Press release of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Geneva, 19 May 2000
N° 96

The Inter-Parliamentary Union - the world organisation of national parliaments - condemns the attacks that took place yesterday against the Parliaments in Fiji and Paraguay.

In a statement issued in Geneva today, the President of the IPU Council, Dr. N. Heptulla, and the Organisation's Secretary General, Mr. A.B. Johnsson, expressed consternation at the seizure of the Parliament building in Fiji by armed gunmen and the taking of hostages, including the Prime Minister and several members of his Cabinet. They also deplored the attempted coup d'Etat in Paraguay and the military attack on the parliamentary building.

The IPU calls for the immediate restoration of and respect for constitutional order in both countries, for the release of hostages in Fiji and for the re-establishment of representative institutions there.

The IPU is composed of 138 national parliaments and counts 5 parliamentary assemblies as Associate Members. It promotes peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and negotiations and works to strengthen democracy and parliamentary institutions worldwide.