Regional parliaments to promote peace

Regional Parliamentary Speakers have vowed to oversee their respective executives in implementing several developmental initiatives, particularly peace restoration in the region. The commitment was made during the just concluded first meeting of parliamentary speakers of the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) that was held in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura. “We committed ourselves to come up with a clear way of how regional parliaments can actively participate in peace restoration within the bloc,’’ said Senate president Dr. Vincent Biruta. During the meeting, Speakers recommended that the convention establishing CEPGL be amended to accommodate regional parliaments within its structures. Currently, the bloc does not recognize the involvement and participation of parliament in its activities. Regional parliaments have been one of the most vibrant organs in reviving the CEPGL. On the current status of the bloc, Biruta said that Rwanda has been at the forefront in paying its contributions. Each member state is required to pay a certain amount of money that is used to run projects financed by CEPGL. CEPGL is a sub-regional organization established by the Gisenyi agreement signed on September 20, 1976 with an aim promoting regional economic cooperation and integration. The member states of the bloc are Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Contrary to previous reports, the Speaker of the Lower Chamber of Parliament, Rose Mukantabana did not attend the meeting; Biruta travelled with MP Alfred Rwasa. Ends

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Regional parliaments to promote peace