New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will lead an Indian delegation of MPs for the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) being organised in Belgrade, Serbia between October 13 and 17, an official statement said here on Friday.

"An Indian Parliamentary delegation, led by Birla, will depart for the Assembly on October 12 (Saturday)," the statement said.

The other members in the delegation are MPs Shashi Tharoor, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Wansuk Syiem, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Bhartiben Dhirubhai Shyal, Shobha Karandlaje, Ram Kumar Verma and Sasmit Patra.

Lok Sabha Secretary General Snehlata Shrivastava and Rajya Sabha Secretary General Desh Deepak Verma will also be a part of the team, along with P.C. Koul, Joint Secretary, Lok Sabha Secretariat.

During the Assembly, the statement said, Birla will address the gathering of Presiding Officers and Parliamentarians from 179 member countries on the overall theme 'Strengthening international law: Parliamentary roles and mechanisms, and the contribution of regional cooperation'.

"After the conclusion of the general debate, a declaration will be adopted by the Assembly," it said, adding that the Speaker will also address a gathering on development and economy at the Speakers' Dialogue on Governance.

During the Assembly, members of the Indian delegation will also participate in various meetings of the standing committees of the IPU, governing council, forum of women parliamentarians, forum of young parliamentarians and panel discussions on important subjects.

The Lok Sabha Speaker will hold various bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other countries on the sidelines to discuss matters of mutual interest.

The IPU is an international organization of the Parliaments of sovereign states with its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland.

As a focal point for worldwide parliamentary dialogue since 1889, the IPU works for peace and cooperation among peoples and for the firm establishment of representative institutions.