....FOR WORLD CONFERENCE

Benson Katapila reports from SAO PAULO, Brazil.

The leader and Flag Bearer of the National Democratic Congress has arrived in Sao Paulo to attend the 22nd Congress of the Socialist International, a meeting of Social Democrats, under the theme " THE RETURN OF POLITICS: For just and responsible global governance: For globalization governed by the people". Under Prof Atta Mills, the NDC has defined itself as Social Democrats.

Accompanying Prof Atta Mills is a high?powered delegation of the NDC Party comprising, Dr. Nii Armah Josiah-Aryeh, General Secretary, Prof Kofi Awoonor, Vice Chairman, Mr. Baba Jamal, Deputy General Secretary, Ms Frances Assiam, Women Coordinator and Hon Kofi Attor, MP and Director of External Branches. Looking hale and hearty, Prof Atta Mills was full of praise for the professionalism of the ALITALIA Crew from Accra to Rome as well as those on the Sao Paulo leg of the journey. He expressed confidence that the Conference will formulate appropriate responses to global threats of poverty, corruption and inequitable trade, amongst other pressing world issues.

Prof Atta Mills, gained worldwide recognition for his work on NEPAD, the New Partnership for African Development, both during and after his stint as a Visiting Scholar at the LIU Centre for Global Affairs in British Columbia. He is one of top world figures including President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, billed to participate.

A total of 650 delegates from 150 political parties from across the world are gathered for this 22nd Socialist International Congress in which International Trade and Poverty is high on the agenda for the gathering.

The Conference will focus on key issues of concern to the world today, with panel discussions on:

1. For a new multi-lateralism for sustainable development and security

2.The role and reform of the United Nations

3.The international financial system: a new Bretton Woods

4.International trade: fairness, employment, and the environment;

5.Regional integration: the new architecture

6.Working for peace: conflict prevention and resolution

7.Poverty and pandemics: the intolerable wounds

8.Promoting inclusion: gender equality and women in politics

9.Empowering people: strengthening democratic institutions and civil society.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil opening the Conference declared that the United Nations should be reformed and given a new mission to eliminate world hunger and poverty. He said: "The only war we should be waging is against hunger and inequality. That's a war worth fighting,"

Antonio Guterres, who is the current president of Socialist International Organization and Portugal's former socialist prime minister, says that the group's work is now geared at countering neo-liberalism he defines as unfettered free market capitalization that give corporations huge profits at the expense of the world's workers and poor. He said, "This is the response to neo-liberal, conservative agenda that sanctifies the market and sacrifices the human being,"

The Conference ends October 29, 2003.

XXII CONGRESS OF THE SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL

Sao Paulo, 27-29 October 2003

PROGRAMME AND AGENDA

Monday 27 October

10.00 hrs

OPENING

1. Welcoming address by the Mayor of S?o Paulo, Marta Suplicy

2. Opening speech by the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, His Excellency Luiz In?cio "Lula" da Silva

3. Speech by the President of the Socialist International, Ant?nio Guterres

11.00 hrs

FIRST PANEL FOR A NEW MULTILATERALISM FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY

Debate

13.00 hrs Closure of first session

15.00 hrs SECOND PANEL THE ROLE AND REFORM OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Debate

17.00 hrs THIRD PANEL THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM: A NEW BRETTON WOODS

Debate

19.00 hrs Closure of second session