Washington Post Highlights Regressions of Iraq and Afghanistan in Report on Community of Democracies
April 13, 2007 | Printer Friendly

On March 30th CCD reported on the recommendations of the International Advisory Committee (IAC) for the invitation process of the Community of Democracies (CD).

On April 12th at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Democracy Coalition Project (DCP) and Freedom House presented the International Advisory Committee’s recommendations on which countries are qualified to participate in this year’s Community of Democracies Ministerial Conference. It concluded that 100 countries should be invited to the November CD Ministerial in Bamako, Mali, while 18 should be granted “observer” status and 54 should not be invited. The panel of speakers included Morton Halperin (Open Society Institute, Member of the IAC), Ambassador Mark Palmer (CCD Vice President, Vice-Chairman of Freedom House and IAC member) and Ambassador Abdoulaye Diop (Malian Ambassador to the United States and Chair of the CD’s Convening Group).  The panels were moderated by Ted Piccone (DCP and Coordinator of the IAC Secretariat) and Thomas Melia (Deputy Executive Director of Freedom House and Team Leader of the IAC Secretariat). 

The recommendations of the IAC were also reported in the Washington Post by Glenn Kessler on April 13th.  The report highlighted the recommended demotions of Iraq and Afghanistan in this year’s invitation process, which “marked a step back” for the countries.  In the CD Biennial Ministerial two years ago Iraq was granted observer status and Afghanistan was a participant.  The IAC recommendations for this year’s Ministerial suggest that Iraq should not be invited, and Afghanistan should only have observer status.  The editorial also noted that Egypt and Jordan were downgraded, and it was recommended that Russia not be invited.

Source:
Washington Post: Club Democracy Says Iraq Isn't Worthy of Invite

Relevant Documents:

CCD (30 March 2007): International Advisory Committee Releases Recommendations on Invitation Process of the Community of Democracies
The Full Report: IAC Statements and Recommendations on Government Invitations
IAC Press Release: Experts Issue Invitation List for Global Club of Democracies
ISC: Letter of Endorsement of IAC Report

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