By RENCE MARTINE
Dar es Salaam (MOZTIMES) - The President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Dr Tulia Ackson, has addressed concerns about her recent diplomatic visits to Russia, claiming that her actions are aligned with the Union's core mission of fostering dialogue and promoting parliamentary diplomacy.
Dr Ackson has been the Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania since 2022. On 27 October 2023, she was elected the President of the IPU at a meeting convened in Luanda, Angola, where she passed other contestants by a great margin.
Presiding at the IPU last Tuesday, Dr Ackson was questioned by the Iraqi and Lithuanian representatives about her decision to visit Russia amid the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine without first visiting Ukraine, as well as why she had not travelled to Gaza during the current conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Responding to the questions during the 149th IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, she said that her visits were driven by parliamentary diplomacy and efforts to promote dialogue, not by geopolitical biases.
She further said that in her capacity she had visited both Palestine and Israel in November 2023, soon after assuming the IPU presidency in October.
“It’s not like I have ignored what is happening in the Middle East, what is happening in Lebanon or Gaza” Dr Ackson said, underlining her efforts to engage with all parties involved in global conflicts.
Dr Ackson further explained that her visit to Russia followed thorough communication with both Ukraine and Russia.
She said that Ukraine’s leadership, including President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, were unable to meet with her on the planned dates due to their participation in a NATO meeting in New York.
Consequently, she said the visit to Russia, which coincided with the BRICS summit, proceeded as scheduled.
“The IPU stands for dialogue. It is in that spirit that I visited Russia, despite Ukraine not being available to receive me at that time. The IPU’s role is to promote peace through parliamentary diplomacy and I acted accordingly,” Dr Ackson said.
Lithuania also raised concerns about who had mandated her visit to Russia. Dr Ackson responded by stating that official letters had been sent to both Ukraine and Russia ahead of her visit, explaining her diplomatic mission.
She also made it clear that the IPU operates independently and in the interest of peace. “The letters were sent explicitly and if you need copies, they are not secrets,” she said, firmly addressing Lithuania’s inquiry.
The IPU President reminded the assembly that the union is engaged in multiple global conflicts beyond Ukraine and the Middle East. “We are concerned about what is happening in Yemen, Syria, Sudan, West Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” she noted, pointing to the IPU’s broader mandate.
Dr Ackson expressed concerns of being unfairly criticised, particularly regarding her visit to Russia. “You did not question me when I visited Israel and Palestine,” she said. “Why am I being judged harshly now? I ask for your trust and support as I lead this institution”.
The 149th IPU Assembly, which took place from 13-17 October, brought together representatives from parliaments around the world. The central theme of the assembly was "Harnessing science, technology and innovation (STI) for a more peaceful and sustainable future," with a focus on using technology to address global challenges.
The IPU Political Head reiterated her commitment to the ideals of the IPU. “I am here to lead, to fulfil the mandate given to me. Let us work together to advance peace and diplomacy for the benefit of all,” she urged.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) parliamentary Forum immediately expressed unflinching solidarity with Dr Ackson saying the forum believes Dr Ackson had acted well within her mandate when she engaged the President of Russia in the margins of BRICS 2024 on July 12th.
The President of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, Mr Roger Mancienne, said in a statement that the forum believes in consistent dialogue and peaceful building efforts, and this starts from a conversation with Heads of States who have armies at their command.
“As the SADC Group, we are also uncomfortable with the apparent double standards which applied to visits of the IPU President coming from the Sub Saharan Africa Geopolitical Group compared with visits of predecessors which were not subjected to that level of scrutiny,” he said. (RM)
