Nusa Dua, NU Online
The Palestinian National Council has submitted a request to the ongoing assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to grant it full membership in the world parliamentarian body.
Speaker of the Palestinian National Council, Saleem Al-Za'noon, said in a press release here Thursday that the council had applied for full IPU membership, and that this was in line with what he termed Palestinian sovereignty and international recognition.<>
Palestine has been sending its delegates as observers to the annual IPU meeting since 1975.
The IPU's president, Agung Laksono, confirmed the request, but said it was still under consideration because of the absence of international recognition of Palestine as an independent state and the prolonged Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The Israeli parliament Knesset did not send a delegation to the meeting for security reasons. Prior to the IPU meeting, several anti-Israel demonstrations were held in cities throughout the country, all signs of solidarity for Palestine.
Agung also said the IPU would consider reactivating the union memberships of Thailand and Fiji after military regimes in the two countries held free and fair elections to restore democracy to their respective peoples.
The United States has yet to reapply for IPU membership after it pulled out from the organization several years ago following a defeat in the assembly's decision-making process.
"Unlike the UN, the IPU gives no vetoing rights to its certain member countries," Agung said as quoted by The Jakarta Post.
Founded in 1898 and headquartered in Switzerland, the IPU is a forum for the parliaments of 148 countries, which convene annually to promote democracy and human rights and to discuss international issues with non-binding resolutions. (dar)
The Palestinian National Council has submitted a request to the ongoing assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to grant it full membership in the world parliamentarian body.
Speaker of the Palestinian National Council, Saleem Al-Za'noon, said in a press release here Thursday that the council had applied for full IPU membership, and that this was in line with what he termed Palestinian sovereignty and international recognition.<>
Palestine has been sending its delegates as observers to the annual IPU meeting since 1975.
The IPU's president, Agung Laksono, confirmed the request, but said it was still under consideration because of the absence of international recognition of Palestine as an independent state and the prolonged Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The Israeli parliament Knesset did not send a delegation to the meeting for security reasons. Prior to the IPU meeting, several anti-Israel demonstrations were held in cities throughout the country, all signs of solidarity for Palestine.
Agung also said the IPU would consider reactivating the union memberships of Thailand and Fiji after military regimes in the two countries held free and fair elections to restore democracy to their respective peoples.
The United States has yet to reapply for IPU membership after it pulled out from the organization several years ago following a defeat in the assembly's decision-making process.
"Unlike the UN, the IPU gives no vetoing rights to its certain member countries," Agung said as quoted by The Jakarta Post.
Founded in 1898 and headquartered in Switzerland, the IPU is a forum for the parliaments of 148 countries, which convene annually to promote democracy and human rights and to discuss international issues with non-binding resolutions. (dar)
