Issue 56
- Louis Michel re-enters national politics
- Liberals celebrate Wade's inauguration
- Morocco to strengthen agricultural cooperation with DRC
- Hans van Baalen leads delegation to Pakistan
- LI's Burkina Faso party accepted into ALN
- Crossing the Borders of Power - The Memoirs of Colin Eglin
Louis Michel re-enters national politics
Brussels, Belgium
The Reformist Movement's Louis Michel said he is to set aside his position in the European Commission in order to re-enter politics in his native country. Informing Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso of his plans, Michel said he would relinquish his EU duties from 12 May to the Belgian elections, scheduled for 10 June 2007. European Enlargement Minister Olli Rehn will take over Michel's duties in the interim. A former Belgian foreign minister, Michel is seeking a seat in the country's senate, the upper house of the parliament. In his resignation letter to the EU president, Louis Michel wrote: 'My party has requested my support in Belgium's coming parliamentary elections, and has asked me to stand as a candidate on the list for the Senate. I have accepted.'
Liberals celebrate Wade's inauguration
Dakar, Senegal
Over 20 heads of State and Governments will descend upon Dakar from 1st to the 5th April to deliberate on the theme: Liberalism and Governance: The Liberal Social State. The conference, which is a collaboration between the Alliance of Liberal and Democrats for Europe, and the Pacific, Africa and Caribbean group, will coincide with President Abdoulaye Wade's inauguration on 3 April. Celebrations of Senegal's 47th Independence will be held the next day on the 4th of April 2007. The events will be attended by LI Bureau member Juli Minoves Triquell and Secretary General Jasper Veen.
Morocco to strengthen agricultural cooperation with DRC
Rabat, Morocco
LI Bureau member and leader of Mouvement Populaire Mohand Laenser, in his capacity as agriculture and rural development minister held discussions with his Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) counterpart Francois Joseph Nzanga Mobutu. They explored ways of implementing the agriculture agreement which was signed by the two countries during Moroccan King Mohammed VI's visit to Kinshasa, capital of DRC in 2006. The agreement covers the domains of vegetable production, development and management of irrigation as well as education, research and professional training.
Hans van Baalen leads delegation to Pakistan
Islamabad, Pakistan
A nine-member Dutch Parliamentary delegation headed by LI deputy president, Hans van Baalen visited Pakistan. Several members of the Pakistan Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs urged the EU and US to deliberate with Iran to resolve its nuclear programme dispute, and to exert moral and diplomatic pressure on India to solve the Kashmir issue. They deplored the trend of associating Islam with terrorism and said that Western think tanks and media must play an active role to promote a better understanding between Islam and the West. They also stressed the need to address the root causes of terrorism, such as poverty, injustice and deprivation, and called for the early resolution of the Kashmir and Palestine disputes. 'The world community must shun double standards on nuclear non-proliferation and human rights', they said. They also informed the Dutch delegation of Pakistan's sincerity to hold talks with India and to resolve all issues.
LI's Burkina Faso party accepted into ALN
London, United Kingdom
LI is delighted that its member party in Burkina Faso, ADF- RDA, has been approved for membership of the Africa Liberal Network. ADF-RDA was approved last month at ALN's meeting in Senegal. The party joined LI as an Observer Member at our Congress in Marakesh, 2006.
Crossing the Borders of Power - The Memoirs of Colin Eglin
Colin Eglin, one of the founders of the Africa Liberal Network, was at the frontline of the making of South African history for the second half of the 20th Century. In Crossing the Borders of Power, he recalls an active life well lived; from childhood in South Africa to fighting his way through Italy in the Second World War. Then to fighting his corner in Parliament- from which he provides a perspective of searching insights into South African politics and politicians during the most dramatic and traumatic half-century in the history of the country. Crossing the Borders of Power will be available through www.centralbooks.co.uk from 1 July 2007.