YEREVAN (Yerkir)–An official Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) delegation led by Bureau representative Hrant Margarian–is in San Paolo–Brazil for the 22nd congress of The Socialist International (SI) that convened on October 27 and will run through October 29.
Over 600 representatives from 200 socialist and social democratic parties–as well as heads of state–are attending the Congress "The Return of Politics: For just and responsible global governance for globalization governed by the people."
ARF Bureau member Mario Nalbandian who represents the ARF in SI–ARF’s representative in the SI Women’s Organization Maria Titizian–and ARF South America members Simon Kerimian and Onnik Ramjian–comprised the rest of the ARF delegation.
Issues ranging from current international political and economic developmen’s–to UN reforms and its role–are on the agenda of the Congress held once every three years.
The congress is also scheduled to elect governing bodies and discuss accession of new members–including the ARF which is slated to gain full-fledged membership to the SI–becoming the only party from CIS countries to do so.
Among international leaders participating in the congress are South African President Tabo Mbeki–former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev–former prime minister of Spain Philippe Gonzalez–the leader of the French Socialists Franois Hollande–the former prime minister of Italy Massimo D’Alema–and the former president of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega.
Originally due to convene in Fall 2002–the 22nd SI Congress was postponed due international developmen’s.
SOCIALIST WOMEN TO ASSIST WOMEN IN CONFLICT ZONES
The SI Women’s Organization meanwhile held its 18th Congress–"Women and Human Security," again in San Paolo–October 23-25–gathering representatives from 100 parties. Titizian–a member of the ARF delegation at the SI Congress–represented the ARF.
The congress adopted several resolutions–including one proposed by the ARF which calls for political assistance by Socialist Women to women in conflict zones.
Pia Locatelli of the Italian Democratic Socialist Party was elected the president of the SI Women’s Organization–and Marlen Haas of the Netherlands Labor Party was elected secretary general.