Off the wire
• 1st LD Writethru: U.S. stocks plunge to start September  • European governments "sleepwalking" without coordinated migration response: European parliamentary chief  • Italy rescues some 600 migrants off Libyan coasts, four women found dead  • Roundup: Syrians demand end of rebels' siege on two Shiite towns  • News Analysis: Egypt pins hope on new gas discovery for energy supply  • Chicago corn, soybeans lower on official report, wheat extends gains on short covering  • New Croatian law sends 19,646 companies into bankruptcy  • U.S. adult smoking rate drops to 15 percent: CDC  • 1st LD: Palestinian President announces wish to retire  • 1st LD Writethru: U.S. dollar mixed amid global rout  
You are here: 　 Home

Quotable quotes from Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament on Sept. 1

Xinhua, September 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

Following are quotable quotes from those who took the floor at the ongoing Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held here on Sept. 1:

"Sustainability is as important as development. In that field, the wrong compromises will have tragic consequences. Sustainability does not only mean a lifestyle respecting the ecological boundaries of Planet Earth -- it also means the preservation of our natural resources, and of the human, social and economic foundations on which our societies rest." -- Laszlo Kover, the speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly.

"Placing democracy in the service of peace and sustainable development implies the promotion of dialogue, integration processes, strengthening trust and cooperation, and in achieving these goals, parliaments, as representatives of the people, have the most important role." -- Maja Gojkovic, the speaker of the Serbian National Assembly.

"I believe that a Parliament's strategic plan should include initiatives to support and encourage youth participation and make the institution more open and accessible to young people and youth organizations. These initiatives should encourage them to turn away from violence and in the process reconnect the growing disconnect between the politics and the people, especially young people." -- Wade Mark, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago.

"Alongside the tireless efforts of various stakeholders and parties over the past years, the issue of war and peace continues to face challenges of war either in the form of a civil war or war between nations, which have had a major impact on the lives and properties of innocent civilians." -- Pany Yathotou, the president of the National Assembly of Laos.

"At the very core of the new development agenda lies the assumption that there can be no sustainable development without peace and peace cannot exist without sustainable development. " -- Maria Lohela, the speaker of the Parliament of Finland.

"We have learnt that democracy must be designed to each nation's particular circumstances; likewise development must take account of local culture. Most importantly, peaceful means is the only method to achieve these aims in the long term." -- Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, the president of the National Legislative Assembly of Thailand. Enditem