Iranian Speaker in Qatar for IPU Meeting


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani travelled to Qatar on Saturday to take part in a biannual meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Speaking to reporters before leaving Tehran for Doha on Saturday morning, Larijani said the IPU gathering is similar to a UN General Assembly meeting that provides a major opportunity for talks on international and bilateral partnership among the nations.

He said the union is going to discuss various issues in the meeting, including the global threat of terrorism, narcotics smuggling, human rights, and the role of parliaments in the development of nations.

Taking a swipe at the US for impeding the delivery of foreign humanitarian aid for Iran amid floods, Larijani said he would discuss the cases of US hostility towards the Iranian nation with other participants in the IPU meeting.

The Iranian parliament speaker went on to say that he will also hold talks with his counterparts from major countries on business and trade cooperation.

Qatar is playing host to the 140th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and its related meetings, including the 204th session of the Governing Council and the IPU's Standing Committees from April 6 to 10.

The theme of this year’s general debate will be “Parliaments as platforms to enhance education for peace, security and the rule of law.”

The event is attended by parliamentary delegations from around 180 countries.