The President of the National Assembly of the Transition, Jean-François Ndongou, is staying in Geneva, Switzerland, where he represents Gabon at the 148 Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) -from March 23 to 27, 2024-. An international meeting of parliamentarians whose general theme of debates is based on “parliamentary diplomacy: building links to promote peace and understanding”. An opportunity for the head of chamber of the Gabonese parliament to emphasize that “in Gabon as everywhere in the world, we can proclaim without reservation, parliamentary diplomacy or diplomacy of peoples, enshrined in United Nations resolution 65/123 adopted in 2010, must be associated with the bilateral and multilateral mechanisms of our States, to prevent conflicts, restore peace, spread the culture of peace and the rooting of democracy.
Since it is about debating the use of parliamentary diplomacy to promote peace and understanding, the general debate provides delegates with a platform to debate, exchange views and galvanize parliamentary action in this area.
Which makes the President of the National Assembly say that his country is very aware of the power of parliamentary diplomacy and does not deprive itself of it. “Quite the contrary, we use its direct, pragmatic and open character to defend the causes that are dear to us, the noble causes and to speak from the heart with the ultimate goal of building a country in peace, resolutely anchored in the restoration of its institutions and the consolidation of its young democracy, on the foundations of our socio-cultural values and our determination for a peaceful return to constitutional order,” he declared at the Geneva forum.
Jean-François Ndongou calls, in this wake, for greater commitment from parliamentarians for the return of peace to conflict zones, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. Quoting the Senegalese poet-president, Léopold Sédar Senghor, he further declared: “I have the deep conviction that it is we, the parliamentarians, who must push those in power to move forward, in order to defend the just causes, those of the populations we represent, both nationally and within our regional and international communities.
For the President of the Chamber, Gabon, his country, is writing a new page in its history. “In this process, he noted, we have committed ourselves, under the high instructions of the Head of State, Brigadier General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, to a global diplomacy, in which parliamentary diplomacy holds a place of choice”. Which made him recall the regular meetings with the ambassadors of friendly countries, the summit audiences with representatives of international parliamentary organizations.
During this work, Jean-François Ndongou said he supported the proposal made by the President of the National Assembly of Côte d’Ivoire, namely: setting up a parliamentary group for the promotion of peace in conflict regions. .
At the end of this 148th session, the Assembly will adopt resolutions on the emergency item and on the subjects addressed by the Permanent Committee on Peace and International Security entitled “the social and humanitarian impact of weapons systems autonomous systems and artificial intelligence” and by the Permanent Commission on Sustainable Development entitled “partnerships for climate action: promoting access to affordable green energy and encouraging innovation, responsibility and equity”.
On the sidelines of the 148th IPU Assembly, the President of the National Assembly had several audiences, including one with the President of the National Assembly of Côte d’Ivoire, Adama Bictogo.
This article is originally published on gabonreview.com
