The European Liberal Democrats are united in stating that the killing of innocent civilians and the destruction of key infrastructure must stop in the Middle East. European countries cannot just evacuate their citizens and leave the remaining population in a situation that worsens everyday. ELDR welcomes the efforts of Javier Solana and the Finnish Presidency to ensure a common stance between EU member states on the Middle East crisis and proposes that EU Foreign Affairs ministers agree to grant humanitarian assistance and reconstruction aid to Lebanon during their extraordinary meeting on 1st August.“We support the efforts of the International community meeting in Rome today to ensure an immediate cease fire between Israel and Hezbollah, the deployment of an international force under the United Nations authority and reconstruction aid for Lebanon. A long-lasting settlement of this conflict will not happen through war but through a dialogue between all the stakeholders. Israel and the United States must engage in a dialogue with the authorities of Hezbollah, Hamas, Lebanon, Syria and Iran to find a permanent solution to the conflict. No long lasting solution is possible as long as some of the main actors refuse to talk to one another,” said Annemie Neyts, ELDR Party President. ELDR urges Hezbollah to stop targeting Israeli population centers and draws the attention of the Israeli authorities to the obligations of the parties to the conflict to international humanitarian law, notably regarding protection of civilian population and access for relief organizations.Both Lebanese and Israelis have the right to live peacefully side by side within secure states. A settlement for the Middle-East conflict must be based on the universal principles of international law, non-violence, self-determination, fundamental human rights, tolerance and the fight against terrorism.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For more information, please contact Myriam Cornillet (mcornillet@eldr.org), 00 32 2 237 01 43 or 00 32 485 99 40 56.Note to the editor:The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, aisbl (ELDR Party) brings together 49 political parties with common liberal, democratic and reform ideals and is the forum for member parties to develop a co-ordinated policy. Read more ...

The recent escalation in the conflict between Israël and Hezbollah has led to the start of what resembles a new war in the Middle East. Europeans should unite in trying to prevent this armed conflict escalating further. “Today and tomorrow, European Ministers for Foreign Affairs will meet. I hope the EU will act in a united manner to stop the deterioration of the situation and the killing of civilians. The EU has a key role to play in facilitating mediation and negotiation and the return to a political process. I call on the EU high Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy to deter Israel to enter in a full-blown war against Lebanon. The emergency of the situation calls for rapid action from the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. I welcome the G8’s call for an end to violence and its proposals for a return to the negotiating table,” said Annemie Neyts, European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) Party President. The ELDR Party stresses the rights of both Palestinians and Israelis to live peacefully side by side within secure and internationally recognised states and believes that a settlement must be based on the universal principles of international law, non-violence, self-determination, fundamental human rights, tolerance and the fight against terrorism.The conflicting parties must focus on the future. In working to negotiate a security framework and promote confidence and stability building measures, as well as economic co-operation in the region, European Liberal Democrats feel it is imperative that the EU acts decisively and with a single united voice.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For more information, please contact Myriam Cornillet (mcornillet@eldr.org), 00 32 2 237 01 43 or 00 32 485 99 40 56.Note to the editor:The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, aisbl (ELDR Party) brings together 49 political parties with common liberal, democratic and reform ideals and is the forum for member parties to develop a co-ordinated policy. Read more ...

Commenting on the generally free and fair elections held on 5th July in Macedonia, Annemie Neyts ELDR Party President said: “The elections in Macedonia were well-administered, free and fair, despite the shadow cast on the process by the violence at the beginning of the election campaign. In a generally peaceful and quiet atmosphere, the Macedonians have demonstrated their democratic capacity and their commitment to the integration of their nation in the EU and NATO. I am pleased that VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski, who will form the new Government, has pledged to push ahead with the EU-led reform agenda. I look forward to rapid progress in this regard, and stand ready to continue to lend my full support to the country's efforts on the road towards Europe.”The Macedonian Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will be the only party of the political centre to have a parliamentary group in the new composition of the Macedonian Parliament. The LDP parliamentary group is composed of persons who worked hard for the implementation of the reforms in the past four years. “LDP has demonstrated in the past years the true meaning of good governance and political determination. We will remain to be a strong liberal voice in the new Parliament and will insist on implementation of the necessary economic measures proposed in the LDP election programme. The main focus of the new Parliament and the Government must be the integration of Macedonia in the EU and NATO, based on the economic progress of the country”, stated Risto Penov, LDP leader.The Liberal Party of Macedonia, the other ELDR member party in Macedonia, won 3 seats in this election. ELDR is in favour of the enlargement of the EU and supports the EU membership of Macedonia and the other Western Balkan states upon completion of the Copenhagen criteria for membership.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For more information, please contact Myriam Cornillet (mcornillet@eldr.org), 00 32 2 237 01 43 or 00 32 485 99 40 56.Note to the editor:The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, aisbl (ELDR Party) brings together 49 political parties with common liberal, democratic and reform ideals and is the forum for member parties to develop a co-ordinated policy. Read more ...

The European Liberal Democrats regret the choice of the newly elected socialist Prime Minister Robert Fico to enter a coalition with the populist party of Vladimir Meciar and the nationalists’ party of Jan Slota. When they ruled together in the 1990s, Mr Meciar and Mr. Slota drove Slovakia into isolation and were accused of undemocratic rule. “This new government raises concerns about the future of Slovakia. With his new allies, Mr Fico will struggle to maintain a policy in line with the European values. I regret that the important ministry portfolios of justice and agriculture have been given to Mr. Meciar's party and that the ultra nationalists SNS are now in charge of Slovak policy on education, environment and regional development. I note with interest the efforts undertaken by my counterpart from the European Socialist Party Poul Nyrup Rasmussen to prevent the forming of this coalition government,” said ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts.The previous conservative-liberal government had put Slovakia back in the European mainstream with a strong economic growth and a prospective entry in the eurozone planned for 2009. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For more information, please contact Myriam Cornillet (mcornillet@eldr.org), 00 32 2 237 01 43 or 00 32 485 99 40 56.Note to the editor:The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, aisbl (ELDR Party) brings together 49 political parties with common liberal, democratic and reform ideals and is the forum for member parties to develop a co-ordinated policy. Read more ...

North Korea launched up to ten missiles this morning for test purposes. Annemie Neyts, ELDR Party President and ALDE Group spokesperson for Foreign Affairs reacted:”This is a case for the EU to speak with one voice in condemning such a behavior. The launch of these missiles by North Korea poses a serious problem to the peace and security of the region and to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We strongly condemn North Korea and call on the authorities to return to talks on ending its nuclear weapons programme, which have been stalled since the end of last year”. The European Liberal Democrats welcome diplomatic consultations about bringing North Korea before the UN Security Council over the missile firings.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information, please contact Myriam Cornillet (mcornillet@eldr.org), 00 32 2 237 01 43 or 00 32 485 99 40 56.Note to the editor:The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, aisbl (ELDR Party) brings together 49 political parties with common liberal, democratic and reform ideals and is the forum for member parties to develop a co-ordinated policy. Read more ...