In a significant step toward strengthening global parliamentary cooperation for peace and development, the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace (GCTP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) during the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), inaugurated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan.
The agreement was signed by H.E. Ahmed bin Mohamed Al Jarwan, President of the GCTP, and H.E. Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan and President of the NAM Parliamentary Network. The MoU outlines a framework for collaboration in areas related to tolerance, peace, and sustainable development, aiming to reinforce joint parliamentary efforts in advancing shared goals.
Al Jarwan also took part in the NAM Parliamentary Network’s conference held in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the historic 1955 Bandung Conference, a foundational moment for the Non-Aligned Movement. In his address, he highlighted the Network’s vital role in fostering international parliamentary cooperation and paid tribute to Gafarova for her leadership and dedication.
He emphasized the continued relevance of the Bandung principles, especially amid today’s global crises and conflicts, and called for collective parliamentary action to uphold the values of peace and cooperation.
Al Jarwan made a series of urgent appeals, including an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza, the activation of the two-state solution, and efforts to end the conflict in Sudan through a peaceful transition to an elected civilian government. He also advocated for dialogue to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war, urging lawmakers to convert the ideals of peace and tolerance into actionable policies.
“We, at the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, firmly believe in the pivotal role of parliamentarians in transforming principles of dialogue, tolerance, and sustainable development into tangible policies that promote peace and global cooperation,” Al Jarwan stated.
On the sidelines of the IPU Assembly, Al Jarwan held bilateral meetings with several parliamentary leaders and delegation heads, including the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana and the head of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) delegation.
Concluding his participation, Al Jarwan proposed convening a joint session between the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace (IPTP) and the NAM Parliamentary Network to further align their efforts for global peace and understanding.
