Activities related to the CD Ministerial

Community of Democracies Convening Group Adopts Procedures Document

During the 3rd Ministerial meeting of the Community of Democracies, the Convening Group members (Chile, Czech Republic, India, Mali, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, South Africa and the US) met to discuss how to implement Santigao Commitment in the two years between the 3rd and 4th Ministerial. The meeting resulted in the adoption of a procedures document that describes the activities the Community of Democracies will undertake, including establishing thematic working groups and enlarging the convening group before the 4th Ministerial.

Community of Democracies Governments Issue Santiago Commitment

Following the 3rd Ministerial meeting of the Community of Democracies (CD)held in Santiago, Chile April 28-30, 2005 the CD governments issued the Santiago Commitment. This document reaffirms the governments' commitment to the Warsaw Declaration and Seoul Plan of Action and outlines the action agenda for the CD. The document is divided into 6 thematic sections: Democratic Governance and Civil Society; Poverty, Development and Democratic Governance; Regional and Interregional Cooperation for Democratic Governance; Democracy Caucus within the United Nations and Other Multilateral Fora to Support Democracy; Regional Organizations, Promoting Democracy, and Responding to National and Transnational Threats and Challenges to Democracy; and Regional Specific Commitments.

In addition to the Santiago Commitment, working group reports from the thematic and regional panels were issued:

Panel 1: Civil Society and Democratic Governance : Participation, responsibility, transparency and information.

Panel 2: Poverty, Developement and Democratic Governance

Panel 3: Cooperation for Democratic Governance : Exchange of regional or interregional experiences to strengthen the Rule of Law and political parties.

Panel 4: Coalitions and Caucus in support of Democracy in United Nations and other multilateral fora.

Panel 5: Regional Organizations. Responding to threats to democracy and promoting democracy.

The Americas Regional Panel (in Spanish)

Africa Regional Panel (in French)

Europe Regional Panel

Asia and Oceania Regional Panel

Speeches

Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell, Secretary General of the Club of Madrid and Former Prime Minister of Canada

Mr. Genaro Arriagda, President of the Presendent of the Non-Governmental Meeting

Dr. Condoleeza Rice, Secretary of State, United States

H.E Ban Ki-moon, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Republic of Korea

US-India Global Democracy Initiative to support CD and UN Democracy Fund

President George Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced in July 2005 the creation of a US-India Global Democracy Iniative that will support iniatives that support and strengthen democracies. To this effect, each government has pledged $10 million to the UN Democracy Fund and reaffirms their support for the implementation of the Santiago Commitment.

DCP Prepares Comparative List of Invitees to Third Ministerial

After the release of the list of countries invited to the Third Ministerial, the Democracy Coalition Project prepared a comparative list of governments invited to the First, Second and Third Ministerial.

  CD Participation Criteria - In September, 2002 the Community of Democracies Convening Group determined that states need to respect certain democratic standards in order to participate in the Community of Democracies.

Chile Issues Community of Democracies Progress Report at
UN Ministerial Meeting

On September 22, Chile’s Foreign Minister Soledad Alvear chaired a meeting for foreign ministers of the Community of Democracies at the United Nations. FM Alvear released a progress report summarizing actions taken towards implementation of the Seoul Plan of Action adopted at the second ministerial meeting in 2002 and presented Chile’s goals for the third ministerial conference, to be held in Santiago May 4–6, 2005. The final press communique reaffirms commitments made by CD governments to continue promoting the work of the democratic caucus in the United Nations and other multilateral forums.

To read the entire speech, click here.

For more information please see the official website of the 2005 Community of Democracies Ministerial is: www.cdemo.cl.