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Again, the IBA Tops Itself(AllAfrica.com Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The world's lawyers came together last week in Madrid for the Annual Conference of the International Bar Association to learn and share ideas about legal developments, trends and practices in various jurisdictions, especially the financial crisis and its effect on the legal profession. The Annual Conference of the International Bar Association which took place in the Spanish capital, Madrid, literally started off with a bang. At Sunday, October 4's opening ceremony, a dazzling fireworks display lit up the clear Madrid skies as the Global Voice of the Legal Profession welcomed over 5,000 lawyers, judges and academics to its 2009 conference. Punctual start The opening ceremony which lasted for just over an hour began punctually and with precision at exactly 6.00pm with the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, leading a procession of other speakers to the high table. A few minutes before that, a huge screen had shown vivid imagery and sound of the international nature of the IBA. The screen was hung high against backdrops that made it appear three dimensional and the speakers delivered the sound with such clarity it was almost surreal. Chair, Spanish Bar Council, Carlos Carnicer Diez, kicked off the evening with brief remarks in Spanish which were translated into English on the screen. He was followed by former President of the IBA, Fernando Pombo, who was co-Chair of the Conference Host Committee. Pombo also spoke in Spanish. Spellbinding Keynote Speaker, Quentin Peel, held everybody spellbound from start to finish with his speech which was delivered in the main ex tempore. Peel who is the International Affairs Editor of the Financial Times was the quintessential British man; his speech was laced with healthy doses of dry, self deprecating British wit. In Peel's view, it was the financial rules in place that saved last year's recession from turning into a depression, but he pointed out that more rules would be needed in the next 20 years. 'With this recession' declared Peel, 'we have avoided the terrible mistakes made in the 1930s, the protectionism. That's what is saving this recession becoming a depression.' He noted that the G20, made up of seemingly disparate countries that included the West, Australia, China, and Argentina though not on the surface a totally logical choice, represented the new international order which required a unified and functional set of rules to meet their needs. 'The G20 is large' he said, 'but it is at least inclusive. It's a recognition that Western countries, led by the United States, can no longer dictate the economic agenda'. Noting that President Barack Obama once said that those who accused the United States of acting alone were now waiting for the US to solve their problems, Peel tellingly asked, 'But are the rest of us up to it?' Recalling the Asian financial crisis of the 1990s and that of Argentina and Brazil, Peel said, 'The US Calvary always rode to the rescue of regional crises, but now there's a crisis in the US stables. Have we bottomed out?' According to Peel, 'The G20 is the best thing available and it seems to be doing the trick'. Other Speakers Peel was followed by Hendrik Haag, Chair of the Legal Practice Division and Robert A. Stein, Chair, Public and Professional Interest Division. Stein in his remarks referred to the PPID as the 'eyes and soul' of the IBA. The PPID he said had 11,000 lawyers from 197 jurisdictions as members. Again, Record Numbers IBA President, Fernando Pelaez-Pier spoke next. Pelaez-Pier spoke with pride about the record numbers attending this year's conference noting, 'For the 4th year in a row, we have reached record levels'. He was followed by the Spanish Minister of Justice, Francisco Caamano Dominguez. King of Spain Declares Conference Open The 5,000 strong audience rose to honour His Majesty, Juan Carlos I, the King of Spain as he made his entrance promptly at 6.00pm when the ceremony was billed to start. The last to speak and addressing the audience in Spanish, His majesty warmly welcomed the world's lawyers to his country. He spoke with pride of the great history behind Spanish legal science, tracing it back to the Middle Ages. A few minutes later and to great and resounding applause, King Carlos I declared the 2009 conference of the International Bar Association open and departed the venue with minimum fuss. Flamenco Artist, Estrella Morente Performs Thereafter, the ceremony went into entertainment mode with acclaimed flamenco artist, Estrella Morente performing. Morente it was who famously sang the song, Volver, in a film of the same name which was mimed by Hollywood star, Penelope Cruz. Morente who was dressed in a dramatic red dress took the stage for the next half hour and with a single guitarist playing, what else? A Spanish guitar! The Spanish guitar is of course the name given to the modern classical guitar and so named because its characteristics were established by a Spaniard, Antonio Tores Jurado, in the 19th Century. Her guitarist accompanying her, Estrella Morente gave an excellent account of herself with her powerful voice which resonated in the auditorium. Behind her, the giant screen provided an excellent backdrop with spectacular, vibrant and breathtaking colours to match her dress, adding to the drama of her performance. With her Manila shawl, an intricate silk shawl favoured by flamenco dancers, and her hand clapping (palmas - another accompaniment of the flamenco) she cut an altogether breathtaking image. Welcome Party As the curtains were drawn on the first half of the evening, delegates were taken by bus from the Palacio Municipal de Congresso (Campo de las Naciones) venue of the opening ceremony to the Palacio del Negralejo venue of the welcome party. There, 5,000 plus lawyers from around the world let down their hair as they were wined and dined to their heart's content with the best of Spain's culinary offerings. They filtered out to the expansive grounds of the Palacio where the party continued. In every corner there was entertainment provided: sword dancers, flamenco artists, bands, singers and even what seemed like a band playing Scottish Highland bagpipes! They were not however; they were Galician Pipers from Spain's mysterious North. Throughout the huge grounds there was a touch of Spain where the cultures, sensations, flavours and tastes of each region was on display and to be savoured: Andalusia, in the deep south, famous for its flamenco, ferias (fairs) and bull fighting; the Mediterranean with its famous paella and Spanish cocktails; the North with its history, artefacts and tradition. All had the local cuisine, arts and craft, music and dance of the region. And Palacio del Negralejo, an 18th Century stately home, was the perfect backdrop to the unlimited enjoyment and fun by otherwise prim and proper lawyers IBA Meet Starts Off with a Bang And then, thud! The noise was very loud and seemed, as one guest described it later, to come from one's insides. Startled guest wondered what it could be. Another thud, just as loud, then another and another. Surely, this was no 21-gun salute? The highlight of the night was a spectacular fireworks display which lit up the night skies as far as the eye could see. It was a breathtaking and dazzling sight with some stunning colours and formations. No IBA welcome party had ended quite as spectacularly before. Once again, the IBA had topped itself; just when veterans of IBA conferences thought they'd seen and heard it all, the Association gave them another show stopper. (c) 2009 AllAfrica Global Media. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |