Deshmukh joins support for creation of UN Parliamentary Assembly

New Delhi, Sep.6 (ANI): Union Cabinet Minister for Science and Technology Vilasrao Deshmukh has joined the support for the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly as a subsidiary body to the UN General Assembly.

Cutting across party lines, 34 Indian parliamentarians have supported the UNPA campaign.

UNPA Campaign Appeal states: "We conceive the establishment of a consultative Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations as an indispensable step. Without making a change of the UN Charter necessary in the first step, a crucial link between the UN, the organizations of the UN system, the governments, national parliaments and civil society can be achieved through such an assembly.

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A Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations could initially be composed of national parliamentarians. Step by step, it should be provided with genuine rights of information, participation and control vis-?-vis the UN and the organizations of the UN system. In a later stage, the assembly could be directly elected.

Recently the European Parliament passed a resolution supporting the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. (ANI)