International position for MP Ross Robertson

5 February 2009
Media Statement

International position for MP Ross Robertson

Manukau East MP Ross Robertson has been appointed as Deputy Convenor of the Peace and Democracy Programme in addition to his role as a member of the Executive Board of Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA).

Ross Robertson said that this executive committee will be involved with peace and democracy initiatives around the world, and will require direct association with countries in which PGA operates and which are experiencing problems in these areas.

“I am delighted with this appointment as it is a significant privilege to be given portfolio responsibilities in this area,” he said.

The committee oversees the work of a task force that engages in parliamentary peace-making in liaison with intergovernmental systems. Conflict management work has taken place in such places as Cote d'Ivoire, the Central African Republic and Haiti to name a few.

It has also worked closely with ECOWAS and the OAS. Peace-making dialogues on regional environmental issues have been undertaken bi-annually since 2001 with Greek and Turkish parliamentarians and Azeri-Armenian parliamentarians. Parliamentary dialogues on economic cooperation have been undertaken between South Asian and Turkish - Armenian parliamentarians.

Seminars on parliamentary capacity-building on security issues with the budget, finance and defence committees have been held, and follow-up regional seminars continue to take place.

“This is very much a ‘doing’ role for the PGA. Its work has achieved useful breakthroughs and brought warring groups together. I am looking forward to working with the committee,” he said.

“In addition to the PGA Peace and Democracy portfolio, my New Zealand Parliamentary portfolio responsibilities as Associate Opposition Spokesperson on Disarmament and Arms Control also fits nicely with the PGA’s Small Arms and Light Weapons programme working towards the elimination of the arms trade.

“This too is a challenging task. During 2008 and 2009 UNIDIR Regional Seminars for policymakers on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) were held in Ethiopia, Malaysia, Jordan and Mexico”, he concluded.

Background:

The PGA is an international NGO that works closely with the United Nations system through the advisory body of the UN Committee for PGA, comprising senior UN Ambassadors, high-level UN officials and some leading NGO representatives. Ross Robertson MP represents the New Zealand Parliament on the PGA Executive.

ENDS