Europe

Cairo 2009

• Liberal International congratulates ELDR and its member parties, as well as the ALDE group for the impressive pan-European campaign they have organised for the European Parliament elections in June 2009. Congress supports the liberal group in the European Parliament positioned in the political centre as a decisive force.

• Liberal International congratulates former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt for his election to the post of leader of the ALDE group in the European Parliament. Following the successful leadership of Graham Watson, LI calls on all European liberals to continue this trend of successful legislation and progressive policies under the new leadership of Mr. Verhofstadt.

• Liberal International, in response to the rise of extremist far-right parties in the last European elections, appeals to the ALDE group as the moderate voice in the European parliament to speak out against xenophobic and racist tendencies and legislations that these parties could attempt to integrate into European policy.

• LI supports the ALDE group in the European Parliament especially in regards to their chairmanship of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee. Through the continued work of the ALDE group, LI envisages a liberal response to the crisis which will aid in the recovery of the European economy based on fiscal responsibility, long term structural reforms and measures addressing both the global economic crisis and the climate crisis.

• LI supports the efforts of the ALDE group in its proposal for a ‘horizontal’ directive on the fight against discrimination in the European Union which would widen the existing legal framework of discrimination to include all types of discrimination including age, sexual orientation and religion. This initiative recalls the resolution on the prohibition of persecutions and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation adopted by the 55th Congress of LI.

• Liberal International, in its continued support for Serbia (as adopted in the World Today Resolution passed at the 55th Congress of Liberal International) applauds the arrest and trial of war criminal Radovan Karadzic. Serbia’s cooperation with The Hague Tribunal for war crimes has been necessary both as a legal obligation according to international law and as a means of facing the recent past and overcoming the policies of crime and destruction that had prevented Serbia from advancing towards European integration.

• Liberal International strongly condemns the military conflict between Russia and Georgia during August of 2008, which resulted from a serious escalation of tension. LI is concerned by the fact that steps to reduce tension were not taken and the possibility of military intervention became an option for both sides in the conflict. LI calls Russia and Georgia to refrain from hasty political steps and statements leading to further escalation of tensions. LI calls all parties involved to guarantee the human rights of all civilians who suffered from the conflict and particularly refugees and displaced persons.”

• Liberal International opposes the legislation which has extended the term of the Russian Presidency from four to six years, going against the basic democratic rule of governmental change and leading to the growth of bureaucratic supremacy and corruption in Russia. LI is concerned about the ongoing trends towards the abolition of fair, competitive elections and the curbing of human rights in Russia.

• LI supports its member party Yabloko and the liberal forces in the country in their determined stance against authoritarianism in Russia. LI further condemns officially inspired homophobia and calls upon Russia to observe its commitments under the European Convention of Human Rights.

• LI calls upon the countries of the world to continue to support the independent nation of Kosovo. LI notes that over 45 countries have recognised Kosovo as an independent state. Congress urges the European Union and the other European institutions to integrate Kosovo into their programmes and networks.
• Liberal International congratulates former Danish Prime Minister (and leader of LI full member Venstre) Anders Fogh Rasmussen on his appointment as Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Responsibility. Congress is convinced that his track-record of responsible, liberal governance will ensure that NATO will move forward with these ideals at the fore.

• Liberal International supports the continued dedication of European liberals to the final ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. LI hopes that the Lisbon Treaty will be ratified by the Czech Republic as soon as possible fulfilling the procedures initiated with the Treaty of Rome in 1957.

• LI welcomes future enlargements of the EU, made possible by the ratification of this treaty, specifically in South Eastern Europe. LI congratulates the liberal parties in South East Europe for championing the regional cooperation and being the first genuine network of such character.

• LI supports the dedicated work of LIBSEEN (the liberal network of South Eastern Europe) and hopes that their dedication to multilateral cooperation in the region will serve as an example to other countries and eventually lead the region to EU accession.

• Congress is concerned over the new tendencies where bilateral issues like Macedonia-Greece and Slovenia-Croatia become obstacles for full integration of nations into the European Union. As liberals we believe that the values of the EU are not restricted to only certain religions or ethnicity. We fully support membership of Turkey in the EU based on fulfillment of the Copenhagen criteria.

• LI reiterates its support to Macedonia’s integration in the Euro-Atlantic structures while preserving its right on self-determination over its national and cultural identity.

• Congress welcomes the result of the second round of elections in Moldova where three liberal parties outpolled the Communist government, and welcomes the advent of a new 4-party coalition. Congress further calls upon the Government of the Russian Federation to work with the new Government of Moldova to bring about reunification of the country.

• Congress regrets that Belarusians continue to live under the authoritarian regime of President Lukashenko. We are concerned that the members of the opposition continue to be oppressed and jailed, while the draconian NGO laws restrict the freedom of association and expression. Congress warns that Belarus continues to set a bad example that has recently inspired other countries, like Azerbaijan. Congress urges the Russian Federation to end all support to the regime in Minsk and the European Union to become more open for the citizens of Belarus.