From the Report of the Secretary General
Council Meeting of the Socialist International
Budva, Montenegro, 29-30 June 2009
Following its establishment at the last SI Council meeting in Mexico last November we held a meeting of the SI Committee for the CIS, the Caucasus and the Black Sea at the Palace des Nations in Geneva on 16-17 April to discuss the advancement of democracy in the region, the contribution of the International to the peaceful resolution of existing regional conflicts, and strategies for strengthening social democracy. Chaired by Committee Co-Chairs Alexandra Dobolyi of the MSzP, Hungary and Mario Nalpatian of the ARF, Armenia, and with the participation of numerous delegates from the region the Committee addressed on the first point of the agenda the situation in Belarus, expressing its grave concern at the total lack of democratic progress in that country and the persistent violations of human, civil and political rights. It expressed full solidarity with the Belarussian democratic forces, underlining the importance of continuing to work together with these to secure a progressive and democratic option for the future. The visit of an SI delegation to Minsk in the forthcoming months was agreed. Concerning the past elections in Moldova, the Committee deplored the evident deficits in the electoral process which led to a serious lack of credibility in the results and called on the Moldovan authorities to respect the people’s democratic rights and commitments. With respect to the second point of the agenda, the Committee declared its readiness to work for an easing of tensions in the Caucus. In particular, to act in favour of a negotiated solution to the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict and toward dialogue and negotiation between Armenia and Azerbaijan; to promote an open and unconditional rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia; and to send an SI Mission to Georgia to establish dialogue with like-minded political forces to consolidate the centre-left in that country and promote initiatives which would, within the framework of international law and a respect for the human, political and civil rights of the people, overcome recent tensions.
It was further agreed by the Committee, to extend its fullest solidarity with and support to social democratic forces in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, and others in that vast region of the CIS, recognising that their contribution to the political life of their countries has been vital to their being more democratic, more free and with greater opportunities for all its citizens.
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