“No country is too far gone” says LI President on Zimbabwe - Liberal International and ALDE hold Seminar on Zimbabwe
02.12.2008
Liberal International has joined forces with the ALDE group in the European Parliament to organize the seminar "The Future of Democracy in Zimbabwe - European Assistance under African Leadership" on 4 December in the European Parliament, Brussels.
In a series of three panels, the Conference will attempt to ascertain how Europe can assist in the democratization process of Zimbabwe. Key speakers at the event include Graham Watson, Leader of the ALDE Group in the European Parliament; Lord Alderdice, President of Liberal International; Welshman Ncube, Secretary General of MDC-Mutambara (Zimbabwe), Joe Seremane, Chairman of LI full member Democratic Alliance in South Africa, Dr. Mamadou Lamine Ba, President of the Africa Liberal Network, and Dr Oscar Kashala, Leader of LI observer member UREC.
LI and ALDE are creating an open forum through which the European political elite and European public can openly engage on the crisis in Zimbabwe with respected experts on the situation as well as highly placed politicians. In May 2008, LI brought MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai to speak at its 55th Congress in Belfast, Northern Ireland - providing the assembled international delegates with the first opportunity to engage with Mr. Tsvangirai after the contentious March 2008 elections. In cooperation with the ALDE group, the LI is now happy to welcome MDC (Mutambara faction) Secretary General Welshman Ncube to engage in the same dialogue with the assembled group.
During the conference, the Liberal International Prize for Freedom 2008 will be awarded to Professor Padraig O´Malley, an international mediator and academic who has participated in conflict resolution in Northern Ireland, South Africa and Iraq.
Videos of the addresses of both Mr. Tsvangiari and Mr. Ncube are available from the LI Secretariat.
