UAE requests inclusion of an emergency item about Syria on IPU's agenda

Kampala (Uganda) - April 1, 2012 (WAM) - The Parliamentary Division of the UAE Federal National Council (FNC) has submitted a request for the inclusion in the agenda of the 126th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union an emergency item entitled: 'Promoting an inter-parliamentary contribution to the efforts of the United Nations, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council and international efforts to halt the bloodshed and killing in Syria, and forging an inter-parliamentary initiative based on respect for international law and international humanitarian law". The Parliamentary Division of the United Arab Emirates Federal National Council wishes to propose this emergency item for several valid reasons, namely: 1. The faltering international efforts to put an end to the violence in Syria as a result of the divergent opinions of the international powers within the United Nations, in addition to the faltering efforts of governments and regional organisations, such as the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This despite the fact that the number of casualties in Syria has exceeded 10,000, which points to the need for the Inter-Parliamentary Union to take a strong position on these events. Such action is required in order to preserve and maintain the Organisation's credibility as an inter-parliamentary forum that brings together the world's parliamentarians, and one that expresses the voice and conscience of the peoples of the world. In this Organisation, all Members enjoy equal rights and obligations without discrimination based on size or power. FNC member Rashid Al Shuraiqi said the request has received overwhelming consensus from the Arab group and would be included in the agenda for Sunday's debate. - Emirates News Agency, WAM