NEW DELHI, 30 September 2007 - India can add another feather to its diplomatic cap with highly pleased and satisfied legislators from 52 countries leaving for home today after attending the 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's Conference (September 21-30). With theme being "Delivering Democracy and Sustainable Development," the members agreed that legislators must "strengthen the political processes" and "sensitize the public to the need for measures to reduce poverty, ehance respect for the rights of women, minimize the effects of pollution on the global environment and climate," and "such pressing issues as human trafficking."

A new importance was given to the issue of gender inequality, with CPA holding the first conference of women legislators. The CPA Constitution was also amended to remove last vestiges of gender-specific.

During the conference of women legislators, Kashmala Tariq (member, National Assembly of Pakistan) was elected as its new chairperson. Sharing her views with Arab News, on her feelings about this conference and her election, Kashmala said: "I was delighted." What was more surprising for her than the "whites" having voted against her was India's support. "It is ironical, that I have got India's support in this important election for Pakistan," she said.

Acknowledging that Indo-Pak friendship is significant for development of the region as a whole, she said: "SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) will get nowhere, till India and Pakistan come closer. We have been at the table for too long, it is time to get into action now."

On whether she viewed CPA conference as a mere exercise in cosmetic diplomacy, disagreeing, Kashmala replied: "No, it is effective. We do have millennium development goals."

Muhammad Mushtaq (secretary, Provincial Assembly of North Western Frontier Province, Peshawar, Pakistan), expressed the opinion that such conferences, leading to "people to people exchange of views" play a great part in "understanding each other." "This contributes to changing our attitude towards each other as we realize that we are not strangers," he said. Referring specifically to Indo-Pak ties, he said: "We have a lot in common which becomes more apparent through these conferences."

Interestingly, the CPA has played a part in breaking certain barriers resting on ethnic factor. As a western legislator admitted regarding his initial attitude towards his colleague from Baluchistan: "Initially, we were apprehensive, a little rigid. But now, we are friends."

"It is not cosmetic at all," said Kenny Lalsingh (President of the Senate, Grenada). "It has a great educational importance marked by exchange of ideas from one country to another."

"The most significant part of this conference is the prominence given to women's issues," according to Peter M. Kowalsky (Speaker, Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada). Expressing Canada's full cooperation to Kashmala, he said: "We have a movement which is trying to increase women's participation in politics."

Sharing his stand with Arab News on United States' Iraq-policy, Kowalsky said: "I am glad we stayed out of Iraq. I wrote to my prime minister congratulating him on this. Oil was the real reason guiding US. It is a big loss to American prestige. We are now debating on how to get out of Afghanistan."

Interestingly, James Stone (legislator, Scotland) was also fairly open in his views on United States' Iraq-policy. "CPA can be a vehicle repairing the damage caused by the Iraq-war," he said. "The center of CPA is moving in the right direction, with India, Nigeria and Pakistan gaining importance. Nigeria as an emerging economy, India because of its population and Pakistan as an important country in the Islamic world," he said. Describing Kashmala's election as an important development, he said that CPA can play a greater, global role in days to come.

However, ruling out diplomatic role of CPA, Greg Hands (legislator, United Kingdom) expressed: "We have exchanged views as parliamentarians and discussed issues in common."

Expressing that what was discussed on CPA should not be confined to paper, S.K. Devamany (legislator, Malaysia) said: "A lot needs to be done. The debates have to be transferred into action. This requires back home, changes in policy and their implementation. We will try our best." Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (legislator, Malaysia) asserted: "The CPA implied interaction between representatives of two billion people, focusing on how should the government be democratic and functional. It should deliver what the people want." Referring to the need of 30 percent representation of women in decision making, as desired by United Nations, he said: "The commonwealth nations have not yet achieved this."

What also emerged was that weak representation of women is not decided by religious, economic or other ethnic parameters but is prevalent as a universal problem. Reflecting on this, Shelly Hancock (legislator, New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Australia) said: "For the first time, women legislators had a day to themselves, interacting and discussing issues. I realize gender problem is universal, which is not limited to women's representation in politics. In Australia, media is more critical of women than of men, taking note of what they wear, etc."

On whether, she noticed any divisions at the CPA meet, Hancock said: "There seems to be divide between the developing and the developed countries."

Elaborating on this, Shaun Byneveldt (Speaker of Provincial Parliament, Western Cape, South Africa) said: "Yes, there does prevail a divide, North against South, Black vs White and Muslims vs non-Muslims. Conferences of this kind can provide the momentum needed to remove such feelings."

Describing CPA as a very "lively and educative conference," Akeredolu Alaba (Ondo assembly, Nigeria) pointed out: "The participation of women in politics in Nigeria is just beginning. With this taking place at a fast pace, changes are going to more evident, five years from now. The speaker of our National Assembly is a woman."

Expressing appreciation of CPA, Terseer Tsumba (Speaker, Benue State, Makurdi) said: "The member nations should meet more often at the regional level, which is likely to play a greater part in ensuring implementations of goals outlined at such conferences."

One CPA a year was enough, according to Laurence Morgan (States of Guernsey), as it entails a lot of expenditure for the host country. On his view about the CPA, he said: "It is very interesting. It is like networking with other people."