Geneva, 21 October 2025. Participation of the President of the IAO General Assembly to the 151th IPU Assembly

The President of the General Assembly of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), member of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania, Mr. Ioan Vulpescu, during his participation in the works of the 151st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

On 20-22 October 2025, the President of the General Assembly of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), member of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania, Mr. Ioan Vulpescu, accompanied by the IAO Advisor, Dr. Kostas Mygdalis, traveled to Geneva to participate in the works of the 151st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Since 2005, the IAO has participated in the works of the IPU Assembly under observer status.

In fact, the President of the IAO General Assembly was invited to participate in the Interfaith Workshop held within the framework of the Assembly on the theme “Countering intolerance and fostering religious literacy for more inclusive and peaceful societies”. The panel of the interfaith workshop included: the IPU Director of Member Parliaments and External Relations, Ambassador Anda Filip, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Zambia, Ms. Nelly Mutti, the member of the parliament of United Kingdom, Ms. Karen Bradley, Senator of Canada, Ms. Salma Ataullahajan, the Vice-Chair of the US Commission of the International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Mr. Asif Mahmood, the Director of the Globethics, Dr. Fadi Daou, the Executive Director of the Adyan Foundation in Lebanon, Mr. Alexander Adam, and the consultant of Culgam St. Gabriel’s, Mr. Josh Cass. The discussion was moderated by IPU consultant on interfaith issues, dr. Sarah Markiewicz.

Furthermore, the head of the IAO plenary organ was invited to a working dinner on current developments in the field of multi-stakeholder religious engagement and the role and contribution of parliamentarians and parliaments in particular. In this context, Mr. Vulpescu outlined the framework of specific planned IPU activities to implement the recommendations of the Communiques adopted by the IPU during the successive Parliamentary Conferences on Interfaith Dialogue in Marrakesh (2023) and in Rome (2025).

The President of the General Assembly of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), member of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania, Mr. Ioan Vulpescu, with the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Zambia, Ms. Nelly Mutti.