PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL OF SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL
Press Briefing
PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL OF SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL
19960906
FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY
At a press conference this morning, Luis Ayala, Secretary-General of the Socialist International, briefed correspondents on the themes and programme of work of the Twentieth Congress of that organization of social-democratic and labour parties of the world, which will begin its gathering at Headquarters on Monday, 9 September.
Mr. Ayala recalled that the last congress of the Socialist International had been held in Berlin in 1992 at a time of profound and deep changes in Europe. It was a symbolism of the commitment of social democracy to freedom and solidarity in a continent which was healing old wounds and coming together. "We rejoiced then with the people of Berlin and we also rejoiced with the people of Europe at the time a new Europe was being born." There was also a symbolism in holding the Twentieth Congress at the United Nations. It was an expression of the Socialist International's commitment to peace and cooperation and its work for human rights and democracy.
He said the Congress would bring together about 900 delegates from about 150 political parties active in the movement throughout the world. Among those expected to participate were Prime Minister Gro Harlem Bruntland of Norway, Prime Minister Antonio Guterres of Portugal, Chancellor Franz Vranitzky of Austria, and Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolan of Mauritius. Also expected to attend the Congress were former Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez of Spain, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, former President Rodrigo Borja of Ecuador and former Prime Minister Pedro Pires of Cape Verde.
Reviewing the provisional list of participants he cited also Pauline Green, Leader of the Group of the Party of European Socialists of the European Parliament; Radnaasumbrereliin Gonchigdorj, President of the Mongolian Parliament and leader of Mongolia's Social Democratic Party; Massimo D'Alema, leader of Italy's Social Democratic Party of the Left; and former President Raul Alfonsin of Argentina.
Mr. Ayala said that on Monday morning, Pierre Mauroy, former Prime Minister of France and current President of the Socialist International, would deliver the opening remarks, to be followed by an address by Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali. There would also be remarks by Prime Minister Bruntland of Norway, who is also First Vice-President of Socialist International. The theme of discussion on Monday would be the world economy, including the process of globalization. Among those scheduled to speak was John Sweeney, President of the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
The theme of discussion on Tuesday, 10 September, would be peace, Mr. Ayala said. A keynote address would be delivered by former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres. The head of the Democratic Alliance of Bosnia and Herzegovina was also expected to participate and other speakers would address the situations in Rwanda, Burundi and other areas of conflict today in Africa. Also on Tuesday the Congress would discuss human rights and a paper on a new agenda for human rights in the twenty-first century would be introduced. On Wednesday, 11 September, the Congress would adopt a final document, in the form of a general congress resolution. In addition, the Congress would elected new officers and accept new members of the International.
Asked for his estimation of the reaction of United States' Republican Party members over the hosting of the Congress by the United Nations at a time when its Secretary-General and former Socialist International Vice-President was under attack from the United States Administration, Mr. Ayala said that it was timely and the right moment for the International to come to the United Nations as the organization felt that today more than ever there was a need to lend support and full commitment to the United Nations, an organization which was needed. Also, the International was part of the democratic process, its participants held different views and it would be an opportunity for debate. The International was opening a very interesting and healthy process by coming to the United Nations, he said, adding that the organization was part of European institutions involved with international cooperation.
Responding to a question concerning key countries where socialists had been unable to gain power, he pointed out that an unprecedented number of governments around the world now had social democratic and labour parties. He noted that they formed the largest single group within the European Union, where socialist parties were in government in 11 of the 15 members countries. Social democratic ideas were also making a comeback in eastern Europe. Similarly, in Africa at the end of the 1980s, one-party and totalitarian rule were prevalent, but their participant parties were now present in about 80 per cent of the continent. He stressed that the kind of conservative economic message which was quite strong in the 1980s was facing difficulties today, and the consequence was social democratic governments making a return in such places as Sweden.
A correspondent asked whether the Socialist International would become conservative in view of its inability to fill the vacuum left by communists in eastern Europe. Mr. Ayala said that socialism as a concept had often been misused. He said that socialism had kept its core values in trying to respond to changes and would continue, at the Congress, to explore how it would deal with the problems of the future.
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