ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani on Tuesday said Asia should look within itself and must decide its own destiny as the white racism and Western Imperialism are not going to solve its problems.
He said, “We, the parliamentarians of Asia, sitting here represent the people are suffering, undernourished, are the object of poverty and victim of terrorism. If we were unable to find indigenous solution for the problems of our own people history will not forgive us.”
He was addressing inaugural ceremony of Meeting of Special Committee for Creation of Asian Parliament (SCCAP) and Standing Committee on Political Affairs, Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA).
The meeting is being hosted by Senate of Pakistan. More than 70 lawmakers from 23 Asian countries are participating in the meeting.
Raza Rabbani said that nations have bilateral issues and regions have their own conflicting interests; yet the Asians are represented at this forum. He said Asia is a land of natural resources but they were exploited by Western imperialism. He remarked that Asia still continues to suffer through neo-colonialism. He pointed out the changed context of the world highlighting consequences of BREXIT and US presidential elections. The chairman said that the rise of white racism is a threat to Asia. He cautioned that Asia must counter this threat and look for its destiny. He said, “The Asians will lose hope in their parliaments if our generation failed to rise up to their expectations. The meeting is a positive beginning towards narrowing our distances.”
He hoped that the meeting would produce good results.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq praised APA performance in promoting unity and prosperity. He confirmed Asia as the engine of global economy, nourishing the largest population of the world and contributing heavily to the UN peacekeeping missions. He elaborated that democracies do not fight with each other. He also noted that balance of power has shifted from west to east; hence it is the Asian century and Pakistan strategically lies at the mid of it.
People’s Assembly of Syrian Parliament Speaker Dr Hadiyeh Abbas believed that the need for cooperation and solidarity is greater than ever before. The emerging challenges of Asia cannot be resolved without the genuine cooperation of the hoped-for Asian parliament.
Speaker of the National Assembly of Bhutan Lyonpo Jigme Zangpo said, “Diversity has always been the mass-code of Asia and fragmentation of our continent would never render to cooperation. The political landscape is changing; hence, we should work for common vision and collaboration.”
“The SCCAP Committee must represent collaborated interests, commitment and symbolise unity in sharing our resources. Our parliaments may vary in working but we have similar goals strengthening parliamentary performance. Asian Parliament has to be established to focus more on regional and International issues and set aside bilateral issues.”
Chhit Kimyeat, head of Cambodian delegation, also deliberated on the importance of parliament in promoting peace and security in regional and global affairs. He noted that political stability is indispensable in Asia. Thereby, peace and security needs efficient peace mechanisms; hence, parliamentary system is foremost to promote dialogue and cooperation. He added, “We must continue friendship in Asia through APA, to cater our shared challenges. He added that that we all have to resolve together for peace, prosperity, common legislation in Asia and commitment to International Law.”
APA Deputy Secretary General Dr Ali Khorram reminded the significance of parliaments for domestic and foreign associations in light of post global order challenges and their implications for Asia. He upheld that parliaments sustain sovereignty of State and plays vital role in International and national apparatus. Therefore, Asian parliament is an idea towards Asian integration. He informed that instead of excluding or blaming others, all nations should work towards “Asian identity”, paving way to shared values and multi-culturalism, which can only be achieved through Parliamentary cooperation. He further stressed upon the optimistic future of APA and Asia.
Senate Secretary Amjad Pervez welcomed the members. He said that during the 9th plenary of APA, the Senate of Pakistan has been unanimously elected as the SCCAP chairperson and vice president of APA Standing Committee on Political Affairs. He explained that APA symbolises unity, cohesion, inter-faith harmony and vehicle for change.
