First conference of Senates and Al-Shoura Council AssociationsAfricans and Arabs forge stronger ties [Archives:2004/736/Opinion]

Ismail Al-Ghabiri
The activities of the first conference of Senates and Al-Shoura Council Association in Africa and the Arab World concluded with the official birth of an international regional organization, and with new dimensions and horizons imposed by the rapidly developing events that the international political arena has witnessed since the end of the 20th century.
The discussions of the conference aimed to coordinate and enhance the cooperation among the countries of the association, to strengthen democracy, human rights and Arab-African cooperation in the political, parliamentary and cultural fields and in the other fields.
According to the main charter, the Association of Senates, Al-Shoura Councils and Identical councils in Africa and Arab World consists of the parliamentarian subdivisions representing the councils to the association, where there will be a headquarters for the association. The association aim to achieve the following:
– Support the bilateral parliamentary cooperation among the countries in the association.
– Support the accompanying Arab, African, Islamic and international parliamentary efforts.
– Strengthen dialogue among members of the Senates councils and similar councils toward effective cooperation and the mutual exchange of expertise.
– Coordinate the stances of the councils in the association at the regional and international conferences.
– Contribute the parliamentary activities of the Arab, African, Islamic and International Parliamentary Unions.
– Look into the issues of mutual interest in the regional and international scope to adopt suitable decisions and recommendations toward them.
– Deepen the definitions and understandings of democratic values, caring for civil society organization and protection of human rights.

Therefore, its is clear that the recently formed association, just like any other international gathering, aims to strengthen the cooperation among the peoples of the countries, but in new vital fields which are deepening the democratic values, caring for civil society organization, protection of human rights and expanding the public participation in the decision making in the member countries.
This is conducted through new channels in the senates and al-Shoura councils of the countries in the association.
As another strategic goal, the association aims at enhancing the stature of Arab and African countries in light of the expeditiously growing changes in the world in the various fields as well as keeping in line with logic of different formed blocks.
The main charter of the association expresses the desire of the member countries in playing more effective and influential role in the efforts aiming at the elimination of tension, violence and in the contribution to install peace and security in Africa, Middle East and the world.
In this direction, it is obviously clear that the association has appeared while the world especially the countries of the association are encountering serious and destined issues headed by the issue of democracy as the means to find and achieve sustainable development in all fields and as the best mechanism toward the better changes.
However, this must be according to the special situation and need of the people and countries without having to be imposed from the outside. The issue of reforms for countries in the region, for example, represents a haunting task especially when it is connected with the US Initiative for reforms in the Middle East, crippled with the fight against terrorism among a variety of other complex issues such as the implementing of international justice in the case of the Palestinians, the double standards in handing issues especially by the USA.
Finally, the Yemeni dimension to holding the conference in Sana'a is considered another recognition to the status of Yemen, following the holding of a conference on democracy and human rights earlier in this year, in light of the margin of democracy and the expanding of democratic practices which has received the appreciation and admiration of the international community.
This is also another indication of the success of the Yemeni diplomacy which tremendously contributes in the enhancement of its relations with countries of the world towards the benefit of the countries of the region.
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