New Delhi Council - Social Democracy in Asia Today

10-11 November 1997

On the fiftieth anniversary of India's independence, the Socialist International held its first Council meeting in India on 10-11 November hosted by Janata Dal. Member parties from the region were joined by delegates and guests from all parts of the world. Addressing the meeting at its opening, Shri Inder Kumar Gujral, welcomed the strong international presence and reiterated his party's commitment to a new world order based on social democratic values. In his opening speech, SI President Pierre Mauroy underlined the importance of the meeting in Asia as a mark of the International's truly global nature and as testimony of the International's solidarity with social democrats from all continents.

The main theme of the meeting was 'Social Democracy and Asia Today: Developing Common Policies for Global Change' and after a wide-ranging debate the Council approved a resolution which addressed the current realities in today's Asia, particularly in the era of globalisation. A special resolution on Burma was also adopted.

The Council also addressed the pressing issues of the current situation in the Middle East. Bjørn Tore Godal, chair of SIMEC, introduced a debate and delegates passed a resolution after intensive and lengthy discussions. The deepening crisis in Algeria was also an urgent topic for the SI Council. Raimon Obiols, chair of the SI Mediterranean Committee, opened a debate during which the leader of the SI member party from Algeria spoke of the grave situation there. The Council passed a resolution in support of the Algerian people in their struggle for true democracy. Security matters were also addressed by the Council and Günter Verheugen, chair of SIPSAD, led the discussions. Resolutions were adopted on NATO's Enlargement and European Security Policy, Small Arms and Light Weapons Disarmament and Anti-Personnel Landmines.

During the second day of the meeting, Secretary General Luis Ayala presented his report to the Council on the International's work since the last Council meeting and the proposed schedule of work for the coming period. It was agreed that the next Council meeting would be held on 18-19 May 1998 in Oslo, Norway.

 

 

Participants
Report of the Secretary General
Other councils

Santo Domingo, 28-29 January 2019
Geneva, 26-27 June 2018
Barcelona, Spain, 24-25 November 2017
New York, 11-12 July 2017

Cartagena*, 2-4 March 2017

Geneva, 01-02 July 2016
Luanda, Angola, 27-28 November 2015
New York, 06-07 July 2015 
Geneva, 12-13 December 2014
Mexico City, 30 June - 1 July 2014
Istanbul, 11-12 November 2013
Cascais, Portugal, 4-5 February 2013

Cape Town*, 30 August - 1 September 2012

San José, Costa Rica, 23-24 January 2012
Athens, 1-2 July 2011
Paris, 15-16 November 2010
New York, 21-22 June 2010
Santo Domingo, 23-24 November 2009
Montenegro, 29-30 June 2009
Vallarta, 17-18 November 2008

Athens*, 20 June - 2 July 2008

Geneva, 29-30 June 2007
Santiago, 6-7 November 2006
Athens, 30-31 January 2006
Tel Aviv and Ramallah, 23-24 May 2005
Johannesburg, 15-16 November 2004
Madrid, 7-8 February 2004

São Paulo*, 26 October 2003 

Rome, 20-21 January 2003
Casablanca, 31 May - 1 June 2002
Santo Domingo, 26-27 November 2001
Lisbon, 29-30 June 2001
Maputo, 10-11 November 2000
Brussels, 10-11 April 2000

Paris* 7 November 1999

Buenos Aires, 25-26 June 1999
Geneva, 23-24 November 1998
Oslo, 18-19 May 1998
New Delhi, 10-11 November 1997
Rome, 21-22 January 1997

New York*, 8 September 1996

Brussels, 7-8 December 1995
Cape Town, 10-11 July 1995
Budapest, 2-3 December 1994
Tokyo, 10-11 May 1994
Lisbon, 6-7 October 1993
Athens, 9-10 February 1993

Berlin*, 15-17 September 1992

Santiago, 26-27 November 1991
Istanbul, 11-12 June 1991
New York, 8-9 October 1990
Cairo, 22-23 May 1990
Geneva, 23-24 November 1989

Stockholm*, 20-22 June 1989

Madrid, 11-12 May 1988
Dakar, 15-16 October 1987
Rome, 8-9 April 1987

*On the eve of the Congress