Parliamentary work and human prosperity

Congressman Yonhy Lescano Ancieta-Peru

Peoples’ feeling after the Summit of the Americas is usually that of frustration, since little progress is made in furthering the wellbeing of the vast majorities of our continent in spite of the usual speeches, the high-sounding sessions and the passionate joint statements.The V Summit, to be held next April in the city of Port-of-Spain -located in the beautiful Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago-, embodies, once again, the hope of reaching agreements that all Latin American governments should assist in executing, particularly those that should take the lead due to their continental leadership, greater development or wealth.

Towards Parliamentary Participation in the Summit of the Americas

Mr. James Bezan, M.P.

I found the article by Ms. Rut Diamint very interesting.  On many occasions she refers to the importance of the presence of parliamentarians in the Summit process and how they can serve as an efficient communication medium between the citizens and the decision bodies.

I agree that there is great value to this role as an intermediary, but we, as parliamentarians, have not and currently are not involved in the Summit process.  Nor have we been directly invited to participate in it in the past.  The upcoming Summit in Trinidad and Tobago has however extended an invitation to parliamentarians to be involved, albeit in some undefined capacity.

Multilateralism, Parliamentary Diplomacy and Political Dialogue

Rut Diamint

I. The slogan for next year’s Summit of the Americas is “Securing Our Citizens’ Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability”. The Summit process is a mechanism designed to promote dialogue, multilateralism and social inclusion, which offers parliamentarians the opportunity to make the voice of civil society heard.

A growing awareness of the global challenges facing our hemisphere leads us to share approaches and values, harmonising initiatives designed to secure progress, prosperity and peace for our nations. Dialogue at the Summits of the Americas contributes to regional governance, but that governance will not become evident if it excludes all government institutions and the participation of stakeholders from the private, non-governmental sphere.

In such a context, legislators play a decisive role, exercising democracy at a multilateral level, strengthening the division of powers and representing their citizens. They translate the demands and needs of society into actions and decisions which, due to the very nature of globalisation, have a growing impact in the field of foreign policy. It is an exercise in pluralism, and in building both consensus and confidence.