After passing resolution, IPU closes its conference

After passing resolution, IPU closes its conference

JAKARTA (JP): The 104th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) closed
its week-long conference by calling for a review on the
effectiveness of embargoes and economic sanctions to resolve
international issues.

The conference also called for a reassessment of various
international and unilateral sanctions such as those imposed on
Burundi, Cuba and the United Nations' sanction on Iraq.

The resolution stressed that while economic sanctions --
although still a legitimate political instrument -- should be
avoided because they inflict suffering on too many innocent
people.

As many as 834 delegates voted in favor of the resolution
titled "Are embargoes and economic sanctions still ethically
acceptable, do they still work, and are they suited to achieving
their purpose in an even more globalized word".

There were 245 against and 159 abstained.

"Embargoes and economic sanctions affect a wide range of
people, especially woman and children," IPU president Najma
Heptulla remarked.

The resolution, proposed by Belgium, also demanded medicines
and foodstuffs be systematically excluded from any multilateral
or unilateral sanction.

There was an attempt during the plenary to amend a paragraph
in the resolution which would directly call for a lifting of
sanctions against Iraq.

But it failed to gain the two-thirds vote required to be
accepted as 595 voted in favor, 517 against and 105 abstained.

In the end it was accepted as a note of the resolution.

The United States was also called on to exercise the utmost
circumspection by examining the humanitarian repercussions of
sanctions.

The conference also approved a resolution titled "Financing
for development and a new paradigm of economic and social
development designed to eradicate poverty".

It called on both developed and developing countries to pursue
development with a human face through economic measures, such as
credit facilities for small and medium-scale enterprises, small-
scale financing initiatives and household debt relief.

The other resolution unanimously adopted was titled "The
prevention of military and other coups against democratically
elected government and against the free will of the peoples
expressed through direct suffrage, and action to address grave
violations of the human rights of parliamentarians".

It strongly condemned all attempts, successful or otherwise,
to overthrow democratically elected government by military or
other undemocratic means.

Najma said the resolution was based on events which occurred
in Fiji, Myanmar and Pakistan.

"The topic was decided last year in Amman Jordan, it has no
relation with Indonesia," she remarked, adding that a military
coup seemed far from likely here.

The conference a day earlier also adopted a resolution on
violence in the Middle East. However it stopped short of
condemning Israel.

The next IPU conference will take place in Havana, Cuba. (jun)