CALD participates in Rome Conference of Asian-European Democrats

(December 3, 2005/ Rome, Italy) The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) participated in the just concluded International Dialogue between Asian and European Democrats entitled  “A New Europe/Asia Strategic Partnership: Challenges and Opportunities”. The three-day event is sponsored by the Italian La Margherita Party Democrazia E Liberta and the European Democratic Party.

The high–level conference brought together Asian and European political leaders, international experts and journalists. Representing CALD were Secretary General, Dr. Nereus Acosta, MP, and Executive Director, Mr. John Joseph S. Coronel. Many of the Asian participants come from CALD member and observer parties as follows: former CALD Chair, Mr. Sam Rainsy of Cambodia; Senator Rodolfo Biazon of the Liberal Party of the Philippines; parliamentarians Dr. Chareonwongsak Kriengsak and Mr. Sirichoke Sopha of the Democrat Party of Thailand; parliamentarians Mr. Naota Kan and Mr. Keisuke Tsumura of the Democratic Party of Japan; and, Mr. James To Kun-sun, MP, of the Hong Kong Democratic Party.

Ms. Jayanthi Natarajan, MP, of the Indian Congress Party also attended. Among the parliamentarians from Italy were former Prime Ministers Guiliano Amato and Lamberto Dini, party president and former Rome Mayor Francesco Rutelli, former Defense Minister Sergio Mattarella, Mr. Gianni Vernetti and Mr. Lappo Pistelli, MEP. The European Democratic Party was represented by its Co-President Mr. Francois Bayrou, MP, of France and Mr. Josu Jon Imaz of Spain.

Also attending were Mr. Ivan Doherty, Director of Political Party Program of the Washington DC-based  National Democratic Institute; Mr. Francois Lafond, Vice Director of the Policy Network (UK); Ms. Margherita Paolini and Mr. Lucio Caracciolo of “Limes” Review of Geopolitics; Mr. Stefano Silvestri, President of the Institute of International Affairs (IAI);  Ms. Marta Dassu, Director of Aspen Italia; Mr. Pio D’Emilia, Vice-President of the Foreign Correspondents Club of Tokyo; and Mr. Federico Rampini, Beijing Correspondent of La Republica.

The conference started with a Roundtable Seminar on December 1 focusing on (1) International Security, Economic Integration, Global Democracy, Energy and Multilateral Cooperation and (2) Building a Common Political Agenda and a Permanent Network between Asian and European Democrats at the Le Margherita Headquarters in Rome. A Public Conference “Asia/Europe Strategic Partnership: the Future is Now” was held on December 2 at the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Vicolo Valdina, Sal del Cenacolo. An opening lunch preceded the roundtable seminar and a dinner-reception was held after the public conference at the historic Villa Borghese. On December 3, another meeting was held with the participation of Ellen Tauscher, MP, President of the New Democrats Coalition at the US Congress. A press conference followed the December 3 meeting.

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This post was written by CALD