Background information:
The International Democratic Union:
Definitions:
Let us begin with History Dictionary on the Religious Right:A coalition of right-wing Protestant fundamentalist (see fundamentalism) leaders who have become increasingly active in politics since the Supreme Court's 1972 decision in Roe versus Wade. Among its leaders are Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. The Religious Right sponsors a network of Christian bookstores, radio stations, and television evangelists. Opposed to abortion, pornography, and what it views as the marginalizing of religion in American public life, the Religious Right has also championed prayer in the public schools. In the 1980s it gave strong support to President Ronald Reagan.
A coalition of right-wing Protestant fundamentalist (see fundamentalism) leaders who have become increasingly active in politics since the Supreme Court's 1972 decision in Roe versus Wade. Among its leaders are Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. The Religious Right sponsors a network of Christian bookstores, radio stations, and television evangelists. Opposed to abortion, pornography, and what it views as the marginalizing of religion in American public life, the Religious Right has also championed prayer in the public schools. In the 1980s it gave strong support to President Ronald Reagan.
History of the IDU or better still, an autobiography (culled from the secretive IDU website!):The International Democrat Union (IDU) is a working association of over
80 Conservative,
Christian Democrat and like-minded political parties of the centre and centre right.
Formed in 1983, the
IDU provides a forum in which Parties holding similar beliefs can come together and exchange views on matters of policy and organisational interest, so that they can learn from each other, act together, establish contacts and speak with one strong voice to promote democracy and centre-right policies around the globe. Founder Members of the
IDU included Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, then Vice-President George Bush Sr, Jacques Chirac - now President of France, Chancellor Helmut Kohl and many other Party Leaders.
Our Mission1. The International Democrat Union (
IDU) shall consist of Member Parties of the Americas Democrat Union (ADU); the Asia Pacific Democrat Union (APDU); the Caribbean Democrat Union (CDU); the Democrat Union of Africa/African Dialogue Group (DUA/ADG); and the European Democrat Union, which have adhered to the
IDU Declaration of Principles.
2. The
IDU will foster the common philosophy of its Member Parties, establish permanent relations at a bilateral and multilateral level, encourage mutual support and to these ends will provide a forum for the exchange of views and information on matters of interest to all or a considerable number of its Member Parties.
Countries can only develop their full potential if they develop recognising the ideals of liberal democracy, freedom of the individual, and the need for economic growth to be based on individual initiative and free, competitive enterprise economies. The
IDU has a clear role in a modern world, where today's idea in one country is tomorrow's policy in another.
Through the
IDU, member Parties can exchange policy ideas, assist each other to win the political argument, and to win elections. There are regular meetings of both the full
IDU and its Regional Unions and Organisations. The officers of the
IDU are elected at Party Leaders' Meetings which are held every three or four years.
At
IDU Executive Meetings, briefings are given on local and topical issues, as well as consideration given to applicant parties. Apart from Executive Meetings, the
IDU holds annual events such as the Young Leaders Forum, plus projects like the special visit undertaken to Zimbabwe. A major event is also held every four years to coincide with the Republican Convention, the last one being held in August 2004 in New York.
The
IDU also organises campaigning seminars for politicians and party workers. These involve exchanges of information on campaign technology, fund-raising techniques, opinion polling, advertising and campaign organisation. The
IDU plays an essential role in enabling like-minded, centre-right parties to share experiences in order to achieve electoral success.
Founders:19 dignitaries attended the meeting that established the
IDU held at the Hotel Intercontinental n London on 24th June 1983: Dr Alois Mock (Osterreichische Volkspartei, Austria); Prime-Minister Margaret Thatcher (Conservative Party, Great Britain); Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl (CDU, Federal Republic of Germany); Prime-Minister Franz-Josef Strauss (CSU, Federal Republic of Germany); M Jacques Chirac (Rassemblement Pour la Republique, France); Mr Andrew Peacock (Liberal Party, Australia); M Evangelos Averoff-Tossiza (Nea Demokratia, Greece); Sr Fraga Iribarne (Alianza Popular, Spain); Sr Oscar Alzaga, (Partido Democrata Popular, Spain); Mrs Susanne Wood, National Party, New Zealand); President Clafcos Clerides (Democratic Rally, Cyprus); Mr Ilkka Suominen (Kansallinen Kokoomus, Finland); Sr Lucas Pires (CDS, Portugal); Mr Tasuo Tanaka (Liberal Democrat Party, Japan); Mr Ulf Adelsohn (Moderata Samlingspartiet, Sweden); Mr Erik Nielsen (Progressive Conservative Party, Canada) ;Prime-Minister Poul Schluter (Det Konservative Folkeparti, Denmark); Mr Jo Benkow (Hoyre, Norway); and Mr Frank Fahrenkopf (Republican National Committee, USA).
MembersThe
IDU has over 80 Member Parties from over 60 countries belonging to itself or one of its Regional Unions. It is the only international organisation of its kind with full members from both Russia and the USA. Many of its members come from democracies newly established during the 1990s.
In addition to full membership of the
IDU, parties can also join one of the Regional Unions or the Women's and Youth Organisations under the International Democrat Union umbrella
Regional Unions:Asia Pacific Democrat Union (APDU)
P O Box 6004
Kingston
ACT 2604
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Bruce Edwards (Liberal Party, Australia)
Contact e-mail:
bruce.edwards@liberal.org.comChairman: Ranil Wickremesinghe MP (United National Party, Sri Lanka)
Phone: +612 62 732564
Fax: +612 67 31534
AUSTRALIAThe Liberal Party of Australia
Member: APDU and
IDUPO Box 6004
Kingston
ACT 2604
AUSTRALIA
Party Leader:
Dr Brendan Nelson MP
Contact: Bruce Edwards
Contact e-mail:
bruce.edwards@liberal.org.auPhone: +61 2 6273 2564
Fax: +61 2 6273 1534
Web-site:
www.liberal.org.au CanadaConservative Party of Canada
Member: APDU,
IDU, UPLA Associate Member
1204 - 130 Albert Street
Ottawa
Ontario, K1P 5G4
CANADA
Party Leader: The Right Honourable Stephen J. Harper, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada
Contact 1: Don Plett (Party President)
Contact e-mail:
donplett@conservative.caPhone: +1-204-346-4040
Contact 2: Jeff Steiner
Contact e-mail:
jdmsteiner@cs.comPhone: +1 613 755 2000
Fax: +1 613 755 2001
Web-site:
www.conservative.ca CHILENational Renovation Party
Partido Renovacion Nacional (RN)
Member: APDU, UPLA,
IDUAntonio Varas 454
Providencia
Santiago
CHILE
Contact: Marcelo Muños, International Secretary
Contact e-mail:
mmunoz@rn.clParty Leader: Carlos Larrain Peña
Phone: +56(2) 373 8740
Fax: +56(2) 373 8709
Web-site:
www.rn.cl EL SALVADORNationalist Republican Alliance
Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA)
Member: UPLA, APDU,
IDUProlongacion Cl Arce No 2423
Ent 45 y 47 Av
San Salvador
EL SALVADOR
Party Leader: Rodrigo Avila
Contact 1: Dr Oscar Santamaria, Director for International Relations
Contact e-mail:
osantamaria@123.com.svPhone: +503 2264 0246
Fax: +503 2264 0247
Contact 2: Gerardo Balzaretti, Centre for Political Studies
Contact email:
gbalzaretti@liza.com.svPhone: +503 260 4400
Fax: +503 260 5918
Web-site:
www.upla.net/arena FijiSoqosoqo Duavata Ni Lewenivanua (SDL)
Member: APDU
P O Box 17889
Suva
FIJI
Party Leader: Laisenia Qarase
Tel: +679 330 1544
Fax: +679 330 7606
KOREAThe Grand National Party
Member: APDU and
IDU14-34, Yoido-dong
Yeongdeungpo-Gu
Seoul, Korea 150-748
Party Leader: Chairman Kang Jae-sup
Contact: International Affairs Bureau
Contact e-mail:
ir@hannara.or.krPhone: +82 2 3786 3342/3
Fax: +82 2 3786 3344
Web-site: www.hannara.or.ko
MONGOLIADemocratic Party
Member: APDU,
IDU Associate Member
Central Post POB 1085
Ulaanbaatar
MONGOLIA
Phone: +976 11 324221
Fax: +976 11 312810
E-mail:
mndp@mongol.netParty Leader: The Hon Norov Altankhuyag
First Deputy Prime Minister
Contact: International Secretary Ariunzayat Yunren
E-mail:
ariunzayat@yahoo.comPhone: +976-11-322055
Phone 2: +976-11-324221
Web-site:
www.demparty.mn NepalRastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP)
Member: APDU
National Democratic Party
Post Box 12981
Charumati Bahal, Chabel, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Party Leader: Hon Pashupati S J B Rana, MP
Contact: Mr Jayant Chand, International Relations Department
E-mail:
rppnepal@enet.com.npTel: + 977 1 4471 071 or + 977 1 4414 037
Fax: + 977 1 4423 384
Web-site:
www.rppnepal.org NEW ZEALANDNew Zealand National Party (NZNP)
Member: APDU and
IDUP O Box 1155
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Party Leader: John Key MP
Chairman: Mrs. Judy Kirk
Contact:
Mark Oldershaw, General Manager
E-mail:
mark.oldershaw@national.org.nzPhone: +64 800 255 266
Fax: +64 800 255 277
Web-site:
www.national.org.nz Republic of ChinaKuomintang (KMT)
Member: APDU,
IDUKuomintang (KMT)
No 232, Bade Road, Sec. 2
Taipei City, Taiwan
REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Contact: Tu-Hsiao Chen
Contact e-mail:
nyla3689@hotmail.comParty Leader: Poh-hsiung Wu, Chairman
Phone: +886 2 877 28 323
Fax: +886 2 877 28 343
Web-site:
http://www.kmt.org.tw RUSSIAUnion of Right Forces
Member: APDU and
IDU15, Malaya Andronyevskaya Str
Moscow 109544
RUSSIA
Party Leader: Nikita Yu. Belykh
Deputy Leader: Leonid Gozman
Contact: Leonid Gozman\Arkady Murashev
Contact e-mail:
gozman@rao.elektra.ruE-post 2:
chief@clcp.ruPhone: +7 095 710 40 09
Fax: +7 095 710 40 77
Web-site:
http://www.sps.ru/party/english/ SRI LANKAUnited National Party (UNP)
Member: APDU and
IDU"Sirikotha"
400 Kotte Road
Pita Kotte
Sri Jayawardenepura
SRI LANKA
Party Leader: Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe MP
Contact: Ravi Karunanayake MP, International Secretary
Contact e-mail:
ravik@eureka.lkPhone: +94 1 500 941
Fax: +94 1 500 972
Web-site:
www.unp.org.com UNITED STATESRepublican National Committee
Member: APDU and
IDUDwight Eisenhower Republican Centre
310 First Street SE
Washington DC 20003
USA
Web-site:
www.rnc.orgRNC Chairman: Mike Duncan
Contact: Elizabeth Dugan, Vice President
International Republican Institute
1225 Eye Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20005
USA
Tel: +1 (202) 408-9450
Fax: +1 (202) 408-9462
E-mail:
edugan@iri.orgWeb-site:
www.iri.org1 - 4 September: Republican National ConventionThe
IDU together with Mercury Public Affairs, in cooperation with the IRI, will organize an International Leaders Program at the 2008 Republican National Convention. The 2008 Convention will take place in Minneapolis-Saint Paul between 1 and 4 September 2008. Participants should plan for arrival on August 31 in the afternoon/evening, and may plan for departure from the morning of September 5.
This event is now fully booked, and there is a waiting-list of nominated participants from
IDU parties.
The
IDU Executive Committee will hold a meeting in connection with the Convention, on Thursday 4 September. Further details will be posted in the Members Login area as the date approaches.
For general background and updates on the Republican Convention - see this link:
http://www.gopconvention.com/Member parties in Africa: AngolaUniäo Democrática Nacional de Angola (UDN)
Member: DUA Observer
Democratic Republic KongoUnion pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social (UDPS)
Member of: DUA Observer
GhanaGhana
New Patriotic partyMember: DUA,
IDUPrivate Mail Bag, Accra- North
Accra
GHANA
Party Leader: President John A KufuorChairman: Peter Mac Manu
Contact e-mail:
pmacmanu@hotmail.comTel 1: +233 21 220 987
Tel 2: +233 21 222 420
Fax: +233 21 240 663
Web-site: Under construction
Ivory CoastParti Démocratique de la Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI-RDA)
Member: DUA Member
05 BP
36 Abidjan 05
Ivory Coast
Party Leader: Henri Konan Bédié
Secretary General: Prof. Alphonse Djedje Mady
Contact: Hon. Dongo Kouassi
E-mail:
nkwanta.fr@
yahoo.frTel: +225 2244 1363
Tel: +225 0784 7781
Contact: Jean-Marie Kakou Gervais, International Affairs
E-mail:
kgervais@afnet.netTel: +225 2241 7658
Mobile: +225 07 63 33 07
LesothoBasotho National Party (BNP)
Member: DUA Observer
LiberiaUnity Party
Member: DUA Observer
Party Leader: Dr. Charles Clarke
Contact: Dr. Charles Clarke
Fax: +231 77512528
E-mail:
Dr.Clarke-Chairup@yahoo.com MozambiqueMozambique National Resistance
Member: DUA,
IDU Associate Member
Resistencia Nacional de Mocambique (RENAMO)
Ahmed Sekou Toure Avenue 657
Maputo City
MOZAMBIQUE
Contact: Eduardo Namburete, Foreign Affairs Advisor
Party Leader: Afonso Dhlakama
E-mail:
namburete@yahoo.comTel: +258 827 404 740
Tel 2: +258 828 397 110
Fax: +258 21 497 288
Web-site:
www.renamo.org.mz NamibiaDemocratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia (DTA)
Member: DUA,
IDU Associate Member
PO Box 173
Windhoek 9000
NAMIBIA
Party Leader: Hon. Katutuire Kaura
Contact 1: Tjeripo Hoveka
E-mail:
t.hoveka@parliament.gov.naContact 2: Secretary General Alois Gende
E-mail:
gende@iway.comTel: +264 61 238 530
Tel 2: +264 61 288 2543 (Office in the Parliament)
Fax: +264 61 226 845
NigerMouvement National de la Societé de Dévelopement (MNSD)
Member: DUA Observer
SeychellesDemocratic Party
Member: DUA Member
PO Box 269
Mahe
Seychelles
Party Leader: Paul Chow
Contact email:
info@dpseychelles.comTel: +248 224 916
Fax: +248 324 456
Sierra LeoneMovement for Progress Party (MOP)
Member: DUA Member
PO Box 600
Freetown
Sierra Leone
Party Leader: Zainab Bangura
Contact: Secretary General Amadu Kamara
E-mail:
emilecarr@yahoo.co.ukTel: +232 766 24 514
Fax: +232 22 227 941
TanzaniaChama Cha Demokrasia Na Maendeleo (CHADEMA)
Member: DUA,
IDU Associate Member
P.O. Box 31191
Dar Es Salaam
TANZANIA
Party Leader: Hon Freeman A. Mbowe
Contact: John Mnyika, Acting Director for International Relations
Contact e-mail:
info@chadema.net and
mnyika@yahoo.comContact 2: Secretary General Dr Slaa Willibroad MP
Contact email:
slaa@chadema.netContact 3: John Mrema, Assistant for International Relations
Contact email:
mrema@chadema.netTel: +255 22 266 88 66
Fax: +255 22 266 88 66
Web-site:
www.chadema.net Uganda(1) Democratic Party (DP)
Member: DUA Member
PO Box 7098
Kampala, Uganda
Party Leader: Hon John Ssebaana Kizito
Contact: Dr Bayigga Michael Lulume
E-mail:
democrat_s@yahoo.com(2) Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)
Member: DUA Member
PO Box 26928
Kampala, Uganda
Party Leader: Dr Kizza Besigye
Tel: +256 772-402851 / +256 752 373 647
Contact: International Secretary Okumu Ronald Reagan
E-mail:
rro@email.com;
orr_p9@hotmail.comWeb-site:
www.fdcuganda.orgVisiting address: Plot No 109, Entebbe Road - Najjanankumbi
IDU OFFICERS1. IDU Party Leaders' Meeting: John Howard re-elected ChairmanThe IDU Party Leaders, at their meeting in Paris on June 26, 2008, unanimously re-elected the Hon John Howard as Chairman, and elected the IDU officers for the coming three years.On behalf of IDU's Party Leaders' Meeting the Chairman issued statements on a number ofimportant international issues; concerning Zimbabwe, Cuba, Nicaragua, Belarus, Venezuela and Sri Lanka (see points 2 – 7 below). The IDU Officers for 2008 – 2011: Chairman The Hon John HOWARD AC, Liberal Party of Australia Deputy Chairman The Honourable Jan PETERSEN MP, EDU Co–Chairman, Conservative Party, Norway Assistant Chairmen The Right Honourable William HAGUE MP PC, Conservative Party, United Kingdom The Honourable Shane L. STONE AC PGDK QC, Liberal Party of Australia Vice Chairmen The Honourable Kostas KARAMANLIS MP, EDU Co-Chairman, Prime Minister of Greece, New Democracy Party, Greece The Honourable Dr. Ivo SANADER MP, Prime Minister, Republic of Croatia, Croatian Democratic Union 1
The Honourable Bendt BENDTSEN MP, Deputy Prime Minister, Conservative Party,
Denmark
The Honourable Dr. Pin-Kung CHIANG, Vice Chairman, Kuomintang (KMT),
Taiwan
Chairman Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF)
The Honourable Stockwell DAY MP PC, Conservative Party, Canada, Minister of
Public Safety
The Honourable Alexander DOWNER MP, Liberal Party of Australia
The Honourable Lourdes FLORES, Party Leader, Partido Social Cristiano, Peru
The Honourable Leonid GOZMAN, Union of Right Forces, Russia
The Honourable Peter HINTZE MdB, CDU Germany, Parliamentary State Secretary
for Industry and Science
The Honourable Erwin HUBER MdL, CSU Germany, Party Chairman, Minister of
State for Finance
The Honourable Carlos LARRAIN, Party Leader, National Renovation Party, Chile
The Honourable Peter MACMANU, Chairman DUA, New Patriotic Party, Ghana
The Honourable Etibar MAMMADOV, Party Leader, the National Independence
Party of Azerbaijan (NIPA)
The Honourable Wilfried MARTENS, Chairman EPP, Belgium
The Honourable Mariano RAJOY MP, Party Leader, Partido Popular, Spain
The Honourable Marco SOLARES MP, Honorary Chairman UPLA, The Unionista
Party, Guatemala
The Honourable Ranil WICKREMESINGHE MP, Chairman APDU, United National
Party, Sri Lanka
Treasurer
The Lord ASHCROFT KCMG, Conservative Party, United Kingdom
Political Auditor
Mrs. Eva GUSTAVSSON, Head of International Office, Moderate Party Sweden
Executive Secretary
Mr. Eirik MOEN, the Conservative Party of Norway
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