الشبكة الليبرالية الافريقية تنتخب الاستاذ عادل عبد العاطي نائبا لرئيسه

Quote: Excellence Madame la Grande Chancelière Henriette Diabaté, Monsieur le Président de l’Internationale Libérale, Hans Van Baalen, Monsieur le Vice-Président des Libéraux Démocrates du Royaume Uni, Simon Hughes, Distingues invites, Chers Congressistes, En tout premier lieu, il me revient d’associer ma voix à celles et ceux qui ont exprimé du haut de cette tribune leurs remerciements et leur gratitude à Son Excellence Monsieur le President de la Republique Alassane Ouattara, à tous les membres du parti-frère du Rassemblement des Républicains et à tout le peuple ivoirien pour leur accueil chaleureux et fraternels. Permettez-moi de demander au Secretaire General du RDR, notre ami et frere Soumahoro de transmettre a tous les cadres et membres du RDR nos remerciements pour l'organisation parfaitement reussie de nos assises a Abidjan. Nous avons été particulièrement sensibles à toutes les marques d’attention dont nous avons été l’objet et nous devons saluer la parfaite organisation de ce 58ème Congrès de l’Internationale Libérale et l’Assemblée Générale du Réseau Libéral Africain. Assurément, Abidjan a mérité le titre de capitale du libéralisme africain. Et pour nous qui venons de tous les horizons de notre continent, je dirai quAbidjan n'est pas seulement la capitale mais également le berceau du liberalisme. C'est ici qu'effectivement a ete redige au XIIIeme siecle la Charte de Mande qui constitue le veritable socle africain sur lequel s'ecrit le plus beau mot, celui de Liberte et qui constitue la base des valeurs commune du liberalisme africain. Je saisis l'opportunite de la presence a nos cotes de la Grande Chanceliere, Mme Henriette Diabate. Madame, pour nous tous, vous etes et restez notre passionaria. Nulle autre mieux que vous, par votre combat et votre courage, pour n' incarnez par votre combat et votre courage un exemple et un modele. It is an honour to address you today and I would like to make a few short remarks about the current state of play in Africa; highlighting the challenges we face, opportunities we must embrace, and the liberal principles which, if implemented, will ensure African prosperity. I will also speak about the role of the Africa Liberal Network, of which I am delighted to have been elected President. As any visitor to Africa will testify, the continent faces a great number of challenges. Many of our countries have been plagued by poor leadership and affected by violent conflict, with the result that we suffer from political instability and fragile states. As such, Africa is particularly vulnerable to transnational threats such as terrorism, piracy, corruption, environmental degradation and the illicit trafficking of people, drugs and arms. Equally, at the economic level, Africa is particularly susceptible to market instability and vulnerable to the affects of fluctuations in the economies of Europe and North America. Thus, ensuring sustainable and inclusive economic growth remains a challenge for African leaders; however, as we heard from His Excellency President Ouattara, this is a challenge which Cote d’Ivoire has embraced. As the President of the Africa Liberal Network, I would encourage you to be more optimistic about Africa and to consider the great opportunities which abound on the continent. Firstly, African agency is stronger than ever and Africans have proved capable of building our own institutions. This week, I learnt about the success of the as yet unrecognised state of Somaliland in entrenching democratic principles, developing trade, and combatting piracy in the Gulf of Aden. I would like to pay tribute to the people of Somaliland and welcome the Chairman of KULMIYE, the governing party, Mr Abdi Moussa. Secondly, Africa is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, be they minerals, diamonds, oil and gas, water, forests or wildlife. We are also endowed with the demographic advantage of having a young and growing population. During your visit, I hope that you will have noted the African spirit of resilience, innovation and entrepreneurship. As Africans, we are quick to learn from others, but above all, eager to find our own way. You will have seen how Africa has embraced technological revolutions, jumping the use of fixed telephone lines, and using cell phones to connect disparate communities and send money across the continent. As a result of this innovation, our continent is able to achieve strong economic growth. On average, this is 6% in Africa, compared to 7% in Asia; and as the former President of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick, noted if we can maintain this rate of growth, GDP will double in twelve years and lift the majority of Africans out of poverty. In order to make this happen, we should be focused on achieving the following objectives: Firstly, we need to dedicate this century to the emergence of Africa on the international economic and political scene. Secondly, we must take advantage of the natural resources and capacity on the continent. Finally, we need to apply fundamental liberal principles as a way to eradicate poverty and move beyond aid. As liberals, our values and policies are clear. We must promote political and civil rights, develop a democratic culture and ensure good governance. Development must be founded on the principles of economic, environmental and social sustainability. African governments should promote free markets within an overall policy framework that enables all individuals to participate fully in economic life. We need to promote peace and stability across the continent, and work towards greater regional integration and cooperation. We want to see open, transparent elections which meet the provisions of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. Furthermore, we believe that the devolution of power creates wider opportunities for individuals to participate in local affairs and to contribu te to the development of communities. We hope that other African liberals will be able to gain power at this level and emulate what the DA has achieved in Western Cape Province, as Hon. Lindiwe Mazibuko explained to us so eloquently yesterday. As liberals, we dedicate ourselves to combatting monopolies of power wherever we find them and we are committed to equality, including the empowerment of women to become involved in politics, society and the economy. We believe that transparency, accountability, an independent civil service, and the rule of law are essential tools in the fight against corruption. Impunity must be addressed and those found culpable of misconduct should face the full force of the law. Furthermore, the independent roles of the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary must be respected. Implementing this liberal agenda is essential if we are to grow our economies, and it is clear that when these prerequisites are met, investor confidence returns and capital flows in. As President Ouattara explained yesterday, in the past year, 60% of the 11 billion CFA francs required to enact his strategic plan have already been committed. It is our aspiration that other African governments will follow the example of countries such as Ghana in raising capital on international markets, and commit this to areas that do not attract private investment but are essential for the public. As liberals, we want to encourage individuals and entrepreneurs to play a greater role in the economy and to bring more citizens into the formal sector so as to build a prosperous middle class. This will have the dual benefit of creating a domestic tax base and an internal market, so that we can be less dependent on the rest of the world. African liberals are committed to increasing intra-African trade by easing visa restrictions and barriers to international exchange of goods and services. We hope that liberals governing everywhere will join our cause in lobbying the World Trade Organization to allow preferential tariff reductions between African states. As we note from the European project, regional integration is the key to long-term peace and prosperity and therefore we want to see the enlargement of free trade blocs as a prelude to ending protectionism on the African continent. Furthermore, we call for greater African agency in international affairs and better cooperation between Africa and the international community with a view to resolving conflicts, such as the one currently affecting Eastern Congo. More African leaders need to follow the example of President Ouattara, who as Chairman of ECOWAS has ensured that the crises in Mali and Guinea-Bissau are addressed. Finally, we want to see Africa embraced as a key partner in climate change. This is a serious threat to our future and a cause close to the heart of my predecessor as ALN President, Dr Lamine Bâ, himself a former Minister for the Environment in Senegal. I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to Lamine, and thank him for the considerable work which he has done to promote the Africa Liberal Network on the continent and within the liberal family. The ALN has never been as dynamic as it is today; we now have 34 member parties from 25 countries. No one can doubt that the values of liberalism increasingly penetrate Africa and that ALN is a symbol of hope for a greater number of young Africans. Over the next two years, I hope to build on this legacy and continue to spread liberal values across the continent, as well as contributing to the development of African liberalism and the principles which underpin it. I believe that the ALN should promote optimism about our great continent and debate about its future direction. We need to start talking about an African Dream, one founded on liberal principles, and one which we can work together to achieve. Under my leadership, ALN will work to ensure that liberalism flourishes here in Africa, and I will do all I can to support our members to build their capacity, win elections, and implement liberal policies. I also commit myself to hold to account those who undermine these universal values. To conclude, I hope that together we will be able to build a liberal future for Africa, one in which wealth creation leads to the eradication of poverty and where young people and the generations to come have the opportunity to prosper no matter where they come from. Thank you.

(عدل بواسطة Abdel Aati on 10-28-2012, 05:19 PM)
(عدل بواسطة Abdel Aati on 10-28-2012, 05:22 PM)
(عدل بواسطة Abdel Aati on 10-28-2012, 06:01 PM)