The Role of Regional and Multilateral Organizations in the Defense and Promotion of Democracy
H.E. Ambassador, Joel W. Adechi
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Benin To the United Nations
Delivered to The Community of Democracies Ministerial Conference
Washington, D.C.
February 20-21, 2001

Excellences, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:

I wish to thank the Convening Group of the Community of Democracies and the General Secretariat of the Organization of American STATES for the invitation extended to me to participate in a high-level conference such as this one.

It is an honor to share with you some reflections regarding ways and means to strengthen democracy at the Regional and multilateral levels, and I am eager to participate in that debate.

But before we enter to this interactive process I would like to bring to your attention significance of one initiative, which took place last December in Africa that is the fourth International Conference of New and Restored Democracies.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The emergence of democracy as a universally accepted form of government is one of the most important development of our century, and in this regard, mainly the second half of the century has witnessed democratic rebirth.

Democracy has spread across every continent, but at the same time we have learned lesson that the progress of democracy doesn't necessarily go from success to success, that it is not a linear process.

We have also learned that the progress of democracy needs democratic solidarity.

Solidarity among young democracies, solidarity from mature democracies to the young ones and those who are struggling to build democracy.

That is the reason why the government of the Republic of Benin invited all United Nations members States to participate, regardless of their political systems, to exchange lessons learned and best practices, to focus on the operational aspects of functioning democracies.

The conference was convened in Cotonou (Benin) from 4 to 6 December 2000. the fact that countries, global regional and specialized institutions, academic and experts have gathered in such numbers, representing all region of the world, all major civilizations, cultures and religions and a variety of paths to democracy is testimony that we share a strong and profound belief in the value of democracy. 104 countries were represented, 69 NGO also participated as observers.

M. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations addressed the Conference which was also attended, as Special Guest by the Heads of STATE of Mali, Niger, Senegal.

The Benin Conference which was taking place for the first time in Africa was following three others, from the first in Manila where only 13 countries participated in 1988 to Managua in 1994 and Bucharest in 1997.

The fourth International Conference of New and Restored Democracies is also another initiative on the list existing initiatives to exert positive influence and dynamic impact on the democratic process.

Let me recall the universal Declaration on Democracy adopted by the Council of the interparliamentary Union on September 1997 I The decisions 141 and 142 adopted in July 1999 by the Conference of Heads of STATES and Government of the Organization of African Unity related to the principles of good governance and to the necessity to restore constitutional legality member STATES whose governments came to power by unconstitutional means.

The Warsaw Declaration adopted by the Community of Democracies in June 2000, Bamako Declaration adopted in November 2000 by the members States of the International Organization of Francophone Countries.

In organizing the Conference Benin has received financial and logistical assistance from the United Nations Secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme, the International Organization of Francophone countries and from several donor countries such as Norway, Denmark the United STATES, Canada, Japan, Netherlands, Nigeria, People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Switzerland.

The theme of the Conference was Peace, Security, Democracy and Development. The Conference took place in plenary and three thematic debates.

Commitments to peacefully settle conflicts, to promote a culture of peace, to consolidate and deepen democracy and good Governance, to create at National and International levels favorable conditions for a fair and sustainable development.

The recommendations were addressed to civil society organizations, to private sector, the international community and the United Nations System in a view to increase their involvement and to improve coordination and information sharing.

The recommendations suggested also that in providing technical assistance there should be an effort to resort more extensively to local expertise in developing countries, to develop a heavier reliance on building local democracy through the use of local actors.

Another recommendation suggests to develop democracy database and strategic partnerships to document and share democratization experiences.

The general debate was following background papers;

• Sharing best Practices in Democracy building

• The confining Conditions of Democratic Transitions an Consolidation in Troubled STATES in Latin America: The case of Peru and Columbia

• Sharing Experiences on Best Practices in Democracy building in the Caribbean

• Reflection on Democracy in Asia.

The thematic debates were introduced by three thematic papers on:

• Democracy, good Governance and Development

• Participation of youth and women in the democratic process in development

• Democracy and Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution

The conference adopted the Cotonou Declaration which includes the commitments and the Recommendations of the Fourth International Conference Of New and Restored Democracies.

In conclusion, the Fourth International Conference of New and Restored Democracies reiterated that the lack of democracy is central to the root causes of internal conflicts.

In this regard Democratization is central to state building and peace building.

Thank You