Discussion on development goals impossible without peace: President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union at P20

New Delhi [India], October 13 (ANI): Addressing the ninth P20 Summit in the national capital on Friday, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Duarte Pacheco, said it was impossible to discuss Sustainable Development Goals and the future without peace.

"Without peace, forget to discuss sustainable development Goals or to discuss other issues. So peace should be on the front page of our worries, always,” he said, at the opening of the P20 Summit, which will see four high-level sessions — 'Accelerating SDGs, Sustainable Energy Transition', 'Women-led Development' and 'Transformation in People's Lives through Public Digital Platforms' — over the next couple of days.

These sessions will bring together G20 members and guest countries for wide-ranging discussions on "how Parliaments can effectively advance the objectives of the P20".

His concerns assume relevance amid a new war that started last weekend between Israel and Hamas, with already conflict stretching for over 19-20 months between Russia and Ukraine. 

“And so here, from here we should give a strong scream (for peace),” Pacheco said on Friday.

“As representatives of our countries, we need to defend peace everywhere, in all continents. In Europe, in Africa, in the Middle East, in Asia, in America,” he said.

"Even a single death is too much, it's too much. And we need to defend peace all over the world. And we parliamentarians know how to do it because we do it inside our parliaments,” he said further, adding, "We discuss very hard with people who have different ideas, but we try to reach consensus. And what should do is to transform it to the international level, with parliamentarians, from different countries, with different perspectives.”

The remark was an oblique reference to the ongoing Israeli air raids on Hamas targets in Gaza, which followed terror attacks that left over 1,300 dead and more than 3,300 injured.

Ahead of the P20 Summit, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla told ANI that through the event, India will give a new perspective to the world just as it did through the successful hosting of the G20 Summit where the Leaders' Declaration "gave a new direction to the global outlook".

"After the historic success of the G20 Summit and the adoption of the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration, we are going to organise the P20 Summit where the presiding officers of both the Houses will be present," he said.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union is an international organisation of national parliaments whose primary purpose is to promote democratic governance, accountability, and cooperation among its members.

Earlier, on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ninth G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) at the newly-constructed India International Convention and Expo Center (IICC) at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka.

The summit will conclude with a joint statement urging G20 governments to provide solutions to the major global challenges based on equality, inclusivity and peace.

Also, an exhibition — 'Mother of Democracy' — will also be organised during the summit to highlight India's ancient and participatory democratic traditions. (ANI)