The role of parliamentary diplomacy in expressing the culture, concerns and priorities of Arab peoples was the subject of a lecture that Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid gave at the Arab Parliamentary Diplomacy Centre, an affiliate of the Arab Parliament, on Sunday.
Noting the growing role of parliaments in formulating and influencing foreign policy decisions, Abu Zeid said that parliamentary diplomacy contributes directly to the presentation of the visions of states and societies on various regional and international issues.
Ambassador Abu Zeid, who doubles as Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Public Diplomacy Department, pointed to the growing role of parliamentary friendship societies in bolstering ties of co-operation among countries.
He also expounded the role of parliamentary delegations in exploring the prospects for co-operation, addressing tensions in controversial issues, and mediating in conflicts.
In this connection, Ambassador Abu Zeid stressed major issues of the nation should gain conciliatory attitudes of parliamentarians engaged in parliamentary diplomacy activities; hence the importance of differentiating between these issues and other matters on which political parties can reflect differing views in accordance of their partisan priorities.
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid emphasised the need to intensify the activities of the mechanisms for coordination between the executive and legislative powers on foreign policy issues while simultaneously respecting the principle of the separation of powers.
Action in this direction, he added, would ensure that members of parliament are fully acquainted with the nature of the issues raised on the regional and international arenas and their impact on the supreme interests of the state.
