Parliaments have to ensure governments follow through on commitments for MDGs: GA president

To achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), parliaments have to ensure governments follow through on their commitments they have made, the president of the General Assembly (GA), Joseph Deiss, stressed here Friday.

"If we want to achieve the MDGS by 2015, a nation of parliaments will have to take the international developmental goals into their account -- and into their daily work, they have to translate them into national programs, laws and provide the resources and the necessary elements for financing the development, " Deiss said here at a press conference.

Deiss updated reporters on the joint parliamentary hearings organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN, which took place Thursday and Friday at UN Headquarters, specifically on the theme, "Towards Economic Recovery: Rethinking Development, Retooling Global Governance."

"Parliaments are central for the MDGs," Deiss said as he underscored the need for commitment and support in following through to achieve the eight internationally agreed on developmental goals.

He highlighted the high level summit on MDGs this past September, which concluded with an outcome document that expressed deep concern that progress has fallen far short of what is needed. But the document also voiced confidence that with renewed global commitment, the targets to slash hunger, poverty, disease and a host of other social ills can still be achieved by 2015.

Deiss also noted the importance of close collaboration with the IPU and the UN with the interaction between the two "further strengthening."

The IPU, established in 1889, is the focal point for worldwide parliamentary dialogue. It supports the efforts of the United Nations, shares its objectives, and works in close cooperation with it.

Annual parliamentary hearings bring members of parliament to the UN in a discussion with high-ranking UN officials, representatives of the world body, along with various experts from think tanks and civil society organizations.

Source: Xinhua