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Topic Discussion I
Politics of Hard Choices
Political Transition and Economic Restructuring
Room 5
(20 of 22 pages)
Privatization that has brought along with it many problems such as the loss of
many of the jobs, privatization is one element of economic policy which was set up by the government in cooperation
with the IMF and it has been approved in the parliament. This should have been overall and comprehensive privatization
in finance in all fields, political and financial fields, but in the IMF one fifth was focuses on such as raising
the prices of many of the goods. Despite all that the budget is a different story. This has largely influenced
the democracy, freedom and the understanding of the concepts by the people because it is bread and butter and does
not know the correct administration. We know that we have a lot of corruption, which distorts democracy. So we
have a problem in the level of governments. We do have some democracy. In the opposition we have certain claims
and they are being debated currently. We in the socialist party claim for general amnesty conciliation. Yes I am
wrapping up, sir. I would like to underline certain issues such as democracy, freedom, if they do not cater for
social requirements and the standard of living them it will vanish and it will become just a joke of the political
parties that rule over the people. Thank you.
Chair: I am going to give just a minute each to Professor Alyaga and to Minister Soofan and then we are
going to wrap up. Thank you.
Professor Alyaga: I shall try to summarize what has been said here. I believe what has been discussed here
reflects what takes place in our countries. I fully agree that part of the problem goes beyond our problem here
or our dilemma, which is the relationship between the north and south. I believe that what takes place nowadays
is that there should be a discussion taking into consideration that the situation is unfair and that our problem
should be discussed within the framework of democracy and that there should be modernization of democracy of our
economic systems.
As for emerging democracies they suffer from the problem of an unconcilliation between politics and economics.
Maybe this point was not very clear, but I would like to underline that the problem of democracy and the relationship
of democracy and economics is related to what I am going to say. If the object of off politics is not, the objective
is not to delve into free market economy with all its changes that lead to the imposition of certain policies,
maybe incompatible policies and there are differences amongst the various sectors. The question is the following,
if democracy is capable or supporting the problem of bringing a solution to this problem, so that democracy is
always revived, in order to have people that present their government and various sectors and discuss problems
freely and democratically, I raise the question whether all these problems lead to lowering the standards of living
of these societies? There should be a balance as I have said at the beginning. The system or regime should take
into consideration all of these problems and we should find solutions that are acceptable by the people. Solutions
that are valid. They are valid if the people participate in finding them. Democracy under those lights would be
valid and sound. Consequently the governments should admit or acknowledge the true statement of affairs and I would
like to say very briefly that there is a need to support dialogue amongst people or between the people and their
government and that this should be participation an tat popular representation should come to the forefront in
order to have a true democracy. Thank you.
Minister Soofan: Thank you very much. During the discussions that took place I can start with a brief comment
by saying that health is a calm for the healthy for which only be seen by the ill. The democracy that so many countries
in the world enjoy today is a blessing. A blessing that all aspire to in the 60's, 70's and 80's. All imagined
that democracy was fundamental and everything else was secondary. The management of the economy in that era was
governed by politics.
In our current era it is the other way around, it is the economy that manages politics. Those countries with limited
resources are not able anymore to go back to the past. The programs of parties cannot keep up with the theories
and dogmas that existed and guided them in the 60's and 70's and that relied on the grass roots. Today the alternative
programs are the main issue that constituency also has to look after these programs.
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