Observing that issues like HIV/AIDS, transnational terrorism and natural disasters need to be addressed through mutual co-operation between nations, Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari on Sunday said that small countries should have an equal say in dealing with these matters.

“It is of paramount importance that small states have full say as equal members in addressing such pressing issues that vitally impact them,” Ansari said, inaugurating the small countries conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) here.

Mutual concensus
“Many of the problems confronting the nations of the world today are neutral to geography and size. Issues such as food and water security, environmentally sustainable development, global pandemics such as bird flu and HIV/AIDS and transnational terrorism are matters that need to be addressed through regional and international co-operation,” he said.

Mr Ansari also stressed on the importance of discussing the impact of globalisation on small nations.

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said, “We must acknowledge the fact that the process of globalisation poses a complex mix of challenges and opportunities in these countries.

“International institutions including the WTO should pay attention to their peculiar economic problems,” he said.
“It is all the more important that the political parties and various democratic institutions in these countries evolve an ethos of mutual respect so that the common goal of nation- building can be achieved,” he added.

Stamp release
The Vice President also released a stamp on the occasion.

The ten-day conference would be addressed by Parliamentarians and delegates from a host of nations including Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon.