President
of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), H.E.
Chief Fortune Z. Charumbira on Sunday took his message of unity that has characterized
the Pan-African Parliament since the election of the new
leadership in June 2022 to the 17th Session of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization
of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States Conference (PUIC) in Algeria.
The
extension of invitation to the PAP President to address the Parliamentary Union
of the OIC Member States (PUIC) as the Guest of
Honour
is a testament to how the Legislative arm of the African Union (AU) has
successfully positioned itself as a key player in the strengthening of
continental solidarity, cooperation and development; promotion of peace,
security and stability; and pursuit of prosperity for all peoples.
OIC
is the second largest inter-governmental organization with a membership of 57
states spread over four continents. Of the 54 member parliaments of the PUIC,
27 are African countries and members of the PAP.
“We
are one,” H.E. Chief Charumbira
reminded the audience as he described how both the PAP and the PUIC are driven
by a shared value to foster unity among peoples of the world in order to
respect and defend human rights and humanitarian principles and establish
peace, based on justice. “Let us move forward with a common agenda to
strengthen our unity and tackle our common challenges. We need to engage
further and craft a practical roadmap” he added.
H.E. Chief Charumbira touted collaboration
with the PUIC on food security, climate change, peace and security among
others. The President of Africa’s largest Parliamentary institution also seized
the opportunity of his first address to the PUIC to assure his audience that
the Parliament of Africa stands with the Islamic world against islamophobia.
He
condemned attacks on Islamic assets, institutions and principles and condemned
in strong terms, the burning of the Holy Quran in front of the Turkish Embassy
in Stockholm, Sweden.
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