In partnership with FNC, IPU launches Arabic language website

The Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, today launched its new Arabic website, during its 137th Assembly in St Petersburg, Russia.

The website was developed through a partnership and co-operation agreement between the Federal National Council, FNC, and the IPU, based on the FNC’s desire to improve the communication between Arabic-speaking parliaments, organisations, countries and communities and the IPU, to review its activities and decisions and facilitate its services to Arab parliaments while promoting the role of parliamentarians and enhancing their work in the IPU’s various activities and meetings.

Saber Chowdhury, President of the IPU, praised the strategic partnership between the FNC and the IPU while stressing that the launch of the IPU’s Arabic website is part of their desire to create parliamentary connections, spread their parliamentary culture, and consolidate the foundations of regional and international parliamentary democracy, based on their belief in the importance and role of parliaments in spreading peace, stability and communication between international communities.

The relations between the FNC and the IPU were strengthened by a technical co-operation and partnership agreement in 2014, which was signed by their secretariats. The agreement included key clauses to benefit IPU member countries, especially Arab countries, including the creation of an Arab language website, enhancing regional parliamentary co-operation, offering essential technical and technological support, and contributing to programmes related to drafting laws and parliamentary research.

Ahmed Shabib Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of the FNC, stated that the FNC desires to co-operate with all parliamentary unions, especially the IPU while adding that their relationship is well established.

"The FNC is a member of the IPU and the Arabic language website, which we developed, was launched today. We are living in an age of rapid communication and technology, and it is necessary to support the IPU’s website, which was limited to the English and French languages. But now, it is also available in the Arabic language, as well as other languages in the near future. This will improve the communication between Arabic speakers and the IPU while enabling them to benefit from its work and monitor its activities and decisions," Al Dhaheri added.

He also pointed out that the IPU is an international organisation with 176 member countries and a large number of people from around the world speak the Arabic language.