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Local Authorities

II World Conference of Mayors of the Socialist International

05-06 October 1998

Over two hundred and fifty mayors, members of municipal governments and organisations, and experts gathered in the city of Fez to take part in the Second World Conference of Mayors of the SI on 5-6 October, hosted by our member party in Morocco, the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, USFP. (Full list of participants) The Mayor of Fez, Abderrahim Filali Baba, opened the meeting by welcoming the delegates to Fez, an historic city of culture, knowledge, tolerance and humanism and hoped to share experiences of his city with the many mayors present. The Prime Minister of Morocco Abderrahman Youssoufi addressed the participants, emphasising that the values shared by social democrats of justice, freedom, solidarity, social equality, democracy and respect for human rights created the best conditions for true citizenship and for the work of the Conference. SI President Pierre Mauroy reflected that mayors and elected representatives of cities had much to contribute to the universality of the SI and the progression of ideas within it. Driss Basri, Minister of State of the Interior of Morocco, added his greetings and wished the participants well in their discussions. Jean-Claude van Cauwenberghe, Chair of the Association of European Socialist Mayors, then spoke linking the proceedings in Fez with those of the first SI World Conference of Mayors which was held in Bologna in 1995. Chair of the SI Committee of Local Authorities and leader of the Belgian Socialist Party, PS, Philippe Busquin, addressed the delegates on the concrete activities the Committee had been working on over the past three years and that it wished to promote at the meeting. Speaking on how the Conference fitted into the work of the International, SI Secretary General Luis Ayala reiterated the fact that local and regional politics was at the heart of what the SI is doing, and also at the core of what we passionately believe in.

In the second session delegates divided into three working groups. The first, chaired by the Mayor of Barcelona Joan Clos of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, PSOE, discussed 'Globalisation and Solidarity: The role played by local authorities' and 'Cities in conflict'. The second working group focused on 'New partnerships: the State and local authorities' and was chaired by Marie Augustine Houangni Ambouroué, Mayor of Port-Gentil, of the Gabonese Party for Progress, PGP. The third working group, chaired by Ricardo Pascoe, representing the Mayor of Mexico City, from the Party of Democratic Revolution, PRD, took as its theme 'The future of cities: quality of life and the information society, the socialist response'. The deliberations of the three working groups resulted in the 'The Fez Declaration ' which was adopted by Conference at its closure. The Declaration set out four concrete proposals for the future. Firstly, the adoption of a Charter of the Local Authorities as a reaffirmation of ethical principles in public administration. Secondly, increased decentralised and interactive cooperation in practical forms such as democratic twinning. Thirdly, the creation of a network for the exchange of knowledge and experience for local government representatives. And finally, supporting the creation of a single international organisation of local authorities.  

   

THE FEZ DECLARATION

Original: French

In a world in the process of profound transformation, characterised on the one hand by the globalisation of the economy and of information, and on the other hand by the accentuation of inequalities between countries, between regions, and between citizens, the Socialist International reaffirms its commitment to the humanisation of the city.

It mandates its Committee on Local Authorities to continue the detailed development of the 21 points of the Bologna Declaration, which considered the issues of the city under various aspects: active citizenship, the improvement of city government in terms of greater transparency, probity and democracy, improvement in the quality of urban life, and openness towards the wider world.

The SI strongly reaffirms two fundamental principles that underlie its approach.

The first is that only democracy, in local and specific forms, can legitimise the powers exercised by mayors and other municipal office-holders. Although methods of appointment may vary from country to country, the powers of the local authorities have their basis in universal suffrage.

The second principle is that of equality between men and women. The SI will endeavour to ensure the application of this principle at every level of the exercise of political rights.

The Fez Conference was essentially concerned with three aspects:

1. The future of the cities, the quality of life and the information society, the socialist response.

2. New partnerships: the State and local authorities.

3. Globalisation and solidarity: the role of the cities, particularly in relation to cities in conflict.

1. The future of the cities

On the threshold of a new millennium, it is incumbent upon socialists to provide concrete responses to the accelerating pace of urbanisation and to the whole gamut of problems that this generates. We need to clearly determine how citizens live in and experience their city, and how they may be able to control its development.

Problems of town planning, housing, health, education, training, culture, public security and the environment have to be taken on board and clarified by a social ethics that can guide our responses.

Ensuring the social cohesion of our cities requires the reconciliation of an apparent contradiction, between on the one hand the need for a short term response to pressing social issues, and, on the other, the need for a long-term approach to the transformation of the cities.

Successful schooling, access to health and well-being for all, the opportunity for all to make their voices heard and to play a full part in the life of society, the promotion of cultural, artistic and sporting life, the development of a cohesive urban fabric, an emphasis on ecological quality, the struggle against all forms of unfit housing, the diversification and improvement of housing conditions, improvements in accessibility and transport, and finally democratic neighbourhood management are all assets which counter the risk of social exclusion and ensure the chances of success of the greatest number of citizens.

More than ever before, the future of democracy depends on the cities' capacity to master the economic, social and cultural exclusion that they witness and also suffer from.

New communication and information technology can obviously make its contribution to the socialist management of urban issues. Inequalities of access to new communication and information technology and to training and in the distribution of these resources are real, but we must learn to 'civilise' the information revolution, which can lead to advances in democracy and to local developments based on solidarity.

New communication and information technology can become a tool to exploit the collective intelligence of our urban communities and thus offer spaces for discussion and creativity within towns, between towns, and between the cities of the North and South.

In fact, affordable costs and the development of networks through satellite communications will offer even more opportunities for networking and the expression of solidarity.

However, we must be aware that economic and technological realities in the South are not the same as in the North. Despite their difficulties, the cities of the South must make an effort to open themselves to the new technology, in terms of the contribution it can make to improving citizen participation and establishing networks of solidarity and support. Given this, a Socialist conception of information and communication must promote an active citizenship.

This new communication and information technology is of course not neutral. It must be mastered and subordinated to our values as citizens.

2. New partnerships

In a modern, democratic and social State, the relations between all actors in society and in public life ought to be based on partnership. The goal is an efficient democratic State and an administration that is close to the citizen.

Citizens demand pragmatic solutions to their problems. This is why the fulfilment of the obligations of the public sector ought to be initiated by the level of government best placed to do so. This is the application of the principle of subsidiarity.

Central government control should be restricted to ensuring respect for legality, and administrative regulation should ensure flexibility and efficiency.

The indispensable condition for relations of partnership between the State, the intermediate level and the local authorities, is autonomy of the local administration. This is why local autonomy coupled with a guarantee of financial resources appropriate to the responsibilities attributed, should be legally or constitutionally guaranteed in every country.

On the other hand, local authorities cannot simply rely on external assistance, but must make the best use of their own resources. This is an essential contribution to partnership with the central government.

The strengthening of local autonomy will allow greater citizen participation and represent a strengthening of democracy itself. Representative democracy requires that office-holders be elected by the people and that the forms of direct democracy be further developed while respecting the unity of cities and urban agglomerations.

It is important to promote a culture of dialogue between the political class and the administration on the one hand and the citizens and all the other actors in civil society and economic life on the other. This ideal of partnership has become a priority at the global level.

It is especially necessary for the countries of the South to act so as to reduce disparities between town and country, the origin of the rural exodus and a source of marginalisation and social exclusion. Rural districts should benefit from a particular effort to promote truly sustainable development. This involves, among other things, the provision of roads, water, electricity, etc.

3. Solidarity

Today more than ever it is indispensable to promote our humanist values of solidarity and fraternity between peoples at the global level, which also includes solidarity between cities.

Solidarity must be promoted between the cities of North and South, and between those of East and West; solidarity between rich cities and poor cities, sometimes within the same country; and also solidarity within cities themselves.

Decentralised cooperation could provide an effective means of easing the difficulty that many countries of the South have in ensuring the development of cities and regions. This will require a system of partnership which chiefly involves the cities and regions of North and South and allow the bringing together of the interests of beneficiaries with those of fund-providers.

In the same spirit, it will be necessary to encourage democratic twinning arrangements which are directly and interactively addressed to the populations concerned, and which in various ways also provide concrete assistance, extending from the training of staff to the provision of humanitarian aid through NGOs, and including cultural exchanges, information networks, scientific research, the integration of women, children, young people and old people, and education in democracy and economic development.

For such cooperation to be effective, however, this requires the establishment of the institutional frameworks that provide the sites for reflection and human interaction, as well as action at every level of government, national and international, to open up the necessary lines of communication and make available the necessary resources.

Very particular attention must be paid to cities in crisis or conflict, such as Belfast, Luanda and Jerusalem, whose difficult circumstances require a very specific solidarity. Such solidarity must, however, also be extended to cities destabilised by conflict in neighbouring countries or by uncontrolled migratory flows.

Armed conflict can affect a city in many different ways, resulting in a state of siege, the exodus of population, violations of human rights, social exclusion, xenophobia etc. These crisis cannot be settled separately from the conflicts themselves. Nonetheless, solidarity actions, in the political sphere as well as in that of cooperation, can contribute to the search for a solution.

***

Meeting in Fez, the SI intends to translate its aspirations into concrete actions to the benefit of citizens.

Concrete proposals:

1. The reaffirmation of our ethical values in the management of public affairs by the adoption of a Charter of Socialist Local Authorities.

2 Decentralised and interactive cooperation. In this regard, socialists representatives must intervene at every level of government at which they are present to facilitate such cooperation. Democratic twinning arrangements and information networks are useful tools for this cooperation.

3. The creation of a network for the exchange of knowledge and experience, particularly by means of an Intranet linking the mayors of the SI, with particular attention being given to access by the cities of the South, and to their integration in the system.

4. Given that local autonomy is the fundamental issue for the future of local councils, it must be constitutionally guaranteed by the State. The SI supports the initiative for a World Charter on Local Autonomy taken by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements, UNCHS (Habitat), and will actively work to promote it. It supports the current initiatives whose goal is to create a single organisation for local authorities.

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Socialist International
Pierre Mauroy
SI President
Mayor of Lille
Luis Ayala
SI Secretary General

ALGERIA
Socialist Forces Front, FFS
Rachid Chabati
Mayor of Béjaïa
Azouz Belahmeur
Mayor of Ayt-Yanni
Hamid Chiad
Mayor of Imcheddalen
Hakim Bouagache
International Secretary

ANGOLA
Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, MPLA
Anibal Rocha
Governor of the Province of Luanda
Amaro Tati
Governor of the Province of Cabinda
Dumilde Rangel
Governor of the Province of Benguela

ARGENTINA
Popular Socialist Party, PSP
Juan Carlos Zabalza
Director of International Relations of the City of Rosario

BELGIQUE
Socialist Party, PS
Philippe Busquin
President of the SI Committee on Local Authorities, Mayor of Seneffe
Jean-Claude van Cauwenberghe
President of the Association of European Socialist Mayors, Mayor of Charleroi
Marc Deconinck
Mayor of Beauvechain
Jean-Louis Close
Mayor of Namur
Yvon Biefnot
Mayor of Colfontaine
Patrick Moriau
Mayor of Chapelle-Lez-Herlaymont
Etienne Godin
International Secretary
Marie-Claire Musin
Political Secretary
Ali Serghini
Director of the Cabinet of the Minister President of the Brussels region

CAMEROON
Social Democratic Front, SDF
Donatus Njong Fonyuy
Mayor of the Kumbo Urban Council
Mangoh Jones
Mayor of Nkambe Rural Council

CAPE VERDE
African Party of Cape Verde's Independence, PAICV
Eugenio Miranda
President of the Municipality of Sâo Filipe

CZECH REPUBLIC
Czech Social Democratic Party, CSS
Zdenek Pohl
Mayor of Havírov
Bohumír Bobák

FRANCE
Socialist Party, PS
Gilles Catoire
Mayor of Clichy la Garenne
Michel Hervé
Mayor of Parthenay
Robert Bernard
Mayor of Saint Dié-des-Vosges
Alain Kauff
Deputy Mayor of Strasbourg
Driss Ajbali
Member of the PS

GABON
Gabonese Party for Progress, PGP
Marie Augustine Houangni-Ambouroué
Mayor of the province of Port-Gentil

GERMANY
Social Democratic Party of Germany, SPD
Herbert Schmalstieg
Mayor of Hannover
Arno Schreiber
Director of Wilhelmshaven
Dagmar Szabados
Mayor of Halle
Peter Hamon

GREAT BRITAIN
The Labour Party
Andrew Slaughter
Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham
Tim Stanley
Councillor of Hammersmith & Fulham

IRELAND
The Labour Party
Joe O'Flynn
Mayor of Cork

ITALY
Democrats of the Left, DS
Rafaello De Brasi
Mayor of Imola
Victor Magiar
Member of the Council of the city of Rome
Gianfranco Brusasco
International Department

IVORY COAST
Ivory Coast Popular Front, FPI
Pierre Djedji Amondji
Mayor of Adjame
Vice-president of the SI Committee on Local Authorities
Pierre Yapo Aman
Mayor of Yakasse-Attobrou
Arsène Sibailly
Mayor of Gagnoa
Sébastien Djedje Danon
Member of Parliament for Gagnoa
Municipal Councillor
Benjamin Yapo Aste
Mayor of Akoupe
Rose Abeba Mambo N'Tapke
Deputy Mayor of Adzope
Augustin Manbo
Deputy Mayor of Adzope
Sahi Voho
Municipal Councillor of Toulépleu

MALI
African Party for Solidarity and Justice, ADEMA-PASJ
Ibrahima N'Diaye
General Secretary
Central Mayor of Bamako

MOROCCO
Socialist Union of Popular Forces, USFP
Moulay Ahmed Laraki
Minister of the Environment
Mohamed Lambarki
Minister of Housing
Mohamed Mokram
President of the district of Elgara
Mustapha Bouziane
President of the district of Ain Drban
Abderahman Ahidar
President of the district of Imzouren
Ahmed Ouassissou
President of the district of Goulmina
Mohamed Bouaoud
President of the district of Taghazout Agadir
Abderrahmen Massine
President of the district of Kénefra
Miloud Elkbizi
President of the district of Anza
Abdellah Soumane
President of the district of Aït Melloul
Mohamed Boujnah
President of the district of Dchira Eljahadia
Mohamed Arabi
President of the district of Moulay Driss Aghbal
Farid Tidar
President of the district of Sidi Maarouf
Mohamed Achboun
President of the district of Martil
Omar Boutbagha
President of the provincial Council, Tata
Mohamed Belattmania
President of the district of Hachtouka
Elmoktar Tabaza
President of the district of Gouazatte
Mohamed Zokari Amrani
President of the district of Azhar
Abdelouahad Idellhaj
President of the district of Tetuan Mandri
Abdelkader Elherradi
President of the district of Remila
Mustapha Idrissi
President of the district of Idelsan
Abderrahman Ahmani
President of the district of Skoura
Abdenbi Elfilali
President of the district of Guercif
Hassan Elhaiek
President of the district of Zaïtoun
Mohamed Boukich
President of the district of Aït Kamra
Mohamed Mohib
President of the district of Mers Soultan
Soumaya Benazouz
Member of the district of Betana
Batoul Bedraoui
Vice-President of the district of Hassan
Fatima Aguedi
Vice-President of the district of Sidi Elmendri
Amina Ouchelh
Vice-President of the district of Agdal
Touria Chaibi
Vice-President of the district of Azrou
Fatima Soussi
Member of Parliament for the province of Ifrane
Mohamed Saadoun
Member of Parliament for the province of Chefchaoun
Omar Boumkas
Member of the district of Maamora
Ait Elmehjoub
Member of the district of Yacoub Elmnsour
Toufik Belahcen
Vice-President of the district of Oujda
Malika Biti
Member of the district of Agadir
Fatima Guerina
Member of the district of Agadir
Mohamed Elwatik
President of the offices of the Departmental administration of Agadir
Mohamed Elkadiri
President of the district of Ferkhana
Lamarain Driss
Vice-President of the district of Hassan
Abdellah Cherkaoui
President of the district of Maarif
Mesoud Abou Zeid
President of the district of Ezmamra
Mustapha Mustaghfir
President of the district of Aïn Chok
Mohamed Elbouzidi
President of the district of Agadir
Moukhtar Sektani
President of the district of Khouribga
Bouchra Bouchentouf
Member of the district of Hassan
Khadija Bedouri
Member of the district of Hassan
Fatima Belmouden
President of the district of Maarif
Nadia Fathi
Member of the district of Sidi Blioute
Khadija Raji
Vice-President of the district of Mers Soultan
Malika Elfed
Member of the district of Mohammedia
Khadija Limlahi
Member of the district of Youssoufia
Ouafaa Haji
Vice-President of the district of Agdal
M. Essadki
Member of the district of Youssoufia
Abdeslam Louadi
President of the district of Ouazan
Abdejlil Boukattassa
President of the district of Taza El Jadida
Mohamed Mebarki
President of the district of Selouan
Mohamed Amhach
President of the district of Aknoul
Ahmed Mlouki
President of the district of Aghbala
Abdelkader Elbenna
President of the district of Kariat Ba Mhamed
Jilali Bendriss
President of the district of Aïn Gdah
Mohamed Haddi
President of the district of Oulad Dahou
Benasseur Elmas
President of the district of Salmia
Aberrahim Hamed
President of the district of Sbata
Mohamed Jaja
President of the district of Akka Ighan
Abderrahman Elhajouji
President of the district of Ben Korrich
Mohmed Jniah
President of the district of Meknassa Gharbia
Mohmed Errachdi
President of the district of Aïn Bida
Mohamed Kalai
President of the district of Kasbat Tadla
Gacem Seddik
President of the district of Missour
Mohamed Bamalk
President of the district of Agdz
Abdeslam Mouhin
President of the district of Bani Qualla
Abdelkader Elassouli
President of the district of Ben Ahmed
Abderrahman Karama
President of the Provincial Council, Beni Mella
Mostafa Lali
President of the district of Figuig
Mohamed Khraiss
President of the district of Ouislane
Mohamed Elyaznasni
President of the district of Bsabsa
Fouad Fadlallah
President of the district of Sidi Lhcen
Lahssan Elboujerfaoui
President of the district of Sidi Ifni
Mohammed Taouil
President of the district of Ksser Kbir
Mustapha Elkarkri
President of the district of Boujdian
Mohamed Hlimi
President of the district of Souk Toulba
Mohamed Debbagh
President of the Provincial Council, Fez
Driss Chtaibi
President of the district of Ouled Mkouda
Mohamed Tarbouz
President of the district of Berchid
Mohamed El Azouzi
President of the district of Oudka
Hafid Boutaleb
President of the district of Agdal Ryad
Abdelhak Mentrech
President of the Council of the Departmental administration, Rabat
Mouad Morarish
First Vice-President of the region of Tetuan
Abderrahim Filali Baba
President of the district of Fez
Mohamed Majdoubi
Vice-President of the district of Saïs
Mohamed Khadori
Vice-President of the district of Fez
Hassan Chamali
Member of the district of Fez
Ghania Lairini
Member of the district of Fez
Abdelhay Raïss
Member of the district of Fez
Abdelhay Amrani
Member of the district of Fez
Mohamed Boumehdi
Member of the district of Fez
Boumehdi Hassani
Member of the district of Fez
Jilali Ossour
Member of the district of Fez
Essaid Bouaid
Member of the district of Fez
Dris Arbouch
Member of the district of Fez
Touhami Elamouri
Member of the district of Fez
Addi Bounouader
Regional councillor, Rachida - Meknes - Tafilalt
Ahmed Zebadi
Regional councillor, Casablanca
Mohamed Abdelhadi
Vice-President, Boulman - Fez
Abdellah Radouan
Regional councillor, Taza - Oujda
Khadija Sebbar
Regional councillor, Casablanca
Said Elberkani
Vice-President of Beni Sidel Gbel
Ali Oubelahcen
President of Dir Ksiba
Mohamed Elheimer
Vice-President of Mrissa
Mohamed Thami
Vice-President of Bejjaad
Mimouni Touhami
President of the provincial Council, Chefchaoun
Mohamed Fathi
Vice-President of the district Jerada
M. Jakani
President of the district of Guenadra
Abdellah Samoud
President of the district of Aïn Timgnaï
Mohamed Arabi
President of the district of Agbal
Aziz Abboudi
Regional councillor, Taounat - Hossaima
Bessa Abdelhaï
General councillor
Mustapha Bettache
Vice-President of the district Ouled Amrane El Jadida
Bouchra Boulouiz
Expert
Bengada
Expert
Bani Layachi
Expert
Mohamed Ellabar
Expert
Abdelatif Chellaoui
Expert
Driss Iraki
Expert
Mohamed Al Assaad
Expert

MEXICO
Party of Democratic Revolution, PRD
Eduardo Espinoza
Secretary of Municipal Affairs of the PRD
Ricardo Pascoe
Representative of the Mayor of Mexico


MEXICO
Institutional Revolutionary Party, PRI
Mario Tapia Rivera
Municipal President of Coatepec
Ismael Alfredo Hernández
Municipal President of Durango

NETHERLANDS
Labour Party, PvdA
Piet Zelissen
Mayor of Grave
Nanny Peereboom
Mayor of Strijen

NORWAY
Norwegian Labour Party, DNA
Rigmor Aasrud Jahren
Mayor of Gran

PORTUGAL
Socialist Party, PS
José Manuel Conde Rodrigues
Mayor of Cartaxo
Vice-President of the SI Committee on Local Authorities

ROMANIA
Democratic Party of Romania, PD
Felicia Tudor
Mayor of Magurele
Petre Nanu
Mayor of Targu-Jiu
Mircea Pintilie
Mayor of Medgidia
Petre Taranu
Adviser to the international secretariat of the Party

SAN MARINO
San Marino Socialist Party, PSS
Maurizio Rattini
General Secretary
Paride Andreoli
Deputy General Secretary

SENEGAL
Socialist Party, PS
Abdoulaye Makhtar Diop
Mayor of the district of Plateau
Minister for the Modernisation of the State
Mamadou Seyni Mbengue
Mayor of Khombole

SPAIN
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, PSOE
Joan Clos
Mayor of the municipality of Barcelona
Ana Urchueguia Asensio
Mayor of Lasarte-Oria
Margarita Obiols
Director of International Relations of the Municipality of Barcelona
Alfonso Perales Pizarro
Political Municipal Secretary of the CEF

SWEDEN
Swedish Social Democratic Party, SAP
Lars Isaksson
President of the Association of Regional Councils
Niklas Rengen
Communications Department of the Party

TERRITORIES UNDER PALESTINIAN
AUTHORITY, PALESTINE
Fatah
Saber Ahmed Aref Yacoub
Municipality of Tulkarm
Mustuffa Al-Natcha
Municipality of Hébron
Sami Abu Salim
Municipality of Der Al-Balah
Said Zourob
Mayor of Rafah
Rabie Ayad
Municipality of Gaza
Marouf Zahran
Municipality of Qalqelia
Ilan Halevi
Permanent delegate to the Socialist International

TUNISIE
Constitutional Democratic Assembly, RCD
Kamel Kasbi
Mayor of the district of Bardo

TURKEY
Republican People's Party, CHP
Ismail Özay
Mayor of Çanakkale
Armagan Ilci
Mayor of Burdur
Dogan Tasdelen
Mayor of Çankaya-Ankara
Akay Senel
Mayor of Manavgat-Antalya
Nazan Günal
Mayor of Maden-Elazig
Mehmet Kabasakal
Member of the Party's Assembly
Zeki Çelikkol
Adviser of international relations

Office of SI President
Michel Thauvin
Susana Delbo
Fabien Rosso

Socialist International Women, SIW
Nouzha Chekrouni
Minister of the Disabled, Morroco



GUESTS

CUBA
Conrado Martínez Corona
President of the Provincial Assembly of Popular Power of Havana
Ernesto Rey Pino
Vice-Director of international relations of the Provincial Assembly of Havana

RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Socialist Party of the Russian Federation
Yuri Deryabin
International Secretary
Lev Kirichenko
Party Secretary
Constantine Achurov
President of the Regional organisation

ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe African National Union, ZANU-PF
Solomon C. Tawengwa
Mayor of Harare
Nomutsa M. Chideye
Secretary of the municipality of Harare

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTS AND REGIONS OF EUROPE
Elisabeth Gateau
General Secretary


WORLD FEDERATION OF UNITED CITIES
Michel Bescond
General Secretary

 



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