- Advertisement -
ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP):Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, held separate meetings with Konstantin Kosachyov, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation; Arthur Eugene Holder, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Barbados; Rawhi Fattouh, Speaker of the Palestinian National Council; Francois Xavier Kalinda, President of the Senate of Rwanda; and Saad Araous, Member of Parliament from Algeria, along with other dignitaries.
During the meetings, the parliamentary delegations strongly condemned the recent suicide attack in Islamabad and expressed solidarity with Pakistan.
The foreign delegates termed the incident a cowardly act and said such attacks deserve the strongest possible condemnation.
Gilani thanked all participating parliamentary delegations for attending the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC) and said the theme of the conference was highly relevant and significant in the current global context.
He emphasized that as parliamentary leaders, “we must work together for peace, development, and prosperity,” adding that the ISC provides an important platform for global parliamentary leaders, representatives, and delegates to learn from one another’s experiences.
The Chairman underlined the need to strengthen institutional cooperation and enhance coordination in multilateral areas.
In his meeting with the Russian delegation, Gilani said the exchange of high-level visits between Pakistan and Russia was a highly encouraging development. He recalled the visit of Valentina Matviyenko, Chairperson of the Federation Council of Russia, noting that her visit had further strengthened bilateral relations.
Gilani extended special thanks to the Russian Deputy Speaker and his delegation, observing that constructive inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries had begun. He also conveyed his best wishes to the Russian parliamentary leadership and the President of Russia.
The Russian Deputy Speaker expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in the Islamabad blast and congratulated the Chairman Senate on the successful organization and exemplary arrangements of the ISC.
He said bilateral cooperation between the two countries was expanding through multiple forums, and parliamentary friendship groups were playing a commendable role in deepening ties.
In his meeting with Arthur Eugene Holder, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Barbados, Gilani highlighted the importance of Pakistan–Barbados cooperation, noting that both countries had demonstrated excellent collaboration at various global parliamentary platforms.
He expressed Pakistan’s desire to further strengthen multidimensional cooperation with Barbados. The Barbadian Speaker conveyed his best wishes and stressed the need to enhance bilateral ties.
During his meeting with Rawhi Fattouh, Speaker of the Palestinian National Council, the Chairman Senate praised the courage and resilience of the Palestinian people and paid tribute to their steadfastness.
He said lasting peace in the Middle East required a just resolution of the Palestinian issue in line with the aspirations of the Palestinian people and relevant UN resolutions.
He welcomed the ceasefire agreement but condemned the violations of the truce. Gilani reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued political, diplomatic, and moral support for the Palestinian cause.
The Palestinian parliamentary leader thanked the Chairman Senate, expressing gratitude to the government, parliament, and people of Pakistan for standing by Palestine in difficult times.
The delegation appreciated the ISC platform as a vital opportunity for dialogue and lauded the leadership qualities of the Chairman Senate.
Former President of Guatemala Jimmy Morales and Ek Nath Dhakal, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference, also congratulated Gilani on the successful organization of the event.
In his meeting with Francois Xavier Kalinda, President of the Senate of Rwanda, the Chairman discussed matters of mutual interest.
Gilani emphasized that Pakistan valued its relations with Rwanda, noting that bilateral ties and cooperation had witnessed positive growth. He said the two countries had historically enjoyed friendly relations and stressed the importance of institutional collaboration and enhanced exchange of delegations.
The Rwandan delegation leader agreed with the Chairman’s views and reaffirmed their shared commitment to elevate bilateral cooperation to new heights.
During his interaction with Saad Araous, Member of Parliament from Algeria, Gilani described the ISC as a highly significant initiative, providing a valuable platform for global parliamentarians to exchange views. He said the conference was an important step toward adopting a collective approach for peace, security, and development.
He termed Algeria’s participation a reflection of its commitment to inter-parliamentary cooperation and regional solidarity and reiterated Pakistan’s resolve for sustained collaboration to address global and regional challenges collectively.
The Chairman also underscored the importance of parliamentary exchanges, friendship groups, and global efforts for the just resolution of conflicts.
Those who also met the Chairman Senate included parliamentary delegations from Iran, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Syria, and Members of Parliament from the Maldives, as well as former President of Guatemala.
Gilani appreciated Iran’s participation, noting that peace, development, and prosperity represent the shared vision of Pakistan and Iran.
In meetings with other delegations, the Chairman discussed bilateral relations and cooperation and emphasized the need to further strengthen these partnerships.