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A Message from the 1994 International President

In this Annual Report, you can read about Parliamentarians for Global Action's diverse programmes. Under the leadership of individual Executive Committee members, our programmes have advanced our reputation for innovative and effective global action. Whether at international governmental conferences, at the United Nations General Assembly, with various UN offices and agencies, or through delegations to capitals around the world, the involvement of PGA is openly welcomed - even solicited. Of course, we do not always bring a comforting message, but our opinions are attended to seriously because of their politicial realism. And because our methods of work have proven so successful, Parliamentarians for Global Action is increasingly seen as a force to be reckoned with.

But 1994 was a sobering year - as much for PGA as for the rest of the world. Visions of a new world order had to make way for the stubborn, too often brutal, facts of national politics and individual life.

This year, PGA - and the United Nations - learned that for its global vision to work at all, it must work for even the smallest and poorest nations. The sheer magnitude of the tragedy in Rwanda stunned us all. PGA was powerless to act, and even the United Nations was caught unprepared. Of course, one could dispassionately evaluate this failure, draw lessons, and work to improve the responsiveness of the United Nations system. And this we did. But, what we could not do was turn our backs on another Rwanda brewing in neighbouring Burundi. The hard truth was that the only remaining democratic institution in that country was its parliament -- and it was in crisis. We had on our Task Force on Africa many MPs who had survived crises in their own democracies. We had to act. And I am proud to say that under the leadership of Moses Katjiuongua, two missions to Burundi helped to pull that country back from the chasm that had engulfed Rwanda.

In my part of the world, the Haitian crisis peaked. Our work in Haiti was at times devoted to individuals; helping threatened members escape with their lives. But we also had the great honour of being received by the Haitian Parliament and President Aristide just three days after his return to power. It has been rightly said that the price of freedom is vigilance. On every continent, a single setback for democracy can undercut the entire global trend toward democracy. Functioning parliaments are the single surest measure of a healthy demo-cracy. In Haiti and Burundi, PGA has demonstrated that it can play a vital role in sustaining the advancement of democracy around the globe.

This, my last year as International President of PGA, has been perhaps the most demanding year of my long political career. My closest political ally, Presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio, was murdered as he campaigned for the Mexican Presidency. Earlier, through PGA's part in the Six Nation Initiative, I had come to know Prime Ministers Olof Palme and Rajiv Gandhi. Soldiers enter their profession knowing that they may have to make the ultimate sacrifice, but must politicians?

My friends in PGA helped me struggle with these painful questions. I re-entered the Mexican campaign, and was then chosen to serve the new Government as Minister of Tourism. My only regret is that this new responsibility will limit the time I can devote to many of the international causes championed by Parliamentarians for Global Action. But this should not be viewed as a loss by PGA. Those of us who have been among its ranks will not soon forget the broad horizons we explored with Parliamentarians for Global Action. I need only recall the conference hosted by the Dutch Defense Ministry, arranged for and addressed by Relus ter Beek, Defence Minister -- and former PGA President (page 11). Relus, I, and others are keeping our eyes on this organisation, because its future is an indicator of the world's future, and our nations' -- indeed our very own.

Senadora Silvia Hernández
International President