Shura Council participates in 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva
Khalid Hilal Al Maawali, Chairman of the Shura Council, headed Oman's delegation at the conference, themed "A world in turmoil: Parliamentary cooperation and multilateralism for peace, justice and prosperity for all'.
In a speech at the conference, Al Maawali said that the world is going through a critical phase characterised by escalating armed conflicts and rising numbers of refugees and displaced persons, in addition to crises related to food, energy and climate change. This, he observed, requires strong cooperation between parliaments and concerted efforts to help deal with the challenges and achieve peace and sustainable development.
Al Maawali added that the Sultanate of Oman has long served as a cultural bridge between nations and cultures, thanks to the country's deep-rooted legacy of peace-making and its established approach based on dialogue, openness and humanitarian communication.
Al Maawali stressed that parliamentary action should form an influential arena for strengthening understanding, despite divergent positions and differing visions.
Speaking up for the Palestinian cause, Al Maawali pointed out that the Palestinian people possess legitimate rights that are guaranteed by international laws and UN conventions, the most important of which is their right to establish their own independent state on their land.
Al Maawali expressed deep concern over the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. He called on national and international parliaments to take firm positions to halt these violations, ensure the urgent and safe delivery of humanitarian aid and take measures for the realization of a lasting peace based on the Two-State Solution.
The Shura Council presented two working papers. The first, titled "Innovation for the Future", dealt with current challenges like armed conflicts and the climate change, as well as the role of parliamentarians in enhancing security by building confidence and promoting inclusiveness.
The second paper dealt with means of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and highlighted the Sultanate of Oman's efforts in this regard.
On the sidelines of the conference, Al Maawali conferred with heads of Arab, regional, and international parliamentarian and legislative councils. The meetings underlined the importance of consolidating bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the respective countries. They also discussed current issues, with special emphasis on the situation in the Gaza Strip.
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