Community
of Democracies Convening Group’ Ministerial Meeting
Joint Press Communiqué
New
York, September 26th, 2003, at the 58th UN General Assembly
A Ministerial
Meeting of the Convening Group of the Community of Democracies
was held in New York, on September 26th, 2003, at the 58th
regular session of the United Nations General Assembly. Representatives
from Chile, the Czech Republic, India, the Republic of Korea,
Mali, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, the United States
and as special guest Italy, Peru and Romania, attended the
meeting. The participants after reviewing the progress in
the implementation of the Seoul Plan of Action and the role
of the Community of Democracies in the UN, agreed to issue
the following press release:
The
members of the Convening Group of Community of Democracies reaffirm
the commitment of “The Warsaw Declaration: Toward a Community
of Democracies”, adopted at the First Ministerial Conference
of The Community of Democracies, on June 27, 2000, and the “Seoul
Plan of Action- Democracy: Investing for Peace and Prosperity”,
adopted at the Second Ministerial Conference of The Community
of Democracies, on November 12, 2002.
The Convening
Group stressed the adherence of the Community of Democracies
to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, and fundamental principles of
international law.
They also
emphasized the interdependence between peace, development,
human rights and democracy and reiterated the Community of
Democracies’ commitment to the continuous development
of democracy domestically and the promotion of democracy regionally
and globally.
The members
of the Convening Group recalled the Warsaw Declaration commitment
that the Community of Democracies will collaborate on democracy-related
issues in existing international and regional institutions,
forming coalitions and caucuses to support resolutions and
other international activities aimed at the promotion of democratic
governance.
They acknowledged
the mandate of the Seoul Ministerial Conference to the Convening
Group, to meet regularly and be available to offer support
and advice to participant states for actions taken within
regional or international organizations. They also stressed
the importance of active implementation of the Seoul Plan
of Action by all countries which attended the Seoul Ministerial
meeting of the Community of Democracies.
In close
consultation and cooperation with the Community of Democracies’
interested participants, the Convening Group encourages the
formation of coalitions and caucuses within the UN and other
multilateral fora to support democracy. The members of the
Convening Group of the Community of Democracies have decided
to strengthen a process of consultation and coordination at
the UN in order to encourage and facilitate the Community
of Democracies’ interested participants’ actions
dedicated to promote and defend democracy, and the human rights
and fundamental freedoms protected under democracy. The Convening
Group members will consult and coordinate actions, as appropriate,
at the UN General Assembly, the ECOSOC and the Commission
of Human Rights.
In particular,
the Convening Group decided that they would meet during the
58th UN General Assembly to consider eventual joint initiatives.
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