Events

Bill Richardson

Perspectives on democracy and freedom in the world

The Rafael del Pino Foundation hosted Bill Richardson's Keynote Lecture "Perspectives on Democracy and Freedom in the World" on 16 September 2010.

Bill Richardson stated that "democratic countries have to work together against the great challenges facing the world: drug trafficking, climate change, terrorism, the Taliban... It is important to act multilaterally through the United Nations and the joint efforts of democracies to respond to these issues that affect us all. If we don't do it together, we will fail".

Regarding the democratic impulse in the world, Bill Richardson argued that "democracies must push their values: respect for human rights, the holding of free elections... the ideals of countries like the United States or Spain must be pushed forward. We have to win the ideological battle first, before the military battle against the Taliban or the terrorists. That is why it is important that we respect our ideals: human and civil rights, democracy; that is why respect for our traditions and ideas is so important. With that, we will not only be able to win over the fanatics; we will also gain more support for democratic ideals all over the world. The Western system, such as the one we enjoy in our two countries, cannot be imposed directly; it is not exportable. But its ideals are: free elections, respect for human rights, eradication of torture, free press, individual freedoms... these can be exported, so that each country can decide how to use these principles. That is why it is important to promote these ideals and perhaps not so much the model of democracy in the West as a system to be imposed. Those ideals and principles, together with multilateralism and countries working together... that's what's important."

The Rafael del Pino Foundation is not responsible for the comments, opinions or statements made by the people who participate in its activities and which are expressed as a result of their inalienable right to freedom of expression and under their sole responsibility. The contents included in the summary of this conference are the result of the debates held at the meeting held for this purpose at the Foundation and are the responsibility of their authors.

The Rafael del Pino Foundation is not responsible for any comments, opinions or statements made by third parties. In this respect, the FRP is not obliged to monitor the views expressed by such third parties who participate in its activities and which are expressed as a result of their inalienable right to freedom of expression and under their own responsibility. The contents included in the summary of this conference are the result of the discussions that took place during the conference organised for this purpose at the Foundation and are the sole responsibility of its authors.