|
(May 18, 2008/ Belfast, Northern Ireland) Members of CALD
attended the the 55th Liberal International (LI)
Congress in Belfast, Northern Ireland last May 15-17, 2008. This
world network meeting of liberal and democratic political
parties from over 30 countries from Europe, Asia, Africa, North
and South America was held in the Europa Hotel which was once
the most bombed hotel in the world but later became the venue of
leading politicians from Britain and Ireland to set a roadmap to
peace and economic prosperity.
The CALD delegation included Hon. Sam Rainsy, MP, leader of the
Cambodian opposition, Mr. Jean-Pierre Roth,
member of the Sam Rainsy Party, Dr. Neric Acosta, secretary
general of CALD, Hon. Ivy Arago, MP and Hon. Glenn Chong,
MP from the Liberal Party of the Philippines, Mr. Maung Maung,
secretary general of the National Council of the Union of Burma,
Mr. Win Hlaing of the National League for Democracy, Dr. Rajiva
Wijesinha and Ms. Swarna Amaratunga form the Liberal Party of
Sri Lanka, Ms. Bi-khim Hsiao, director of the Department of
International Affairs of the Democratic Progressive Party of
Taiwan (DPP), Mr. Michael Fonte, Mr.
Twu Shiing-Jer and Ms. Pingya Hsu
from DPP, Ambassador Kasit Piromya, director of the
International Affairs Department of the Democrat Party of
Thailand, and Hon. Tetsundo Iwakuni, MP, deputy chair of
the Administration Committee and director general of the
International Department of the Democratic Party of Japan.
During the course of the program, CALD organized two important
parallel meetings with other liberal networks.
With the support of DPP, CALD arranged a meeting with the Red
Liberal de América Latina (RELIAL) to further foster cooperation
and partnership. This was a follow up to the 2006 meeting
between the two organizations in the LI Congress in Marrakech,
Morocco.
CALD, with the support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, also
organized the Liberal Regional Networks Meeting. The
participants who attended were from RELIAL, the Africa Liberal
Network (ALN), and the Alliance of Liberal and Democrats for
Europe (ALDE).
Among the prominent delegates who attended this year’s congress
were Lord Alderdice, president of LI, Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai,
winner of Zimbabwe's first round of presidential elections and
leader of the Movement for Democratic Change and H.E.
Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of
Senegal and who was the first African leader who endorsed the
democratic will of the people of Zimbabwe to support Mr.
Tsvangirai.
In his speech during the opening session, Mr. Tsvangirai said
that to the people of Zimbabwe, democracy is no a word or a
concept, it is a dream, a faith that runs within the soul of the
vast majority of Zimbabwe. He further added that this dream
should not be allowed to stolen or to be corrupted and for the
people to keep the faith in spite of the consequences of their
adherence to democracy.
Also part of the opening session were H.E. Chen Shui Bian,
President of Taiwan, and Hon.
Annemie Neyts, MP, president of the European
Liberal Democrat and Reform party (ELDR), who both extended
their welcome remarks through video messages.
The LI Bureau election was also held during the congress. Ms.
Bi-khim Hsiao, the first female and Asian LI Vice-President, was
re-elected in the same position. Ms. Hsiao spearheaded LI’s
initiative in empowering women in politics by organizing the
LI-CALD Women’s Workshop in Taipei, Taiwan in 2005.
The Democrat Party of Thailand (DP), a CALD founding member, was
accepted as observer member of LI during its Administrative
Session last May 16, 2008. The DP was among the twelve liberal
parties accepted during this congress.
CALD submitted to the LI secretariat a statement on the current
humanitarian crisis in Burma. As agreed upon during the plenary
session on resolutions, this will be a joint statement with LI.
Please click
here for more information. |
