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(April 2,
2005/ Manila) The Liberal Party of the Philippines and the
Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats (CALD) sponsored a formal
dinner-reception for liberal parliamentarians worldwide
attending the 112th Inter-Parliamentary (IPU) General Assembly
in
Manila.
The program
started with welcome remarks by Philippine Senator Rodolfo
Biazon and Thai parliamentarian Alongkorn Ponlaboot (Democrat
Party) in behalf of the Liberal Party and CALD, respectively.
This was followed by Deputy Speaker of the Philippine House of
Representatives and Liberal Party Secretary General Benigno
Simeon Aquino III who introduced the keynote speaker.
Hon.
Franklin Drilon, Senate President and president of the Liberal
Party gave his keynote address focusing on democratic
challenges, particularly in the Philippines and the region
(please see related story and full text of his speech).
Giving their
responses were Madam Androula Vassiliou, MP, of the United
Democrats and former First Lady of Cyprus in behalf of the
European Liberal Democratic Reform Party (ELDR) where she is
vice-president; and Ms. Trine Skei Grande, MP of the Norwegian
Liberal Party in behalf of Liberal International.
Former CALD
Chairman Sam Rainsy, MP, gave the closing response in behalf of
CALD where he tackled the issue of the lifting of his and his
colleagues parliamentary immunity (please see related news
articles).
The event,
emceed by Dr. Nereus Acosta, MP, Executive Vice President of the
Liberal Party and member of the CALD Executive Committee,
culminated with the traditional toast delivered by Secretary
(Minister) Rene Villa.
The program
was attended by more than a hundred parliamentarians and diplomats from Angola,
Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Costa
Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Norway,
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Slovac Republic, Slovenia, South
Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand,
Ukraine, United Kingdom and Uruguay.
Among the
attendees were former Senate President and Chairman Emeritus of
the Liberal Party Jovito Salonga, Senate Majority Floorleader
and Liberal Party Vice Chairman Francis Pangilinan, Belgian
liberal parliamentarian and Chairman of the influential 12 +
Group of the IPU Geert Versnick and Uri Party senior official
and head of the Korean delegation Dr. Jay K. Yoo, MP.
Among the
members of
Manila’s
diplomatic corps were Dutch Ambassador Robert Vornis, Italian
Ambassador Umberto Colesanti, Korean Ambassador Yu Myung-hwan,
Romanian Ambassador Radu Homescu and Swiss Ambassador Lise Favre.
The reception
was supported by Friedrich Naumann Foundation and was done with
the assistance of the Young Liberals of the Philippines (KALIPI).
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