Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Cambodia hosts regional peace seminar [... while Cambodia is embroiled in land-grabbings and forced evictions]

09/03/200
VNA (Hanoi)

VietNamNet Bridge – The role of parliaments in promoting peaceful and sustainable societies in Southeast Asia is high on the agenda at a regional seminar that opened in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh on March 9.

Lawmakers and researchers from 11 Southeast Asian nations, as well as international organisations are attending the event, which is co-organised by the Cambodian National Assembly and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

The Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations Ngo Anh Dung, who is a member of the IPU Executive Committee, represented the IPU to chair the seminar.

Over the course of four days, participants are scheduled to discuss the role played by parliaments in conducting conciliation and peace building when conflicts occur in Southeast Asia, and factors to ensure successful conclusions to conflicts.

They are also looking into parliaments’ roles during and after conflicts, and in advancing institutional reforms in each country, as well as putting forth proposals to resolve conflicts.

On behalf of the Vietnamese delegation, Ha Minh Hue, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and a National Assembly Deputy, delivered a presentation on the role of parliaments in tackling conflicts and post-conflict issues.

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