|
Edwards
Announces New "Strategy for Freedom"
RALEIGH,
NC: Senator John Edwards (D-NC) today announced a new "Strategy
for Freedom," a detailed plan for promoting democracy
around the world by establishing an official list of imprisoned
dissidents, creating new international institutions committed
to democracy promotion, increasing U.S. support for international
democracy programs, and reorienting U.S. aid programs to promote
democracy.
"Promoting
democracy around the world should be one of America's highest
priorities-for the sake of those who love freedom around the
world, and for the sake of our own security," Edwards
said. "But encouraging democracy takes more than President
Bush's combination of high-minded rhetoric at home and high-handed
arrogance toward our allies. Encouraging democracy requires
a concrete strategy for working together with other free nations,
encouraging those who are building free societies amid oppression,
and pressure the world's dictators to change their ways. My
'Strategy for Freedom' offers a concrete agenda to win the
war of ideas and advance the cause of democracy around the
world."
In December,
Edwards laid out his detailed agenda for stopping the proliferation
of nuclear weapons, including a new Global Nuclear Compact.
The "Strategy for Freedom" he announced today includes:
- Establishing
new international institutions committed to promoting democracy.
Edwards will establish a new "Organization for Security
and Cooperation in the Middle East" bringing together
the world's leading democracies together with countries
in the region moving toward democratic reform. The new organization
could assist with civil society and political party development,
monitor elections, and manage crises. In the 1970s, the
"Helsinki Process" played a similar role in advancing
freedom in Eastern Europe. Edwards would also create a new
Middle East Partnership Program at NATO that would help
establish civilian control over militaries in democratizing
states, as well as a "democracy caucus" within
the United Nations that would work to prevent states like
Libya from getting improper roles, like heading the U.N.'s
human rights committee.
- Creating
a New "Freedom List." Edwards will direct the
State Department to create a new "Freedom List"
of imprisoned dissidents to name and shame nations that
incarcerate political prisoners. Like the FBI's "most
wanted" list, the "Freedom List" will draw
attention to terrible international violations of human
rights.
- Increasing
support for democracy programs. Edwards will double funding
for the National Endowment for Democracy, which supports
grassroots civil society programs around the world.
- Curbing
U.S. assistance to nondemocratic states. Edwards will reward
nations that move along the path toward democracy with increased
aid and debt relief. But where governments are nondemocratic
and show no interest in developing democracy, he will curb
aid or shift it toward nongovernmental bodies.
|
