Speaker of the People's Majlis Mohamed Aslam has called for a permanent ceasefire in Palestine.
He attended the 148th IPU Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland on March 24 and delivered a statement. Speaker Aslam departed to Geneva, Switzerland to Participate in the 148th Assembly of the IPU, on March 23.
Addressing the assembly, themed around building bridges for peace and understanding and the role of parliamentary diplomacy in achieving it, Speaker Aslam urged the assembly to not forget the struggles of the Palestinian people, even for a minute.
As we are gathered here, let us not forget even for a minute the struggles of Palestinian people. I urge for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Palestine. Conflicts like this have far reaching consequences. Armed conflicts such as this are not just an injustice and inhumane to those directly involved, but will have ripple effect affecting peace around the world.”Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Aslam.
Aslam added that the solution lies in collective action and cooperation, be it climate change, gender disparities, terrorism or regional conflicts.
Highlighting that parliamentary diplomacy provides a framework through which these challenges transcending political agendas for greater good can be addressed, the Maldivian speaker stated that tolerance towards others is at the root of peace and understanding.
Aslam said that as direct representatives of constituents, parliamentarians must be the platform for discord and conversations that create tolerance and understanding and that parliamentarians are the voices of the people, which gives them the responsibility of ensuring that the voices they echo are not of those of hate and intolerance, but rather peace and harmony.
Emphasizing that in the vast history of parliamentary bodies, every legislator or parliamentarian has held a treasury of insights, experiences and viewpoints waiting to be shared, Aslam stated that recognizing this inherent richness, the People’s Majlis has taken steps to cultivate collaborative ties through the establishment of Parliamentary Friendship Group spanning over 20 legislators and prioritizing organizations such as IPU and CPA.
The Maldivian speaker highlighted that building bridges for peace requires not only an open exchange of ideas, but also a commitment to respect the unique perspectives and experiences of each nation and a collaborative effort that goes beyond political affiliations, emphasizing the common humanity that binds us together.
He urged the assembly to seize this opportunity to create understanding, overcome differences, and build a world where peace prevails.
The speaker added that together, bridges that stand the test of time and create a legacy of harmony for generations to come, can be built.
