Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal addresses Parliamentary Forum on the sideline of LDC Conference in Turkey

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Speech at the Parliamentary Forum

Istanbul, 8 May 2011

The Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations

His Excellency Mr. Mehemet Ali Sahin, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey,

Distinguished Parliamentarians,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a matter of great honor and pleasure for me to attend the opening of the Parliamentary Forum on the occasion of the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (UNLDC IV) here in this beautiful historical city of Istanbul. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my most sincere thanks to the organizers of this Forum – the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and OHRLLS for taking this very important initiative and for inviting me to this opening event today.

Parliaments are supreme national institutions representing the people. And parliamentarians ensure the most direct links between the government and the people. The roles and responsibilities of the people’s representative as a parliamentarian are, therefore, crucial for the progressive enhancement of the welfare and wellbeing of the common people in general. We believe that the democratic exercise and development dividends are inextricably linked. Since people are at the centre of development, we must make sure that accountability to the people and service delivery are ensured in an institutional manner. From that perspective, this meeting has a special value and significance.

It is a matter of great satisfaction to note that the Inter Parliamentary Union, a world organization of national parliaments, has been taking a growing interest in the areas of peace and security and development issues in a comprehensive manner, including the issues of the most vulnerable groups like the Least Developed Countries. LDCs face very specific and deep rooted problems as they are at the bottom of the development ladder. Their combined structural constraints and low level of economic development has made them much more vulnerable to many global shocks. In particular, the food, fuel, financial and economic crises have made their situation all the more difficult. It is therefore that we seek a comprehensive and result oriented outcome that takes into account both the traditional and new challenges and ensures a higher level of global partnership. This is the time for solidarity, as we are focusing on the plights of the poor and marginalized groups of people.

The Brussels Program of Action undertook seven commitments including one on good governance. And this is an area where the national parliaments could play an important role by way of overseeing the implementation of such commitments through the budgetary process, and through necessary legislation. This would not only promote national leadership and ownership but also facilitate the effective implementation of the programs. It is from this perspective that the IPU came forward with the endorsement of the Brussels Program of Action (BPOA) in a resolution issued at the 108^th IPU Conference in Chile in 2003, in which it laid stress on the need for the effective implementation of Commitment 2, on good governance. Building good governance has since remained an important focus area of the IPU in respect of the LDCs. And I am sure that the good governance will be looked at comprehensively both at the national as well as international levels. I would like to stress that the parliamentary track of LDC IV will be of immense significance in mobilizing and expanding the support base for the LDCs at various levels.

I admire that this Forum is focusing itself on the ‘review of the role of LDC parliaments in the implementation of BPOA over the past decade and identify successes, lessons learnt and challenges faced’ and ‘promote parliamentary action on all issues on the LDC IV agenda, and ensure parliamentary participation in the implementation and review of the new program of action.’ The deliberations from this Forum will immensely contribute to the success of the conference.

Enhanced national ownership and a coordinated involvement of both the legislative and the executive branches of government in the preparation and execution of the new program of action, as highlighted by the Parliamentary track, is one of the crucial elements for the success of any program to be designed for the next decade. We all know that parliamentary oversight of government policies and programs would be helpful in ensuring proper and effective implementation of the programs.

I am sure the genuine concerns and the commitments of this Forum here and in the lead up to this point at various levels across the globe deserve proper recognition and support. It is important, as we make a collective endeavour to address the problems of the LDCs and accelerate the pace of their graduation as early as possible.

With this, I offer my best wishes for the success of this Forum.

Thank you.