Berlin LI executive meeting report

by Robert Woodthorpe-Browne

The Liberal Democrats and Liberal International (British Group) were

represented by seven people at Liberal International's 184th Executive Committee meeting, hosted in Berlin by the FDP.

Jonathan Fryer introduced a Resolution condemning the recent attack by Israeli commandos on the Turkish-flagged flotilla bringing aid to Gaza. LI vice-president and bureau Robert Woodthorpe Browne negotiated and introduced a final text with few amendments from the original, and this was passed overwhelmingly, the only votes against being from two Israeli delegates.

The Liberal Democrats were widely congratulated for our entry into

Government. FDP MPs warned that we should not repeat their mistakes of concentrating too much on the mechanics of government and not communicating well enough with party members and the electorate. A delegation from the Bundestag will visit Lib Dem MPs in the autumn.

The Dutch elections saw gains by both the VVD, who obtained the largest number of seats, and the social liberal D66, both LI members, and a Liberal-led Government is a possibility.

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation, which promotes democracy in Germany and abroad, organised a seminar on 'Failed States', which was preceded by the first Walter Scheel Lecture, given by Dr Wolfgang

Gerhardt, president of the foundation.

Dr Gerhardt and LI President Hans van Baalen MEP will address an LIBG fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrat conference in Liverpool.

All of the resolutions from the executive may be seen on the Liberal International website: www.liberal-international.org