GCC seeks IPU decree on JASTA: Al-Kandari

‘Human rights abuse on agenda’

GENEVA, Oct 24, (KUNA): SecretaryGeneral of Kuwait’s National Assembly Allam Al-Kandari on Sunday expressed hope the 135th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly would adopt a resolution on the US Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA).

“A draft resolution in this regard will be submitted by representatives of the parliaments of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states as an emergency agenda item to the regular IPU Assembly, due on Oct 24-27,” he said in a statement to press.

“JASTA, passed into law by the US Congress on last Sept 28, runs counter to the international laws and norms as well as the principles of state-to-state relations,” he stressed.

The IPU Assembly will decide on the emergency agenda items tomorrow, Monday, besides the general debate on human rights abuses and the roles of parliaments in this regard, Al-Kandari revealed.

Al-Kandari said he is representing the Kuwaiti parliament at the gathering in his capacity as president of the Arab Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (AASGP).

He affirmed keenness on contributing to the success of the IPU Assembly despite the absence of Kuwaiti lawmakers due to the recent dissolution of the National Assembly.

“The Kuwaiti parliament plays an active role in the IPU activities and other international parliamentary forums,” he said, voicing hope for resumption of this role after the coming parliamentary elections, slated for Nov 26, 2016.

Al-Kandari, leading a delegation from the National Assembly’s Secretariat that includes director of the international parliamentary organizations dept. Mishaal Al-Enezi, took part in a coordinating meetings of the delegates of the GCC, Arab, Islamic and Asian parliaments, held earlier today as sidelines.

The meetings fell in the framework of efforts to develop common stances on the emergency agenda items of the IPU Assembly, he said.