FURTHER READING
• Agreements: Working Table on Transparency and Accountability in Parliamentary
Role: Are there any Open Parliaments?
• Agreements: Working Table on the Parliament as a Main Actor in the Effective
Dialogue for Sustainable Economic Development, Climate Change and Social Inclusion
“Today the speakers of the congresses of the Americas undertake the honourable work of creating spaces for dialogue with the objective of solid decision-making that contributes to economic and social progress for the people of the Americas, as well as the strengthening of the rule of law and representative democracy.”
Fredy Otárola Peñaranda,
President of the Congress of Peru
“We have before us the challenge of improving the credibility of parliaments and of parliamentarians, and of identifying opportunities for cooperation and coordination in order to strengthen our capacities and to avoid the duplication of efforts.”
Isabel Allende Bussi,
President of the Senate of Chile
“The legislative branch is the linchpin in the system of checks and balances that ensures separation, independence, balance and exercise of political power, which are the fundamental principles of any representative democracy.”
José Miguel Insulza,
Secretary General of the OAS
“I think it’s an idea we should embrace because the presidents are looking for this type of interaction … [They] started to share experiences and get an understanding of each other’s systems, how they can make their own system better … It was a good meeting. Definitely a great exercise.”
Randy Hoback,
Member of Parliament of Canada