Senior members of Egyptian liberal parties participated actively in a workshop entitled “Political Communications in the Arab World. Strategies and Policies of Liberal Parties” in Beirut in late March 2008 organized by the Network of Arab Liberals (NAL) and co-sponsored by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty. The delegates from Egypt represented the NAL-member parties Al Wafd, Al Ghad and Democratic Front Party.

The Beirut workshop aimed at discussing the political, socio-economic and also legal ramifications of political communications in the respective member states. In their meeting the delegates also discussed the communications strategies of the parties. Earlier, the delegates concluded their debates on internal organizational matters in a follow-up to a Strategic Planning workshop held in November 2007 in Ain Souchna, Egypt. They agreed on the bylaws of the Network which include regulations on membership, the structure of the leadership and financial matters. The final draft of the bylaws will be formally adopted by the General Assembly of the Network later in the year. The General Assembly will also be tasked to decide on the location of the Secretariat of the Network which is provisionally in Cairo.

Finally, the delegates discussed upcoming activities. These include a study tour to Brussels and Berlin for the leadership of the member parties slated for late April in cooperation with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty. Furthermore, leaders of the youth wings of Arab liberal parties will participate in a training workshop in early May in Egypt.

“As the political and cultural centre of the Arab world, it is not surprising that also in the regional liberal movement Egyptians play a leading role,” said Regional Director Dr. Ronald Meinardus, who attended the Beirut workshop and addressed the delegates in a speech.