Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, held separate meetings with Mr. Konstantin Kosachyov, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation; Mr. Arthur Eugene Holder, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Barbados; Mr. Rawhi Fattouh, Speaker of the Palestinian National Council; Mr. Francois Xavier Kalinda, President of the Senate of Rwanda; and Mr. Saad Araous, Member of Parliament from Algeria, along with other dignitaries.
During the meetings, the parliamentary delegations strongly condemned the suicide attack that took place in Islamabad and expressed solidarity with Pakistan. The foreign delegates termed the incident a cowardly act and stated that such acts deserve the strongest possible condemnation.
Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani thanked all the parliamentary delegations for participating in the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC) and said that the theme of the conference is highly relevant and significant in the present global context. He emphasized that as parliamentary leaders, “we must work together for peace, development, and prosperity.” He added that the ISC serves as an important platform providing world parliamentary leaders, representatives, and delegates an opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences.
The Chairman Senate underscored the need to strengthen institutional cooperation and enhance coordination in multilateral areas. In his meeting with the Russian delegation, Chairman Senate stated that the exchange of high-level delegations between Pakistan and Russia is a highly encouraging development. He recalled the visit of Ms. Valentina Matviyenko, Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, noting that her visit had further strengthened bilateral contacts. The Chairman Senate extended special thanks to the Russian Deputy Speaker and his delegation, observing that constructive inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries has begun. He also conveyed best wishes for the Russian parliamentary leadership and the President of Russia.
The Russian Deputy Speaker expressed sorrow and condemnation over the loss of lives in the Islamabad bombing and congratulated the Chairman Senate on the successful organization and exemplary arrangements of the ISC. The delegation leader stated that bilateral cooperation between the two countries is growing through multiple forums, and the parliamentary friendship groups are playing a commendable role in enhancing relations between the two parliaments.
In his meeting with the Speaker of Barbados, Mr. Arthur Eugene Holder, Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani highlighted the importance of Pakistan–Barbados bilateral cooperation, noting that the two countries have demonstrated excellent collaboration at various global parliamentary platforms. He expressed Pakistan’s desire to further strengthen multidimensional cooperation with Barbados. The Speaker of Barbados conveyed his best wishes to the Chairman Senate and emphasized the need to enhance bilateral ties further.
During his meeting with the Speaker of the Palestinian National Council, Mr. Rawhi Fattouh, Chairman Senate praised the courage and resilience of the Palestinian people and paid tribute to their steadfastness. He stated that a lasting peace in the Middle East requires a just resolution of the Palestinian issue in accordance with the aspirations of the Palestinian people and relevant UN resolutions. He welcomed the ceasefire agreement but condemned the violations of the ceasefire. The Chairman reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued political, diplomatic, and moral support for the Palestinian brothers.
The Palestinian parliamentary leader thanked the Chairman Senate, expressing gratitude to the government, parliament, and people of Pakistan for standing by Palestine in difficult times. The delegation appreciated the ISC platform as a crucial opportunity for dialogue and lauded the leadership qualities of the Chairman Senate. Former President of Guatemala, Mr. Jimmy Morales, and the Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference, Mr. Ek Nath Dhakal, also congratulated the Chairman Senate on the successful organization of the ISC.
President of the Senate of Rwanda, Mr. Francois Xavier Kalinda, also met with the Chairman Senate and discussed matters of mutual interest. Chairman Senate Gilani emphasized that Pakistan values its relations with Rwanda, noting that bilateral diplomatic ties and cooperation have witnessed positive growth. He stated that both countries have historically enjoyed friendly relations, which remain a source of pride for both nations. The Chairman underlined the importance of institutional cooperation and proposed initiatives to further strengthen multilateral collaboration and enhance the exchange of delegations. The Rwandan delegation leader agreed with the Chairman’s views and reaffirmed their shared commitment to elevate bilateral cooperation to new heights.
Algerian Member of Parliament, Mr. Saad Araous, described the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference as a highly significant initiative, providing a valuable platform for global parliamentarians and parliamentary leaders to exchange views. Chairman Senate noted that the conference serves as an important step toward adopting a collective approach for peace, security, and development. He termed Algeria’s participation as a reflection of commitment to inter-parliamentary cooperation and regional solidarity. He reiterated the resolve for sustained collaboration to collectively address global and regional challenges. The Chairman Senate also highlighted the importance of parliamentary cooperation, acceleration of delegation exchanges, and strengthening of parliamentary friendship groups, emphasizing that global efforts are vital for the just resolution of conflicts.
Those who met the Chairman Senate also included Parliamentary delegations from the brotherly country of Iran; former President of Guatemala and Members of Parliament from the Maldives. The Chairman Senate appreciated Iran’s participation, stating that peace, development, and prosperity represent the shared vision of Pakistan and Iran. Delegations from Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, and Syria also met with the Chairman Senate. In these meetings, Chairman Gilani discussed bilateral relations and cooperation with the respective delegations and emphasized the need to further strengthen these partnerships.
