Peace, security and co-operation issues are first and foremost matters for governments. When it comes to matters such as respect for cultures, human exchanges or public understanding of endeavours to overcome antagonism, it is essential for the message to be brought home to what we have come to call civil society. And parliaments are in an ideal position to do this. Of course, and there can be an exchange between the two. And at the same time they can listen to suggestions from parliamentarians and take account of them.
Governments are always glad of good advice in complex situations.
The give and take between the two creates an appreciable synergy. The end of the Cold War destroyed the walls of antagonism and mistrust that divided the world. We can all sit together now without those walls, to engage in genuine dialogue about where we are all going, and how we want to get there. On our ability to build this understanding hinges not only the prospect for global peace in the new century but also the success of the new multilateral trading systems, which seek to reorganize the world as a single global marketplace. It is going to be more and more difficult to remain outside this global market, particularly as the technologies of convergence give the common man and woman access to information about what is available in every nook and corner of the world.