AP Speaker, IPU Secretary-General Discuss GERD, Libya, Yemen

The Speaker of the Arab Parliament (AP) Adel Abdulrahman Al Asoomi met with H.E.Mr. Martin Chungong the Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

The meeting was attended by Vice Presidents of the AP, MP Hassan AlMadhani and MP. Mohammed Al Yammahi, in the presence of Mokhtar Omar Senior Adviser to the IPU.

Chungong emphasized the significant role the AP plays to represent the Arab voice with regard to various issues and the notable development in its working mechanisms.

Moreover, he conveyed the IPU appreciation to the AP for its remarkable interest in international issues notably issues of common objectives such as gender equality, countering terrorism, and dialogue among civilizations.

The meeting considered the development of relations between the AP and the IPU and the signing of MoU on technical cooperation dealing with many topics of interest to Arab parliamentarians and peoples, principally counter-terrorism and violent extremism operations, combating the growing hate speech in Europe against Islam and Arabs, gender equality in the Arab region, addressing some organizational defects regarding equality issues in a number of countries and parliaments, cooperation in the field of science and technology, and technical cooperation to develop tools and mechanisms of Arab parliamentary action.

Alasoomi presented a number of issues of Arab concern foremost of which the Palestinian issue and the Israeli forces' violations in Jerusalem by storming the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the continuous attacks on Jerusalemites, and he stressed the necessity of supporting the Palestinian legislative elections and of holding the elections in all the Palestinian territories including Jerusalem.

Alasoomi renewed his call to the IPU to recognize the Yemeni House of Representatives elected in Seiyun in 2019 headed by his Hon. Sheikh Sultan Al-Barakani; and he stressed the need to support the legitimate government from the danger that the Houthi militias represent after sentencing a number of Yemeni MPs to death, which is totally unacceptable and without regard.

Alasoomi welcomed the position of the IPU which has supported the Libyan legitimacy and the Tobruk Parliament since the beginning of the conflict, and he renewed his call to quickly drive out foreign militias and mercenaries from the Libyan territories until normalcy is restored and to support societal and economic development tools.

The meeting also discussed the issue of the Renaissance Dam and the great threat that Ethiopia poses to the water resources of Egypt and Sudan, reiterating that the intransigence of the Ethiopian side would jeopardize these resources, which is prohibited internationally; despite the attempts of Egypt and Sudan, the other side still insists on its position of rejection of negotiations; and called on the international community to assume its responsibilities to dissuade the Ethiopian side from its plans to start the second phase of GERD filling, which will get the region into a big conflict.

On his part, Chungong stressed the support of the IPU to the conduct of the Palestinian elections and he noted that he held a number of meetings with the Palestinian and Israeli sides; he affirmed that the IPU is in contact with all parties of the Yemeni issue and will discuss this matter through the Executive Office, and he noted the rejection of the invalid death sentences issued by the Houthis against some Yemeni MPs; he underlined that the IPU supports the Libyan Parliament and provides its capabilities for technical support to restore security and stability in Libya; he pointed the importance of solving the Renaissance Dam issue by peaceful means, meaningful dialogue and preserving the rights of all parties.