The World Today

As adopted by the Congress of Liberal International, Budapest, Hungary 21-23 March 2002

The Liberal International Congress meeting in Budapest, Hungary, expresses its acute awareness of the changes in international relations since the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Liberal International condemns the events of September 11th 2001, welcomes the formation of a wide coalition to fight against terrorism, and urges actions to maintain that coalition. The war on the Taliban and al-Queda has been fairly effective. The cooperation between Western and non-aggressive Muslim countries must be continued.

It is now a task, especially for liberals, to build bridges between cultures, societies and religions. With our ideas about separation of state and religion, tolerance and multi-culturalism, we are best placed to bring cultures and religions together. At the same time, the fight against terrorism needs to continue.

Finally, it is a task for Liberals to safeguard civil liberties, which are under threat from draconian anti-terror legislation in many places around the world.