October 18, 2004
Press Release, October, 18
Madrid to host an International Summit on Democracy, Terrorism and Security in March 2005
- The event will coincide with the 1st Anniversary of the Madrid terrorist attacks.
- Over 50 former and current Heads of State and Government to attend
Madrid, October 18th, 2004 — More than 50 former and current Heads of State and Government, decision and policy makers, world experts on terrorism and security and citizens from around the world will participate in the forum "Democracy for a Safer World", in Madrid, Spain from March 8 – 11, 2005. The aim is to hold an open debate in Madrid to give citizens and their representatives a unique opportunity to interact with leaders, experts and citizens of other parts of the world, with the goal of learning, discussing and investigating responses consistent with legitimate democratic means to the increasing threat of global terrorism and the lack of domestic security.
The conference, sponsored by the Club de Madrid and The Varsavsky Foundation, is supported by the Government of Spain, the Regional Government of Madrid and the City of Madrid. It will be held at the Palacio Municipal de Congresos, adjacent to the IFEMA Juan Carlos I Exhibition Center.
The terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C on September 11, 2001, in Madrid on March 11, 2004, and in numerous other locations around the globe, call for a debate on global terrorism. It is an issue that goes beyond traditional boundaries of nation states, and presents a burden on democracies as citizens are denied the basic right to life and safety.
The principal objectives of the Summit are:
- To encourage the participation of Madrid's citizens in an innovative forum with political leaders, experts and citizens of the world, contributing to the commemoration of the March, 2004 attacks.
- To create a unique platform from which the international community can reflect on terrorism and on the threat it poses to democracy.
- To produce global and concrete answers to terrorism consistent with the promotion of democracy, international cooperation and civil participation.
The Forum will be non-partisan, inclusive and multi-participatory at the local, national and international level. The goal is to call on the expertise of leaders from various fields of knowledge in democracy and terrorism: key policy makers, leading scholars, heads of international and non-governmental organisations, business and religious leaders, as well as outstanding intellectuals, artists and journalists. There will also be citizen input into the Forum via a "Global Municipal Plenary" or "Town Hall" debate.
Participants at the various conferences include members of the Club de Madrid, as well as acting Heads of State or Government. Conclusions from the Forum will be presented on March 11. The results of the Forum will also be disseminated through the Internet and other print and broadcast mediums.
Organisation Committee
About the Club of Madrid — The Club of Madrid is an independent organisation whose purpose and priority is to contribute to strengthening democracy in the world. It stimulates, promotes and conducts initiatives and activities and participates in projects seeking this objective. The Club of Madrid acts as a consultative body for governments, democratic leaders, and institutions involved in processes of democratic transition. The personal and practical experience of its members —44 former heads of state and government— in processes of democratic transition and consolidation is the Club of Madrid's unique resource. Along with the experience and cooperation of other high level political practitioners and governance experts, this resource is a working tool to convert ideas into practical and feasible recommendations and action plans for implementation. The President of the Club of Madrid is Fernando Henrique Cardoso, former President of Brazil. The Secretary General is Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada. www.clubmadrid.org
About The Varsavsky Foundation — The Varsavsky Foundation is a private and independent organisation dedicated to broadening access to and improving education around the world. The foundation brings experience and extensive knowledge to the inner and outer workings of major collaborative events and proven capacity to manage and operate Internet and other technologies for massive content dissemination. www.varsavkyfoundation.org
For more information:
www.safe-democracy.org
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