Dakar 2003
Liberal International welcomes the progress made by the British, French and German foreign ministers in their recent visit to Teheran, urges Iran to comply with the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency and urges further progress in the areas of freedom of the press, women’s rights, and judicial reforms, as proposed by the democratically elected parliament.
Liberal International deplores the continuing obstacles to the free exercise of human rights in Saudi Arabia including, freedom of the press, the ban on political parties and the denial of women’s rights and urges reform in all of these areas, in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Although the Saddam Hussein regime was absolutely abhorrent, international opinion was divided about the legal basis for the military action by the US and its allies against Iraq. Furthermore, it raises questions about the applicability about this ‘model’ for other situations, which call for action. Liberal International expresses great relief with the removal of the dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. It is on the Iraqi citizens to develop their country into a democratic state where the multiethnic diversity will be protected. With the Iraq campaign fought as it was, the issue now at hand is definitely to internationalise the foreign presence in Iraq to bring this country further on its way to reconciliation and durable democratisation. The aftermath of the war on Iraq requires a UN leadership role in both humanitarian and political processes. The appalling attacks on the UN headquarters and other soft targets and its impact on the effectiveness of aid organisations is a tragedy for the Iraqi people.
Liberal International believes that the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians can only be solved peacefully. The Palestinian Authority and its leadership would be a more credible partner in the peace process if they would be fully committed to good governance, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
While pressing for a solution, Liberals have to state clearly that responsibility for solving it rests with the Israelis and Palestinians. To achieve peace, the protagonists have to accept the legitimacy of the fundamental aspirations of each other and their obligations under international law. The Palestinians must accept the desire of Israelis to live in a state with secure borders and that continues to be the homeland of the Jewish people. The Israelis must accept the desire of the Palestinians to have their own independent and viable state on occupied territories, provided proper guarantees be given and measures taken that the state will not be a basis of terror against Israel and both states will be bound to peaceful relations.
Israel and Palestinians should work towards this goal. It is not only fruitless but downright dangerous the way in which both parties try to de-legitimise the aims of the other side. Both sides have to stop those activities that run directly counter to the aspirations of the other.
To achieve peace Israel should end its Westbank and Gaza settlement policy threatens the territorial integrity of a future Palestinian state. The Palestinians should end their indiscriminate terror attacks against people in Israel and against Jews and Jewish institutions worldwide. The Palestinians should immediately remove all antiJewish and anti-Israel propaganda from school curricula. The Israelis must immediately withdraw threats to kill or expel President Arafat. Although Israel has the right to protect the life of its citizens; it should cease the construction of the wall in the Westbank and dismantle it as rapidly as possible as a function of progress in the peace process.
The governments of Muslim countries should help the Middle East peace process by, as the case may be, disapproving of or ceasing to encourage and incite, hatred of jews and Israel through their media.
We urge the Quartet to continue to do it utmost to help the parties to find a fair and comprehensive peace agreement. The West should not condone, let alone support, Israel’s Westbank and Gaza settlement policy and the Islamic world should not condone, let alone support, Palestinian terror attacks against Israeli civilians and Jewish institutions worldwide.
