[26/April/2004]
SANA'A, April 26 (Saba) - Chairman of the Shura Council Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Ghani opened the 1st session of the conference welcoming the guests.

He forwarded special thanks to the French government who held the International Conference for the World's Senates and Shura Councils on March last year.
" Nouakchott and Rabat consecutively hosted the 1st and 2nd forums for the heads of the Senates and the Shura Councils and the Equivalent Councils. Sana'a, however, boasts hosting this conference which has forged a special bond between the concerned states," he said.

"This conference takes place in a volatile regional landscape where the chain of events is befalling quickly. These events will leave their impact on our political systems and our communities as well."
The Shura chairman spoke highly off the democratic march in the Association member countries.

He cited the participatory politics, human rights commitments and the adoption of the bicameral model as key facets of the civilization of these countries.
Democracy, he said, is an effective means for realizing progress on the political and social fronts. He added that the interior transition toward democracy works better for the interests of countries rather than "reforms" enforced from outside.

"The best way to help nations", he ontinued, " is to support their development, offer them direct aids and easy loans and domesticating technology in their countries."

Finally, Abdul-Ghani called on the Participants to set a strategy for staving out backwardness and poverty.
Head of Moroccan Advisors Council, Mustafa Okasha expressed in his speech his comfort of good organization for the conference and hospitality.
"We are sharing with Yemen of strong ties and brotherly relations recommended by respect, he said.
He added that holding first forum in Nouakchott was considered the milestone of transparent dialogue between councils in Africa and the Arab world. He pointed out that the conference would give space to communication and consultations between member states of the Association.
He concluded his speech by announcing officially to hand over chairmanship of the Association to Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Ghani, chairman of Yemeni Shura Council.
On his part, general secretary of the Arab Parliament Union Nour Addeen Bushkouj appreciated efforts exerted by Yemen to host the conference which is a chance for highlighting issues such as democracy process and human rights in the region.
He stated that the conference would help develop the Arab and African bicameralism system and democracy.
He pointed out that Yemen lives bright days under the democratic regime of Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The conference is being held in difficult regional conditions portending evil no one can forecast its effects due to Israeli terror practiced in occupied Palestine and the American partiality towards Israel.

Another example is the American occupation in Iraq. Bushkouj stated that the only solution for the Iraqi catastrophe is by the withdrawal of occupation forces, and by getting self-governed Iraq by a council legally elected.
Head of the Foreign relations in the French Senate, André dulait delivered speech in which he reviewed the hard steps adopted by the French Senate to organize forum for the Senates in Europe.
He expressed his happiness for the Arab and Africa states are the first states to adopt the bicameral system.
On his part, speaker of house of the Ethiopian federation Mulatu Teshome expressed his happiness over his participation in the conference to set up the Association of the Arab-Afro Senates and equivalent councils.
Teshome said the main issue that must be discussed in this conference is developing the economic cooperation, supporting the cultural and political relations, development investment and enhancing relations between the Association's member states and peoples.
"We in Ethiopia are convinced that for economic development to proceed, societies need fair and predictable rules to govern economic and social interaction," said Teshome.
He said " peace, democracy, social justice and the rule of law, transparency and good governance are considered the necessary prerequisites for economic development.
" In order to win the confidence of an investor, peace is very vital and social justice cab be better served in a democratic society," underlined Teshome.

Afterward, the conference reviewed the draft bylaw of the Association that consists of 24 articles concern goals of the association, its formations and specializations of the conference in addition to the structure of the Association's presidency council, the general assembly.
They formed committees and authorized them to start their responsibilities.

NS/KM