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H. Traore: Address to Peace Summit 2023, Session VII-C
Written by Hon. Hamidou Traore, Sixth Vice President, National Transition Council, Mali; Deputy President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIP)
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Address to Peace Summit 2023
May 2-5, 2023
Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon and all her family, Ladies and gentlemen of the Universal Peace Federation, Ladies and gentlemen guests, Dear participants and parliamentarians of the world. Good morning.
Allow me to pay tribute to the highest authorities of the Republic of Mali, His Excellency Colonel Assimi GOITA, President of the Transition, Head of State, and the Honorable Colonel Malick DIAW, President of the National Transitional Council, and give thanks to Allah, the Almighty Merciful, who has made it possible to hold this International Conference for Universal Peace in Seoul.
I salute and congratulate the organizers for the honor bestowed on me by inviting me to the Peace Summit 2023 and the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace.
To all the participants, I convey the cordial and warm greetings of the people of Mali and our government, to all the delegations of parliamentarians present here as well as to the representatives of civil society who made the trip to Seoul.
Ladies and gentlemen, this summit dedicated to universal peace is being held at the right time because our planet is currently going through a particularly turbulent period which undermines the values of tolerance and living together.
These contemporary challenges, which challenge us as parliamentarians, have their origin in the spread of intolerance.
This intolerance is unfortunately found in our system of governance. It’s ramifications threaten the future of humanity and take away from us the dream of a plural and diversified world society based on tolerance, inclusiveness and solidarity.
Ladies and gentlemen, promoting tolerance today reflects the concern of the vast majority of citizens of the world and of democratic societies of which parliamentarians are the legitimate representatives.
Legislative bodies are more challenged than ever. Indeed, parliamentarians must not remain on the sidelines of this dynamic search for peace. The parliamentary institution must play a central role in all the mechanisms of governance aimed at the promotion and the search for peace, particularly in Africa where the States are fragile and the means of action quite limited.
Parliamentarians can express themselves and act with unquestionable democratic legitimacy and in this way legislative bodies constitute powerful mechanisms for the negotiated management of disputes and tensions at the national and international levels.
Parliamentary diplomacy is an important aspect in the prevention of conflicts and the consolidation of peace. It must participate more in the processes leading to regional or international agreements between states.
In addition, parliamentarians through investigative and fact-finding missions in the conflict zone can and must play an essential role in preserving peace and reconstruction.
Indeed, ladies and gentlemen, dear fellow parliamentarians, the citizens of the world expect results from us.
The parliamentary institution as a power in its own right must free itself from compromises and resolutely commit to legislating laws that contribute to the achievement of peace both in Africa and in other parts of the world experiencing armed conflicts.
Creating the conditions for peace and progress is a duty for all. It is time for action and pragmatism. We must act. Every minute counts for the many victims in the world.
For this reason, I dare to hope that this summit will adopt courageous resolutions to combat intolerance.
The wealthy states must face up to their duty and responsibility in order to help poor countries promote the values of tolerance and to peacefully live together by improving the living conditions of the poorer populations.
Thank you again Dr. Moon for all you do for peace and security in the world. We encourage you and congratulate you.
Mali would be happy, depending on your schedule, to receive you as an honored guest.
Thank you.
To go to the Peace Summit 2023 Schedule page, click here.