ALDE Party President Sir Graham Watson delivered a keynote speech on the “conditions of freedom, peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus” at a high level conference in Istanbul, Turkey. The conference was organised by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in cooperation with its partners from the South Caucasus, Turkey and Russia, gathered liberal leaders from these countries to discuss numerous issues crucial for further political, economic and social developments.

In his speech ALDE Party President Sir Graham Watson saluted liberal parties in the region for the important changes they helped kicking off, particularly in the past year, reaffirming the principles of liberalism and liberty.

“The principles of liberty have been trampled underfoot too often, occasionally by democratically elected leaders in the EU and often by authoritarian leaders in the Southern Caucasus,” he said.“Yet, as Napoleon observed, there are only two forces in the world, the sabre and the spirit; and in the end the human spirit is the more powerful. Liberals have always been the watchdogs of democratic values on the European continent.  Liberals give priority to the sustainable development of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in the partner countries.”

The speech delivered by Sir Graham can be read here.