Blair in Hungary for centre-left summit
Tony Blair will visit Hungary today for a meeting of centre-left leaders.
The conference, hosted by the Policy Network thinktank, aims to allow leaders and delegates “an opportunity to debate in a frank and open manner the problems facing social democrats across the globe, and to chart a course for the progressive movement that will strengthen our policies in the future”.
Peter Mandelson, the incoming EU Trade Commissioner and the former Downing Street communications chief will chair the conference. He called on progressive leaders to redouble their efforts against the forces of conservatism, building on the “common agenda of modernisation with social justice”.
Mr Blair is expected to meet with leaders from 13 other countries. He will address questions from delegates before attending a private working dinner.
Canadian prime minister, Paul Martin, and Sweden’s prime minister, Goeran Persson, are also expected to attend the conference, which is being hosted by Hungary’s newly-elected prime minister, Ferenc Gyurcsany.
Key discussion topics are likely to include economic reforms in the face of globalisation, the building of a “knowledge economy”, modernisation of public services and integration in multicultural societies.
The divisive issue of Iraq is not on the agenda. However, Mr Mandelson told the conference yesterday that a second UN Security Council resolution – explicitly backing the decision to launch military action against Iraq – would have avoided many of the problems that followed the war.
“What a difference that second resolution would have made,” he said.
“The insurgency in Iraq today would be a lesser problem had a second UN resolution been agreed before the invasion and if the UN had been in the driving seat from the start and throughout the conflict.”
He urged political leaders to find better ways “of proceeding with greater transparency” in the future and called for “new mechanisms” for building an “international consensus”.
