Welcome Remarks
Delivered by Hon. Hans van Baalen, MP

Ladies and Gentlemen, Liberal International is my home as you read in my CV and I’m very proud that my home- Liberal International , is feeling at home in Manila, Philippines. I’m very proud to be in the same room like President Corazon Aquino because President Aquino has proved that democracy and Human Rights are not alien to the Asian soul, know that they are rooted here. And if we look at the Philippines, it is the hard work of President Aquino and the Liberal Party which has made democracy and human rights a success and that is something we have to do as Liberals everyday as the hard and noble work of common people and their representatives.

And if we look up north we see Taiwan. We see a country which has come to democracy by a liberal President and a liberal party. If we look down south, we see Indonesia becoming more democratic supported by liberals. And then, if we look further up north, democracy cannot be halted by China because a man like Martin Lee, who I see there, also proved that democracy is rooted in Hong Kong. And if we see Hong Kong as part of China, the Chinese should understand that the democracy will not halt in Hong Kong.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am very much proud to see friends from Morocco, who proved that Human Rights and democracy are not alien to the Arab culture or to Islam. They proved that it’s hard work day by day to the country. I see our representatives from Black Africa who were fought so hard and are fighting so hard. I see people from Central and Eastern Europe and also there were liberals, common people who organized peaceful revolutions.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s an honor for Liberal International to be in Manila. It is an honor to be in the same room again like President Aquino who has proven that democracy is not alien to human kind. It’s part of us and let us fight together.

Thank you very much!