb@mail.ipu.org or cbl@mail.ipu.org