A wide-ranging question and answer session with Foreign Secretary David Miliband focused on the challenges of promoting democratic values consistently - including in Kenya, Pakistan, Colombia and China.

Britain must ensure it is seen to be on the side of civilians challenging oppressive governments, David Miliband told the Fabian 'Change the World' conference.

Saturday, 19th January

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Click here for a full transcript of David Miliband's New Year Conference 2008 Speech

The challenges of promoting democratic values consistently in practice proved a recurring theme of a wide-ranging question and answer session following the Foreign Secretary's keynote speech.

Having spoken of a 'civilian surge' was reshaping global politics, Miliband was asked whether, in contrast to the Cold War, the west risked 'being seen now as, places like Pakistan, as being seen on the side of oppressive governments against peoples', Miliband acknowledged that 'it's very important that we're seen to be on the side of the civilian'.

'I think our job is to build up independent systems, open and democratic systems, rather than to invest in personalities … we've got to be seen to be backing institutions on the basis of clear values', said Miliband. He argued that this had been the aim of British policy but his remarks appeared to tacitly acknowledge criticism of how support for the Musharaff government risked damaging the credibility of the west's democratic commitments.

'The explosion of new media in Pakistan I think has been one of the signal achievements of the last five years and it's been rolled back by the state of emergency in October', said Miliband.

The Foreign Secretary also stressed the importance of the international community's refusal to recognise the Kibaki government following widespread electoral irregularities in Kenya:

'Kenya's future significantly depends on its ability to find a political system which shares power rather than concentrates it, and it has to be a Kenyan solution', said Miliband. Britain could not determine the outcome, it could exert influence 'by making clear that we're not going to recognise a government that is forced through in the face of credible challenges to the election result', said Miliband, in comments highlighting growing international frustration with President Kibaki's hostility to mediation efforts:

Challenged by Ellie Reeves of Labour's National Executive Committee on the killing of trade unionists by the Colombian military. Miliband said the number of trade unionists killed was 'shocking' and that he had raised the matter personally with the Colombian President at the UN last Autumn. Miliband assured the conference that Britain was not providing military aid but specific support for training and reform the Colombian military so as to improve human rights:

'This is very important. The charge is that we're giving military aid to people who are then killing trade unionists. I can absolutely assure you that's not the case. £335,000 is given by the UK, not in military aid but in training to reform the Columbian military'.

'You have to form a judgement in politics and foreign policy. I believe the President of Colombia is trying to reduce the attacks on trade unionists … I believe the government is trying to improve the human rights situation, not exacerbate it. But because of some of the difficulties that exist with their armed forces, it is very clear the basis on which we're willing to support the efforts of the government.

'If there was any allegation of substance that we were somehow conniving on the attacks against trade unionists, that would be an incredibly serious thing and completely contrary to what our foreign policy is doing', he said.

With the Prime Minister on a high-profile visit to China, Miliband gave a cautious answer when asked by Fabian General Secetary Sunder Katwala whether he saw the Beijing Olympics as an opportunity to improve human rights in China:

'It's important that we don't treat China like a sort of errant child which needs to be disciplined', stressed Miliband.

'There is pressure within China to use the fact that the world's attention will be on China to forge ahead with internal reform … [That] does create an opportunity for deeper engagement on economic issues, on environmental issues, but also on political issues. So with that caveat it's important to say it's a massive opportunity for engagement', he said.

'If anyone can think of a way to make an institution unpopular it's to get it to spend seven years talking about itself', said Miliband, promising that the government would shift the Europe debate, after the Reform Treaty, away from institutions to issues of delivery which matter to people.

Miliband said that the government needed make the case for the Reform Treaty in the House of Commons from Monday but said he looked forward to the period beyond that where, with an 'agreed bar' on further institutional debate, the focus could be that 'we actually show that Europe makes a difference to people'.

'My belief has always been that Europe's problem is a delivery deficit, not a democratic deficit, and that it's by engaging in the issues that we will mobilise people around Europe … we have got to make the argument that Britain is better off in Europe, that Europe is better off for Britain playing a leading role'.

The conference also heard an argument against democracy from environmental campaigner Mayer Hillman, who said the evidence showed that publics were not willing to live within the means of the planet. Asked 'does democracy have to be put in second place to the survival of life on earth?', Miliband argued that 'we should try to mobilise democracy to face the challenge, rather than to sideline democracy'.

Click here for a full transcript of the question and answer sessions.

Click here for a full transcript of David Miliband's New Year Conference 2008 Speech.