Press release of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
New York & Geneva, 16 March 1998
N° 69

IPU OPENS LIAISON OFFICE IN NEW YORK

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Geneva-based world organisation of parliaments that promotes democracy and international co-operation, is opening a Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York. The Office will provide the necessary support for the stronger and growing parliamentary presence at the United Nations.

The Liaison Office will be officially inaugurated on 23 March, 1998, by the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Council, Mr Miguel Angel Martínez (Spain), and the IPU Secretary General, Mr Pierre Cornillon.

By serving as the focal point for members of parliament visiting the United Nations in New York, the Office will facilitate a parliamentary presence and input at UN meetings. It will help the Geneva-based IPU follow and analyse developments taking place in the different UN organs and entities in New York and facilitate the holding of meetings, in particular the annual meeting of MPs during the UN General Assembly.

An important role of the Liaison Office will be to undertake public information activities with the international community in New York as well as within the United States with respect to IPU activities. It will also liaise with the United States Congress in Washington D.C., and with international organisations, such as the World Bank, located in the US capital.

The Liaison Office will be headed by Mr André Varchaver, formerly the IPU Liaison Officer in residence in Washington D.C.

With a current membership of 137 national parliaments, the IPU is the focal point for world-wide parliamentary dialogue, dealing with all the main issues before the international community for which proposals and solutions can be advanced by parliamentary co-operation and diplomacy: democracy and human rights, equality between men and women, sustainable development and international security. In 1996, the IPU signed a Co-operation Agreement with the United Nations, which was an important step in the ever-increasing co-operation between the two organisations.

821, United Nations Plaza, 9th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 (USA) Tel.: (1 212) 557 58 80 Fax: (1 212) 557 39 54 E-mail: ny-office@mail.ipu.org