Monday, May 23, 2005

Socialist International meets to boost Middle East peace

From the website of the Socialist International

"For a Middle East in peace"

Meeting of SI Council, Tel Aviv and Ramallah, 23-24 May 2005

On 23-24 May in Tel Aviv and Ramallah, the Socialist International, the worldwide organisation of social democratic, socialist and labour parties, will be holding a meeting of its Council, which includes leaders and representatives from its member parties and organisations from around the world. Currently over 160 parties and organisations from some 140 countries are members of the International.

The Council, which convenes every six months, is meeting on this occasion in the Middle East to underline its commitment to the search for peace in the region and to encourage Israelis and Palestinians to move forward along the path of dialogue and negotiation, to overcome conflict and to work together for a better future for both peoples.

Under the main theme "For a Middle East in peace, with political and economic democracy: the social democratic vision", the Council, to be hosted by the SI members, the Israel Labour Party, the Israeli Yachad Party and the Palestinian Fatah, will hold two main sessions. The first one in Tel Aviv on Monday 23, opening at 10.00 hrs at the Dan Panorama Convention Center, and the second in Ramallah on Tuesday 24, also opening at 10.00 hrs at the Ramallah Cultural Palace.

Israeli and Palestinian leaders and decision makers, including President of Israel, Moshe Katsav; President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas; Leader of the Labour Party and Israeli Deputy Prime Minister, Shimon Peres; Leader of the Yachad Party from Israel, Yossi Beilin; Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister, Nabil Shaath; and other members of the leadership of SI member parties Fatah, the Israeli Labour Party and Yachad, will be participating in the discussions programmed in both cities.

No comments: