Organization of American States and African Union July 11-12 Conference on Working Together in Support of Democracy
July 12, 2007 | Printer Friendly

Leaders from the Americas and Africa joined in Washington, DC for a July 11-12, 2007 conference on the “Promotion and Defense of Democracy in Africa and America.” CCD was pleased to assist in the planning of this event, the first formal meeting between the Organization of American States and the African Union, which was organized to provide an opportunity for the two regional organizations to discuss common challenges and share experiences in the process of democratic transition and consolidation.

The opening day of what was called the “Democracy Bridge” meeting was highlighted by addresses from OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, African Union Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konaré, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, OAS Permanent Council Chair Ambassador Deborah-Mae Lovell of Antigua and Barbuda, and Mali’s Ambassador to the U.S. Abdoulaye Diop, Chair of the Community of Democracies.  Secretary General Insulza specifically focused on the opportunity the participants had to learn from the comparative accomplishments of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, signed in 2001 by the governments of the Americas, and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance, adopted in January 2007.  Secretary Rice noted that the conference also went beyond the sharing of best practices, calling on governments to “use our democratic partnership to build up, expand, and broaden democratic institutions, institutions that are transparent and accountable to the needs of all of their people”

Speakers for the second day included former President of Cape Verde Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro and Vice President of Guatemala Eduardo Stein. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, Paula Dobrianksy; AU Commissioner Julia Dolly Joiner; OAS Assistant Secretary for Political Affairs, Dante Caputo, CARICOM Assistant Secretary General Colin Granderson; and OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin are among others who addressed the forum.

Links to full remarks of the speakers at this conference along with other details of the proceedings are provided below and will be updated as they become available:

OAS Press Release for July 11

Detailed Program of OAS-AU Democracy Bridge Conference

Opening Address by OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza

Full remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

Full remarks by OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin