Asian assembly urges aid delivery in conflict zones

By Ayse Humeyra Atilgan and Burcu Arik

ISTANBUL

An Istanbul declaration adopted on the final day of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) "urges unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid in Myanmar, Syria, Yemen and Iraq".

The declaration "emphasizes the need to promote peace, stability and development in Asia through peaceful resolution of ongoing conflicts and mutually beneficial economic cooperation".

The APA's 10th plenary session ended on Thursday with the adoption of Istanbul Declaration.

The event took place in Istanbul between Tuesday and Thursday with delegations from parliaments of 42 APA members, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, North Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

According to the declaration, APA member countries are "concerned by the increasing tensions in parts of Asia, particularly the threat of terrorism, and the suffering of people affected by ongoing conflicts, especially displaced people, and further concerned by the dire situation of millions of women and young people in all war-torn areas".

The declaration also "welcomes the recent great achievements in defeating Daesh in collaboration with Iraqi and Syrian people".

"Support for an independent sovereign and contiguous Palestine within 1967 borders with Al-Quds [Jerusalem] as its capital," is also written in the declaration which "condemns the illegal settlement activities, demolitions, and other violations of the occupation forces".

Pakistan next APA president

Female representation in public life particularly in parliament is another issue that was encouraged in the declaration.

Burhan Kayaturk, the head of the Turkish APA Group, delivered a closing speech and said the gathering had been fruitful.

"It was an honor for us to hold this meeting with many honorable speakers," he said.

Kayaturk said the Turkish presidency of the APA would attempt to make the assembly more active.

Turkey took over the APA presidency from Cambodia. For the next two years, the APA will convene with Ismail Kahraman, speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, as APA president.

Pakistan will take over as next APA president after Turkey .

The next APA plenary session will be held in 2018 in Turkey.