To ensure proper delivery of this newsletter, please add newsletter@eldr.eu yo your email address book.September 2008Table of contentsObama the candidate of European liberals EU-Russia relations: Russian actions threaten to derail new cooperation agreement LGBT rights: A human rights issue LYMEC and ELF join forces to discuss European decision-making Liberal Democrats Autumn conference EU forum on religion and secularism organized by ALDE ELDR support to its member parties in negotiations to end the conflict with Russia Obama the candidate of European liberalsFollowing his mini tour of Europe, Barack Obama accepted the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party last Thursday at the democratic convention in Denver. Having been embraced by thousands of Europeans as their choice for US president, Obama returned to the domestic stage where he made his case for president, which included revising Americas economic fortunes and a new approach to relations with the international community. In nominating Senator Obama as their presidential candidate, the National Democratic Convention has set a path that will improve the lives of individual Americans as well as opening a new chapter for closer ties between the EU and US, stated ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts who was participating in the convention. At a joint liberal reception in the company of Annemie Neyts and the Liberal International (LI) President, Lord Alderdice, Neyts added we can not forget the enthusiastic reaction many ordinary citizens in Europe demonstrated toward Obama during his recent visit and we express our support for his campaign. The ELDR delegation consisted of Annemie Neyts, President of the ELDR Party and Federica Sabbati, ELDR Secretary General. The LI delegation included the president, Lord Alderdice, Hans Van Baalen, Deputy President, Bi-Khim Hsiao, Vice President, and Emil Kirjas Secretary General. A number of prominent European liberals were also present, including Mtys Ersi, Leader of the ALDE group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; Bart Somers, Chairman of Open VLD, Belgium; Alexander Petchtold, Leader of D66, the Netherlands; Cecilia Malmstrm, Minister for European Affairs, Sweden; and Senator Jerry Grafstein, Head of the Liberal Group in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.EU-Russia relations: Russian actions threaten to derail new cooperation agreementAhead of the emergency summit of EU leaders that took place in Brussels on Monday 1st September 2008 to discuss the future of EU-Russia relations, in view of the conflict between Russia and Georgia, ELDR Party President, Annemie Neyts, stated The opening of talks in July for a new cooperation agreement between the EU and Russia should have marked the beginning of enhanced cooperation between the two partners that would be mutually beneficial, but Russias actions in Georgia and continued military presence there threaten to derail this process.President Neyts calls for the EU to play the leading role in negotiating an end to the conflict between Russia and Georgia. Russia shares its western border with several EU member states as well as others that aspire to join the Union. Through diplomatic means, the EU is best placed to play an active role in negotiating the immediate withdrawal of the remaining Russian troops from Georgia and safeguarding the future peace and stability of the region and quality of life of its people. LGBT rights: A human rights issueLGBT rights must be treated as a human rights issue and European cooperation between the EU and the Council of Europe is of vital importance to safeguard and strengthen the ongoing work against discrimination in the countries of Europe. This was the central conclusion from a seminar organized by the Folkpartiet in Sweden on 30th July 2008 in the framework of the ELDR political and information activities scheme.LYMEC and ELF join forces to discuss European decision-makingGetting familiar with the EU, that was the aim of a joint LYMEC and European Liberal Forum Summer School on Europe in Practice that took place in Brussels last week. Over 30 participants from all across the European Union took part and got an inside view on the Union's decision making process. Using the recently finished "Television without frontiers" directive as a case study, the summer school explored the decision-making process from the viewpoints of different key players. Among the speakers were Ignasi Guardans, MEP, ALDE Group in the European Parliament and Jean-Eric de Cockborne from the European Commission Directorate General 'Information Society and Media'. Liberal Democrats Autumn conferenceThe Liberal Democrats (UK) will convene in the seaside town of Bournemouth for their autumn conference between 13th and 17th September 2008. Delegates will discuss issues such as social mobility, the environment and various policy motions. There will also be a question and answer session with the party leader Nick Clegg. For more information see: http://www.libdems.org.uk/conference. EU forum on religion and secularism organized by ALDEThe ALDE group has organised a conference on the Secularism and Religions in the European Union". The discussion was wholly focused on the relationship between government institutions and religious influences. Graham Watson opened the session, which was chaired by Marco Pannella and Emma Bonino, MEP and historical leaders of the Italian Radical Party. Sophie in't Veld MEP (ALDE-NL), one of the panelists among several influential personalities from the political, religious and scientific sphere attended, said "Secularism is increasingly under pressure. Religion is back in politics. [] why Church should not have the same transparent status as every other lobby in the EP? ELDR support to its member parties in negotiations to end the conflict with Russia ELDR condemns the use of force and the preparatory pretexts toward this aim, and warms that Russia's aggression toward Georgia should not be viewed as an isolated incident. As tensions heighten between the international community and Russia, there is the potential for a real geopolitical disaster and the European Union can not allow a new war to break out that would defy the very principles of democratic development.Wishing that Russia, instead of continuing to rely on coercion to achieve its somewhat new imperial aims, can work within the emerging international system that values cooperation and consensus, ELDR encourages its member parties in Georgia (Republican Party) and Russia (Yabloko), to enter as active partners, in the negotiations for a swift resolution to this issue. 23/09/2008 : Bureau meeting 15/10/2008 : Prime Minister meeting in Brussels 30/10/2008 : ELDR Congress in Stockholm 11/12/2008 : ELDR Leaders Meeting 11/12/2008 : European Council 18/06/2009 : ELDR Leaders and Ministers meeting ELDR Partyrue MONTOYERstraat 31 (7th floor)1000 BruxellesBelgiumT +32 2 237 01 40F +32 2 231 19 07 info@eldr.euwww.eldr.eu