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IPU Conf. kicks off session in Saint Petersburg city

SAINT PETERSBURG, Oct 14 (KUNA) -- The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference kicked off here in Saint Petersburg on Saturday with the participation of Kuwaiti lawmakers headed by Parliament Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim.
The conference, which will take place under the slogan boosting multi- multiculturalism, peace, and dialogue, will be hosting more than 150 countries, including 100 parliament speakers, 70 parliamentarians, and 2,300 guests, including 840 parliamentarians.
The conference is scheduled to discuss a number of issues, namely the Russian proposed draft, entitled "the 20th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Democracy," the role of the United Nations in the management of international affairs and needed steps to be taken in this regard.
More than 50 international events will be held within the framework of the IPU conference, including relevant committee sessions, consultative groups, discussion sessions, as well as regular events such as the Women's Forum, Youth Parliamentarians Forum, and dozens of bilateral meetings.
On the sidelines of the conference, regional parliamentary groups will also be held, including the Arab Parliamentary Union, the African Parliamentary Union, the Brix Group, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the States Parties to the Joint Defense Treaty, among others.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union, which was founded in 1889, currently has 173 countries and a regional assembly. (end) as.mb