Press release of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Havana, 1 April 2001
N° 3

H.E. Fidel Castro Ruz, President of the Council of States and Council of Ministers of Cuba, today opened the 105th Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The inaugural ceremony was held at the Havana Convention Centre, in the presence of the Speaker of the National Assembly of the People's Power, Mr. Ricardo Alarcón, the Representative of the UN Secretary General, Sir Kieran Prendergast, and the President of the IPU Council, Dr. Najma Heptulla, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House in India).

In his address, the Speaker of the host Parliament, Mr. Ricardo Alarcón, declared: "... When we met here in 1981, the philosophy of the governments of some Western powers was inspired by what at the time was called neoliberalism. Today, neoliberalism is the dogma that some are attempting to impose throughout the world. ... The major problems we faced at the time have grown more acute and other more serious oneones have emerged.

Mr Alarcón added: "... In practice, neoliberal globalisation amounts to an all-out attack on the ideals of democracy. For one thing, it abets exploitation and the subordination of developing countries, which have to bow to orders dictated by international mechanisms controlled by a single superpower. Moreover, it swells the ranks of the excluded in developing countries, among them the ever growing numbers of immigrants who have no political rights".

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the People's Power added that "It is necessary to democratise international relations, in particular the United Nations and its Security Council, where the right of veto and the domination of a single government must be ended."

In the UN Secretary General's message delivered by Sir Kieran Prendergast, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, to the 688 representatives of 123 Parliaments gathering in Havana, he said :"... Your session occurs as we strive to build momentum for the implementation of the commitments made at last September's Millennium Summit and at the other landmark millennium observances, including the IPU's Conference of Presiding Officers of National Parliaments. Your declaration rightly stressed the need to hear "the voice of the peoples", and to introduce "a more manifestly democratic dimension" into international decision-making. The "parliamentary vision" complements the UN's own. We must now spare no effort to meet the many - and admittedly ambitious - targets that have been set, and expectations that have been raised". In his message, the UN Secretary General added that "the General Assembly has asked me to explore ways to forge a "new and strengthened relationship" with the IPU, building on what we have achieved. I shall be making some recommendations in a report to the Assembly in May, which I hope will indeed result in a much closer relationship between our two organisations".

The President of the IPU Council, Dr. Najma Heptulla then took the floor, addressing special thanks to Mr. Fidel Castro : "Mr President, thank you for being with us. Your life has been one of commitment to your people. You symbolise the wish of all humanity to create a more just world. Your endeavours are a source of inspiration to all of us who cherish that same hope". She went on to say that the challenge that faces the world at the dawn of this new millennium "is to strengthen liberty and freedom everywhere, while always upholding the abiding principles of international law".

Referring to the subject of globalisation, Dr. Heptulla said:"... Some of us have concerns about changes that are occurring in the global trading regime. As Parliamentarians, we are often in closer touch with the anxieties and deprivations of the economically marginalised in our countries than our governments. ... At the global level, the IPU is eager to ensure that the welfare of the most vulnerable people and the economic interests and freedoms of all societies are protected. ... In June, we propose to convene a Conference jointly with the WTO at Geneva on the theme "For a free, just and equitable multilateral trading system: Providing a parliamentary dimension." I hope that members of all Parliaments will join us at this important meeting.

The President of the IPU Council welcomed the representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations Sir Kieran Prendergast, Under Secretary General. "Sir Kieran, you are with us at an important crossroads in the development of the relationship between the world organisation of nation states, the UN, and the world organisation of Parliaments, the IPU. Indeed, following the successful conclusion of the first ever meeting of presiding officers of national Parliaments in the General Assembly hall of the United Nations, which I had the honour to chair, the very next week, the summit of Heads of Government referred to this relationship in its historic Millennium Declaration. The heads of government undertook to strengthen the United Nations by working more closely with national Parliaments, through the IPU. ... We trust that your discussions at the UN will reflect the unique character of the IPU as an inter-state organisation and that the appropriate status will be made available to ensure the successful implementation of our joint challenge."

Dr Heptulla concluded her remarks saying: "... This new century requires that the voice of the people is heard at more and more global and inter-state fora. The IPU has a historic role to play and we are prepared to do the maximum we can. Over the next few months, I also look forward to the processes through which the IPU will build similar bridges of cooperation with the WTO and the Bretton Woods institutions."

In his address declaring the 105th IPU Conference open, the President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, Fidel Castro Ruz said "Nearly 20 years have passed since the 68th IPU Conference took place in this very room. A lot has happened since then, yet nothing has changed and, if anything, the situation has worsened as regards the issues that are vital for humanity."

Regretting the absence of representatives from the United States Congress, President Castro added: "Two decades have passed, but although our dear neighbours from the North have been sorely missed, we have survived the gloom their absence caused us."

President Castro expressed "heartfelt gratitude for the honour the IPU has bestowed on our country by choosing it as the venue for the 105th IPU Conference, which coincides with a new century and a new millennium. With our co-operation and hospitality we will do everything possible and even the impossible to be worthy of your trust."

Established in 1889 and based in Geneva, the IPU, the world organisation of parliaments, has 141 member parliaments and five associated regional parliamentary assemblies. It has a liaison office with the UN in New York.