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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 , 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 organizations, 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.
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