The six nations were Australia, Cambodia, Canada, South Korea, Iran and Indonesia as the host, the House of Representatives (DPR) said in a press statement.
The meeting`s agenda included discussions on the internal issues of the Asia Pacific Geopolitical group, the South China Sea conflict, border problems in some ASEAN member countries, transregional issues in Asia and the Pacific, and trade issues.
The meeting was also expected to yield inputs for the IPU Strategic Plan 2012-2017 draft.
Indonesia`s delegation in the meeting was headed by House Speaker Marzuki Alie (concurrently IPU`s APG chair), and consisted of Priyo Budi Santoso (deputy House Speaker), Dr Nurhayati Ali Assegaf, Azwar Abubakar, Enggartiasto Lukita and Helmy Fauzy.
The Working Group meeting of APG was crucial and strategic for the regional development, especially in Asia and the Pacific, Marzuki said.
Indonesia hoped that APG could become a forum to encourage IPU to become more democratic and pro-gender.
The Asia Pacific Geopolitical group has 28 members. Geopolitical groups play an important role in the functioning of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Each group decides on its own working methods that best suit its participation in the activities of the Union and informs the Secretariat of its composition, the names of its officers, and its rules of procedure.
Created in 1889 on the initiative of two parliamentarians and men of peace, William Randal Cremer (United Kingdom) and Frederic Passy (France), the Inter-Parliamentary Union was the first permanent forum for political multilateral negotiations.
(Uu.F001/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
