IPU logoThe Journal of the IPU
MONTHLY WEB PUBLICATION30 April 2000, Number 9
  Event of the month

103rd Inter-Parliamentary Conference in Amman

I N T E R V I E W
His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan
By Luisa Ballin

King Abdullah At the invitation of the Jordanian Parliament, the Inter-Parliamentary Union will be holding its 103rd Statutory Conference and Related Meetings as from today and until 6 May 2000 in Amman. The Conference will be inaugurated by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan.

Q: Your Majesty, could you please share with us your views on the 103rd Inter-Parliamentary Conference and your message to the members of the world’s parliaments who will be convening in Amman?

I am very happy and very proud that Jordan is hosting the 103rd Inter-Parliamentary Conference this year. It is also significant that the Union will be discussing, among other issues, dialogue among civilizations. As we become much closer together in the new era of globalisation, it becomes necessary not only for all cultures to be tolerant with each other, but more importantly, to understand one another. Without such understanding, there can be no peaceful coexistence among nations of the world and therefore there will be no progress and no economic and social prosperity. In essence, we nullify the goodness of being close to one another. We would then be giving in to the same forces of conflict that plagued the world for so many years in the last century. Diversity and globalisation can and must work together and no body is in a better position to debate this issue than these representatives of the world.

Your deliberations on the state of the world, whether in the economic, social or political fields will enrich knowledge of the diversity of experiences all over the world. We all strive to achieve the economic growth and prosperity that will enhance the status of the individual and therefore our entire societies, which in turn can only lead to openness and greater freedoms to ensure that this individual will realize his/her own potential. This cannot be divorced from the importance of the valuable contribution of every member of our society, man or woman.

Q: Jordan has been deeply involved in the Middle East peace process. As all Speakers of Parliaments of the Middle East region including Israel are expected in Amman, do you think that this could help further the peace process?

In much the same way that the representatives of the world will discuss dialogue among cultures and nations, there can be no doubt that interaction between those representatives can only lead to greater tolerance and, hopefully, understanding between the peoples of the Middle East. Jordan has always called for a just and comprehensive peace in the region that restores rights and enshrines the peaceful coexistence that befits a new era of the global world.

Q: One of the IPU’s key objectives is to achieve partnership between men and women in politics. How would you describe the situation of women in Jordan and what do you feel are the main obstacles to political parity ?

I mentioned earlier that all individuals of a society must be able to fulfill their aspirations and hopes. And political aspirations are just one aspect of that. As long as the legal framework allows for such aspirations to be realized in an organized and peaceful manner, then there will be a move forward to greater participation of women in political life as well as in all other fields. In Jordan, women have taken part and continue to do so, whether in the civil administration or the military. They have also held high positions at ministerial rank. And they are naturally free to exercise their right to elect and be elected. We strongly support such participation at any of those levels.

Our women today participate in every aspect of life, whether in civilian life or otherwise. For many years Jordanian women have been able to elect and be elected whether in parliamentary elections or in local elections. There is much room for their participation to increase. It is up to them to participate and project their appealing political outlook so that not only women vote for them, but men as well. Without doubt, we encourage such participation with vigour and conviction.

  Latest News

IPU Study on the Parliamentary Mandate throughout the World

Last month (see press release n°94) IPU launched a monograph on a key figure at the heart of any democracy: the parliamentarian, the elected representative of the people. "The parliamentary mandate" is a global comparative study drawing on information submitted by over 130 national parliaments from all corners of the globe. The author is Marc Van der Hulst who heads the Legal Service of the Belgian House of Representatives. Van der Hulst looks at the nature, duration and exercise of the parliamentary mandate and describes the legal and material resources to which the parliamentarian is entitled: salaries, allowances, facilities and services. Particular attention is paid to the privileges and immunities enjoyed by parliamentarians.

In his conclusions, Van der Hulst notes "the professionalisation of parliamentary mandates, which seems to be a virtual fait accompli at the global level. In other words, the parliamentary mandate has become a "job" that is supposed to keep parliamentarians employed on a full-time basis and provide them with a decent standard of living."

The author of the study looks at the "cleaning up" of politics in general and of parliamentary activity in particular. While it is questionable whether politics and parliaments are more "immoral" today than in the past, it cannot be denied that public opinion, outraged by press reports of scandals involving bribery and other forms of corruption, demands increasingly irreproachable behaviour from its elected representatives."

The IPU Secretary General, Mr Anders B. Johnsson, points out that "as the author himself states, the fact that certain privileges are enjoyed by parliamentarians does not mean that they are above the law. It is simply an acknowledgement of the fact that, given the significance and scope of the mandate with which they are entrusted by the people, acting in full sovereignty, minimum guarantees are necessary to ensure that they fulfil that mandate independently and without hindrance.

Parliamentary immunity exists solely to allow members of parliament to perform their duties with absolute independence. Immunity protects MPs from all forms of intimidation or retaliatory measure to which the authorities might subject them for political reasons. All parliamentary democracies provide for parliamentary immunity, although it varies in scope from one country to the next. The minimum degree of immunity provides parliamentarians protection from civil and criminal prosecution within the limits of their functions. They are thus exempt from prosecution for statements or votes in parliament or for any other act that they perform as members of parliament", adds the IPU Secretary General.

"In some countries parliamentarians enjoy wider immunity. In these cases immunity also protects them from any punitive measure, actual or threatened, for acts committed outside the scope of their mandate. In such cases, proceedings may only begin if the Assembly has first lifted the parliamentary immunity. This form of protection enables the Assembly to make sure that the case is founded in law. If it finds that the case is indeed "normal" and not a fabrication, it will lift the immunity so that justice can take its course.

In other words, parliamentary immunity is established to guarantee parliamentarians the right freely to fulfil their mandate. It is by no means provided for as a mechanism to shield any person from the normal course of justice and under no circumstances should it result in impunity. It certainly does not mean that parliamentarians are above the law , concludes Mr Johnsson.

Women Parliamentarians of the World meeting in Amman protest against "crimes of honour"

Motion of Solidarity presented by Mrs. Badia Skali, MP from Morocco, approved unanimously: "We, the women parliamentarians of the World meeting at the 103rd Inter-Parliamentary Conference extend our solidarity and support to the women and parliamentarians of Jordan in their endeavours to put an end to the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators of "crimes of honour" committed against women and girls in the name of traditions which are a grave violation of human rights".

  Focus

  Hubert Védrine

Hubert Védrine at the Third CSCM, Marseilles

The 200 or more delegates from 30 countries who attended the Third Conference on Security and Co-operation in the Mediterranean (CSCM), held in Marseilles at the invitation of the French Parliament from 31 March to 3 April this year, recommended creating a Mediterranean parliamentary assembly. French Foreign Minister, Hubert Védrine, guest of the Conference, explained that France will be holding the presidency of the European Union in the second half of 2000 and hopes "to convene a summit, not just a ministerial meeting, if circumstances allow" France, when exercising the European presidency, will be constantly mindful of the vital nature of the Mediterranean dimension."

Q: what is the significance of a meeting like the CSCM ?

Hubert Védrine: Peace, security and co-operation issues are first and foremost matters for governments. When it comes to matters such as respect for cultures, human exchanges or public understanding of endeavours to overcome antagonism, it is essential for the message to be brought home to what we have come to call civil society. And parliaments are in an ideal position to do this.

Q: Do governments take account of parliaments’ recommendations?

H.V.: Of course, and there can be an exchange between the two. In a meeting like this, governments can give parliaments information, for example they can explain how we plan to prepare the "Barcelona IV" meeting. And at the same time they can listen to suggestions from parliamentarians and take account of them. Governments are always glad of good advice in complex situations. The give and take between the two creates an appreciable synergy.

  Quotes, Unquotes

Mrs Najma Heptulla, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Council, declared: "The dawn of this new millennium has brought with it a great opportunity and a great challenge. The end of the Cold War destroyed the walls of antagonism and mistrust that divided the world. We can all sit together now without those walls, to engage in genuine dialogue about where we are all going, and how we want to get there.

On our ability to build this understanding hinges not only the prospect for global peace in the new century but also the success of the new multilateral trading systems, which seek to reorganize the world as a single global marketplace. It is going to be more and more difficult to remain outside this global market, particularly as the technologies of convergence give the common man and woman access to information about what is available in every nook and corner of the world.

At the recent meeting of Parliamentarians on the sidelines of UNCTAD X, we agreed that Parliamentarians, as people's representatives, must be involved in trade negotiations and seek to make globalization equitable and people-centred. The IPU plans a specialized conference on these issues along with other multilateral trade institutions like the WTO.

We are committed to basing the new global order on the equality of women and men, on democracy and equal opportunity, but we must all be sensitive to those who may see these values as going against the grain of their civilizations.

Let our deliberations on these complex issues pave the way to making the Conference of Presiding Officers of National Parliaments to be held at UN headquarters in August truly meaningful. It will be the parliamentary input to the UN General Assembly’s Millennium Session. If the UN is the organization of national governments, the IPU is the organization of national parliaments. Since both government and opposition parties are represented at the IPU, it reflects public opinion more broadly.

We seek to further strengthen our association with the UN and, in the next few days, we shall be adopting a blueprint for our cooperation in the next century. Also we shall commit ourselves to an agenda for action in view of new challenges. The IPU has already signed an Agreement of Cooperation with the United Nations and, last year, the UN General Assembly once again passed a resolution, sponsored by a record number of 139 countries, seeking closer cooperation between the UN and the IPU... ".

At the inaugural ceremony, the President of the Jordanian House of Representatives, Mr Abdulhadi Al Majali said: "The holding of this conference, which has set a precedent in its attendance, embodies the extent of the faith of the representatives of the nations of our planet in the importance of dialogue as a method to solve disputes and meet the challenges facing humanity. There is no doubt that the preparations being undertaken to hold the summit of the heads of the world’s parliaments at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, on the occasion of the new millennium, fall within the International Parliamentarian aspiration to strengthen the bond between the IPU and UN, and add a parliamentary dimension to its functioning in realizing the dream of nations. This is a dream to contribute more towards the achievement of justice, tolerance, cooperation and equality through their representatives, and in directing the resolutions of the international organizations, the UN, as well as its subsidiary organizations, sections and branches towards those goals.

At the beginning of the 21st century there is a compelling need to undertake a comprehensive review of the application of the principles of international legitimacy with fairness and justice. If we genuinely believe that justice is the ABC of life, we must admit that the absence of justice leads to the total breakdown of all the principles and values in the lives of people.

The Middle East region which has witnessed a sharp turn towards peace in the last decade of the 20th century patiently awaits further effective international efforts to guarantee the continuity of the historic path with began after five decades of war, destruction and displacement. The Palestine problem which is the essence of the regional struggle, still awaits a just and permanent solution which will insure an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territories, and which will confirm the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and the establishment of their independent state on their national soil. Syrian and Lebanese Arab lands remain under Israeli occupation. At a time when an effective role of the UN is non-existent in this regard, especially when it comes to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the plight of refugees, the role of the UN appears, in sharp contrast, to be potent and unswerving in the maintening of the siege choking Iraq."

  Items on the Agenda

The fifteen hundred or so delegates from more than 120 countries expected to attend will include numerous speakers of national parliaments from all parts of the world and in particular the Middle East States, including Israel. Representatives of Palestine and the United Nations and its specialized agencies will be attending as observers.

As well as the general debate on the political, economic and social situation in the world, the Conference agenda includes the following two items: "Achieving peace, stability and comprehensive development in the world and forging closer political, economic and cultural ties among peoples" and "Dialogue among civilizations and cultures". The IPU’s special committees, such as the Committee on Middle East Questions, and the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians will also be meeting in Amman.

The Meeting of Women Parliamentarians, which took place today, was presided by Senator Leila Sharaf, representing the host Parliament.

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