May 04, 2011

European Parliament: A CQ Press Book Launch of 'Separatist Movements - A Global Reference'


Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP, Brian Beary and Marino Busdachin. 

May 3 saw the European launch of Brian Beary’s recently published “Separatist Movements – A Global Reference”. The event which was held in the European Parliament in Brussels gathered academics, journalists, experts from think tanks and NGOs as well as MEPs and staff from the European Parliament.The event followed a launch in Washington DC on April 28, attended by decision makers and US-based activists.

 

      

    Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP                      Marino Busdachin, UNPO

After opening remarks by Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP, General Secretary of the UNPO,Marino Busdachin, continued to welcome the book as a much needed and important contribution to the work of strengthening the right to self-determination.  While warmly welcoming the book Busdachin however questioned the use of the word separatist, noting that this is usually the term with which governments depict rights activists in a negative way and that seeking self-determination does not need to imply that a movement is separatist.

                                  

The author then explained that the aim of the book was to show the variety of autonomist movements and to serve as the first ever reference work on such movements. Beary concluded by thanking the UNPO for its help in providing him with contacts around the world, and emphasized that different groups face different challenges; while some want only to be recognized as peoples others seek political autonomy.

                                  

                                     Brian Beary and Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP

 

For more information on the book, please go to CQ Press.

To read the press relase, click here