President Liberale Internationale blij met nieuw leiderschap Ivoorkust (en) - Hoofdinhoud
A delegation of Liberal International, led by its President Hans van Baalen MEP, has been received in Abidjan by H.E. Alassane D. Ouattara, President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire.
At the meeting, LI President renewed the congratulations of Liberal International for the victory at the last elections and the ongoing transition process towards peace, democracy and stability.
President Ouattara expressed gratitude to the support provided by Liberal International, to the liberal and democratic forces, during the years of undemocratic rule in the country, and in particular in the aftermath of the post-election crisis.
LI President Hans van Baalen MEP commented on the meeting with the President of the Republic:
“I met a liberal leader committed to justice. I fully support his determination towards a free and fair trial of the former regime both concerning economic crimes and violations of Human Rights. I salute his determination that his own forces are not immune from investigation. Further more, we discussed about his plan to take an active role as incoming chairman of ECOWAS, giving boost to the free market and political integration in the region and the entire continent, based on democratic standards and social development. Liberal International will focus on these issues at its next Congress by the end of 2012, to take place under the patronage of President Ouattara”. “The Ivorian President wants to increase African participation in Liberal International, which he sees as vital a organisation for promotion and development of freedom and democracy in Africa”, concluded LI President Van Baalen.
President Ouattara spoke of his commitments and priorities as leader of the nation: “My main objective is to immediately stop the language of division, and reverse it to language of unity, tolerance and dialogue. That is a principle role of a leader. In such conditions I shall focus on peace and reconciliation, social development and giving boost to private investment.”
President Ouattara invited Liberal International to organize its 58th Congress in Abidjan in 2012.
Emil Kirjas, LI Secretary General and Werner Nowak, Regional Director for West Africa of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty were part of the LI delegation. During the visit to Abidjan, the LI delegation has met with the leadership of Rassemblement des Republicains (RDR) and Rassemblement des Houphouetistes por la Democratie et la Paix (RHDP).
President Alassane D. Ouattara is Vice President of Liberal International and leader of Rassemblement des Republicains (RDR), a full member party of LI from Cote d’Ivoire. RHDP is a coalition of democratic political parties and movements that supported the President Ouattara at the 2011 elections. Liberal International has sent two delegations in 2011 before the elections and observing the second round of elections, and it attended the inauguration of the President of the Republic in May 2012.