FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF ASIAN POLITCAL PARTIES

Welcoming Remarks By Ambassador Jose V, Romero Jr., M.A. Cantab

In behalf of the Asian Center for the study of democracy we welcome this August body- the political leaders of Asia. Barely half-a-century ago this vast continent called Asia that houses three out of five people in the world that stretches from the Gulf to the Pacific and is the fastest growing region in the world was under the yoke of colonialism. After four centuries of colonial rule, the second part of the 20th century in Asia is largely the history of change looking toward recovery of full independence and political and economic modernization.

Behind this development were political parties spearheaded by dynamic and charismatic leaders the likes of Gandhi, Nehru, Sukarno, and many more freedom fighters. In this country President Quezon, titular head of the Nationalist Party, once declared that he would rather see this country run like hell by Filipinos than like heaven by Americans and then went on to lead the fight for Philippine independence.

Today, as the struggle for political independence ends and the war against poverty ensues, political parties are again at the vanguard. Asian political parties, with their shared history of colonialism and common interest in promoting development, can indeed transform the next thousand year into an Asian millennium!

In 1955, a Filipino initiative brought together 29 Asian and African nations in Bandung. Today this country is proud to bring together once again the leaders of Asia. Our organization, and indeed all of us, undoubtedly nurtures the desire to establish in this continent a zone of peace, freedom and prosperity. This can only be done if we are to foster a culture of cooperation.

The quest for a new international, political and economic order under which Asia can take its proper place among the community industrialized regions of the world and allow this continent to gain greater access in industrialized countries market, effect a more rapid transfer of appropriate technology and catapult us into the new economy can only be realized through intra-dependence among our Asian nations and inter-dependence with other regions. But this must start with cooperation and solidarity.

Political parties are the most important institution for political mobilization. They provide ideology, leadership and opportunity for political participation and upward social mobility. Having lifted the yoke of colonialism in the past, it is at present in the process of dismantling the prerogatives of a hereditary elite and an alien oligarchy even as it now pursues the fight against the evils of corruption and kleptocracy that continue to plague the bureaucracy and the private sector of many Asian countries.

By encouraging high levels of participation and strong party organizations, Asian nations can level the playing fields and harness the full potential of nations. Indeed the stability of a modernizing political system depends largely on the strength of our parties. Asian political parties in turn are strong to the extent that it can institutionalize mass support.

In closing, in behalf of our center, we would like to wish the participants to the historic milestone in the political saga of Asia a most fruitful dialogue.