CAMP: NEW YORK, 16-11-2009

Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha, Smt. Meira Kumar, presently in New York to participate in the Second meeting of the Preparatory Committee of the Third World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments being organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) delivered a lecture on ‘Parliamentary Diplomacy’ to a distinguished gathering of members of Diplomatic Corps, journalists, academics, professionals and members of the Indian community at the New India House on Saturday, 14 November, 2009. Among 100 prominent members present were Senator Loretta Weinberg and Linda Greenstein, member of New Jersey Assembly. Shri P.D.T. Achary, Secretary General, Lok Sabha was also present on the occasion.  Prior to the reception, the Hon’ble Speaker inaugurated an exhibition at the Consulate Hall of paintings by Ms. Deepa Kern depicting joyful celebration of life.

The lecture was third in the ‘Distinguished Lecture Series’ organized by the Consulate General of India, New York. This was followed by a reception hosted by Shri Prabhu Dayal, Consul General of India, New York in honour of Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha.

At the outset, Smt. Meira Kumar recalled that Parliamentary Diplomacy became a formative part of India’s foreign policy from the Nehru era, with inclusive global engagement through the Commonwealth and Non-Alignment Movements. She stated that Parliamentary diplomacy can take place broadly at two levels – at the multilateral level at the Inter-Parliamentary Conferences like the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and at the bilateral level, when exchange of Parliamentary delegations takes place.

The Hon’ble Speaker pointed out that the Inter-Parliamentary Union is one of the world’s oldest international organizations formed even prior to the formation of the United Nations. The IPU, within the contours and parameters of its constitution and objective, offers great scope to the Parliamentarians to highlight global challenges facing the world. For many years, the IPU has carried out its peace-mission in a strife-ridden world. I can vouch for the great potential of the IPU, she said, as a platform to promote and facilitate Parliamentary diplomacy, both multilaterally and bilaterally, from my own experience.

Speaking about yet another multilateral parliamentary forum, she said that Commonwealth Parliamentary Association through its Conferences, Seminars and workshops also provide useful platform not only to advance the values and ideals of Parliamentary democracy but also share mutual experience and ideas among member countries. The Association of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Speakers and Parliamentarians also contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another’s problems; promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields; and strengthen cooperation among themselves on international fora on matters of common interest.

Speaking on Parliamentary diplomacy at the bilateral level, Smt Meira Kumar pointed out that the exchange of parliamentary delegations is an important medium to facilitate Parliamentary diplomacy. These visits enhance ties with other countries and facilitate sharing of ideas and experiences. Besides exchange of Parliamentary delegations, now most Parliaments, including Indian Parliament, have formed Friendship Groups. In our Parliament we have formed 67 such Friendship Groups so far, she said. All these institutional mechanisms, customs and conventions have been found to be immensely useful tools of Parliamentary diplomacy. Concluding the lecture, Hon’ble Speaker said “I may say that in times to come, the inter-dependence of the world will impel Parliamentary diplomacy to play a critical role in supplementing and complementing the efforts of the executive in the foreign policy arena.” The lecture evoked a standing ovation from the distinguished audience.