The event was headed by the country’s president, Luis Abinader, who said: ‘This meeting is an opportunity for dialogue, to reaffirm the values ​​of coexistence and peace for which we work, and to reaffirm the sovereign rights of our peoples’ .

Likewise, the Head of State assured those present that the forum is giving an important message to the world, in which the Ibero-American community is one of the most dynamic spaces for coexistence, agreement and dialogue.

Along with the president, the head of the Dominican Senate, Eduardo Estrella, and of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco, and the Ibero-American secretary general, Andrés Allamand, were present.

Pacheco highlighted the importance of the event and assured that the topics to be addressed in the forum will be of benefit to the participating countries.

He added that the event will contribute to achieving greater efficiency in the sustainable development of the region.

‘Although nations have their own realities, there are regional and global situations that concern and affect us all equally. In the face of these events, it makes us stronger to have unified positions within our parliaments and the different powers of the States,’ said Estrella.

Meanwhile, Allamand highlighted the preponderant role that parliaments have in the democratic system of nations.

‘Without congress, without parliament, there is no democracy. Nor is there a representation of the different currents that societies have. As a congress we have three challenges: assessment, articulation and management,’ said the secretary.

This is the first time that the Dominican Republic hosts the Ibero-American Parliamentary Forum, a meeting which is part of the calendar of activities organized by the country in its capacity as Pro Tempore Secretary of the Ibero-American Conference.

The event’s agenda, which concludes tomorrow, includes special plenary sessions, meetings, debates, and other parliamentary activities, conclusions of which will be presented at the closing ceremony.

The results of the 11th Ibero-American Parliamentary Forum 2022 will be delivered to the 28th Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government to be held in the Dominican Republic in March 2023.

ef/ro/ema