She said the support is in recognition of new initiatives by African leaders in promoting sustainable development for their people.

Dr. Kastner expressed the hope that Germany’s support will speed up the process of PAP assuming a legislative role from its current consultative role.

Speaking later in an interview with journalists she stressed the need for bodies such as PAP to pursue their roles effectively.

“The role of Parliament is to ensure that no bill is adopted as submitted. Parliament’s role is to look at it and change it and improve it before it becomes law.” she said.

Dr. Kastner said the German Government through its technical cooperation organisation

(GTZ) has been providing technical support to the Pan African Parliament since its establishment in 2003 and the cooperation is going very well.

Outlining plans to strengthen this cooperation, she said : “I hope to institute an exchange of staff members between the staff of the German Parliament and the Pan African Parliament. We want experts and specialists within the two Parliaments to assist one another”.

She reiterated that Germany “attaches no strings to its support”, the only requirement being a report on the use of funds.

Source : nepad news - november 17, 2006