Parliaments play a key role in enhancing parliamentary diplomacy, so when it comes to Islamic Republic of Iran, the Majlis (the country's Parliament) has joined the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU), Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC), and the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA).
The legislative body in Iran has attached great importance to cooperating with parliamentary unions in a bid to expand its diplomatic activities at international level. The APA is of great significance because its permanent secretariat is located in Iranian capital Tehran and it provides Iran’s parliament with good opportunity to develop its diplomatic agenda.
– History of APA establishment
The idea of establishing an Asian Parliamentary Assembly was proposed by late Hossein Sheikholeslam, an Iranian lawmaker, for the first time, who supported formation of a unified energy market in Asia as well as conclusion of friendship treaty among Asian countries.
Following demands made by certain Asian states, especially southeastern Asian nations, to set up an entity similar to the European Parliament, the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace was formed in 1999 with the aim of upholding democracy, human rights, and regional stability, which was the first experience of this kind in Asia.
The Dhaka conference in 1999 initiated the first steps to prepare draft for Asian human rights in the presence of 109 Asian legislators.
The title of Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace changed to the Asian Parliamentary Assembly in a Tehran meeting on November 14, 2006.
The Tehran communique emphasized on the role of Asian parliaments in promoting democracy, fighting terrorism, and enhancing multilateralism.
Enhancing sustainable peace and constructive cooperation at governmental and national level, developing amicable ties between nations based on equality and mutual respect, paving the ground for sustainable and balanced development in all economic, social, scientific and technological arenas, as well as identifying potential capacities of Asian nations and directing them to enhance common interests, are among the objectives and missions of the APA.
– Outlook
The Asian Parliamentary Assembly has yet to do a lot to use all its capacities, but given the member states’ rich potentials in terms of culture, energy, and economy can be a great opportunity to help democratize parliaments at continental level and create proper entities to protect common interests.
The APA is one of great diplomatic opportunities for the Iranian parliament to pursue its parliamentary diplomacy for economic development at regional level. The assembly has also the potential to provide member states with political initiatives, so it can play an important role in de-escalating and resolving differences peacefully.
Definitely, the Islamic Republic of Iran enjoys strategic priorities in energy, international corridors, and geo-political equations, when it comes to cooperation with the Asian Parliamentary Assembly.
Smart contributions of Iranian parliament to heads of states conferences and permanent committees’ sessions can create appropriate opportunity to strengthen parliamentary regionalism.
1424
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