Shoura and Senate Councils demand the cancellation of debts [Archives:2005/894/Front Page]
SANA'A- Nov.12- Concluded on the 10th of November, the second meeting of the Association of Shoura and Senate Councils in Africa and the Arab world issued a communique which confirmed their commitment to democratic development, respect for human rights, and the adaptation of good governance standards, and also called for an effective partnership with civil societies in order to empower women to participate in governance, public affairs and decision making.
The communique confirmed the right of each and every country to establish their unique governance mechanisms without foreign interference, confirming the sovereignty of each country and refused attempts of seeking foreign assistance that could lead to foreign interference in intra-country affairs.
Meeting Shoura and Senate Councils renewed their denouncement to terrorism because it stands against human values, religions and civilizations; they said that terrorism should not be linked with any religion, nation or a culture. They also confirmed that there should be a differentiation between terrorism and national struggle which is recognized by UN and Human rights charter against foreign occupation and colonization.
The councils also denounced the barbaric attacks in Jordan last Wednesday and offered their condolences to the Jordanian government and people, as well as confirming the importance of joint international cooperation to combat such acts of terrorism.
The meeting also reviewed the analysis of the current conditions in Iraq, which was prepared by the general secretariat, after which they confirmed the importance of putting an end to the foreign occupation of Iraq.
The councils also urged the international community to help in dialogue among the warring factions in Somalia in order to achieve stabilization and peace in this war-torn country; they called for an establishment of State institutions that would look after the welfare of the Somali people.
The conference called the members of the league to exert extensive efforts to face poverty suffered by member states, requesting donor countries and the international community to live up to their commitments and cooperate with member countries in order to cancel the debts of the poor countries. They also requested technology transfer from developed countries in order to help member countries to posses the technology that helps them in promoting development, fighting poverty and unemployment.
Mr. Abdulaziz Abdulghani, head of the Yemeni Shoora Council, and the Association and their Corresponding Councils in Africa and the Arab world, addressed the final session, where he urged member countries to increase their economic cooperation, and directed the Secretariat to organize programs of visits, bilateral and collective meetings to that end.
It is worth mentioning that the meeting is authorized to set and endorse plans and commitments of the Association of its first meeting in Sana'a last April. This Association includes eighteen countries; Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Algiers, Morocco, Egypt, Bahrain, South Africa, Madiccascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Botswana, Litswana and Yemen. Sudan and Tunisia has who joined the league during this meeting and participated as observers.
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