The 52nd session of the United Nations General Assembly today adopted a resolution that noted "with appreciation" the increased co-operation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the world organisation of parliaments.

The resolution, adopted without a vote, also said that the General Assembly "recommends that this co-operation be further strengthened, at a time when the United Nations is preparing to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century". It requested the UN Secretary-General to submit a further report on UN-IPU co-operation at its 53rd session, in 1998. The resolution was sponsored by 108 countries.

The adoption of the resolution followed more than two hours of debate in which 15 countries took part. Speakers welcomed the increased co-operation between the two world bodies since the UN-IPU Co-operation Agreement was signed in July 1996, stating that it was only natural that the United Nations should work more closely with parliaments that embody the will of the people at national level. Reference was also made to the fact that parliaments have a particular role to play in following up and implementing the results of major UN conferences and summits.

Several countries also referred to the innovative work the IPU undertakes to promote democracy in the world, expressing their support for the convergence of action by the United Nations and the IPU in this field, notably their activities to promote good governance, women's participation in politics and respect for human rights.

It was also noted that the IPU had developed a number of texts on important issues before the world community, notably the IPU's recently adopted Universal Declaration on Democracy, Declaration on the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and resolution on employment and globalisation.

Since the signature of the UN-IPU Agreement, similar Co-operation Agreements have also been concluded between the IPU and two UN specialised agencies, UNESCO and FAO. Delegates in the General Assembly voiced their support for these agreements as well as for the IPU to increase further its co-operation with the UN in providing technical assistance to parliaments.

The previous day, ahead of the debate in the General Assembly on co-operation between the UN and IPU, some 75 Members of Parliament from about 40 countries held a one-day meeting with senior United Nations officials. The meeting was chaired by the President of the IPU Council, Mr Miguel Angel Martínez (Spain), and focussed on the major challenges facing the United Nations and, particularly, the reform of the Organisation - a main topic before the UN General Assembly session.

The Geneva-based IPU has a current membership of 137 national parliaments. At its conferences and meetings, MPs of all political leanings meet to discuss ways of advancing international co-operation on the main issues before the international community.

UN General Assembly resolution
"Cooperation Between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union"
adopted on 28 October 1997.

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 51/7 of 25 October 1996, in which it welcomed the conclusion of the cooperation agreement between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union as an important step for increased and strengthened cooperation between the two organizations,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General and debated the initial aspects of the cooperation resulting from the agreement,

1. Notes with appreciation the increased cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union;
2. Recommends that this cooperation be further strengthened, at a time when the United Nations is preparing to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a further report to the General Assembly at its fifty-third session on various aspects of cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union in implementation of the cooperation agreement;
4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-third session the item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union".

Sponsors of the resolution:

Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan , Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen and Zambia.

Countries in the order of their taking the floor in the debate:

Spain, India, Zambia, Argentina, Russia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Tunisia, Italy, Egypt, Singapore, Pakistan, Norway, Andorra and Belarus.