Community of Democraties

Statement by the President of the United States of America on the 10th Anniversary of the Community of Democracies

The White House. Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release July 03, 2010

Today, Foreign Ministers from around the world gather in Krakow to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Community of Democracies. The United States was a leader in the formation of the Community of Democracies, and remains firmly committed to supporting its efforts to advance democratic values and institutions.

Its founding document – the Warsaw Declaration – stands as a powerful expression of our shared commitment to universal values and democratic principles. Ten years ago, 106 nations affirmed their dedication to respecting and upholding core democratic values including the right of citizens to choose their representatives through regular, free, and fair elections with universal and equal suffrage; to equal protection under the law; and to freedom of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association, and freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. The Warsaw Declaration also recognizes a core lesson that the United States draws from our own democratic journey: transparent, participatory, and accountable democratic institutions are essential for protecting and upholding these universal values.

High Level Democracy Meeting in Krakow completed

On the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Community of Democracies, eighty official delegations from around the world, including forty at the ministerial level, gathered In Krakow, Poland July 2-4 to reaffirm their commitment to democracy at the High Level Democracy Meeting (HLDM). Hosted by the Polish government and organized by the Permanent Secretariat of the Community of Democracies, the event drew official delegations from New Zealand, Chile, Indonesia, North America, Kenya and Europe as well as 200 civil society activists from Burma/Myanmar, Zimbabwe, China, Russia and Cuba, among others. The legendary Solidarity leader, Lech Wałesa, and former U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright were among the guests. European, African and North American Parliamentarians convened in the newly formed Parliamentary Forum at the initiative of Lithuania, which currently holds the chairmanship of the Community of Democracies.

Read more about HLDM in Krakow

Parliamentary Forum of the Community of Democracies in Vilnius, March 11-12, 2010

Conference SENSE - 7 December 2009

On December  7, the Permanent Secretariat of the Community of Democracies organized a conference within the Strategic Economic Needs and Security Exercise program (SENSE) entitled “Making a Difference:  Thinking Globally – Acting Locally: Role of Individual in System Shaping”. The main goal of the program is to advance awareness of state employees in countries such as Belarus, Afghanistan, Moldova, Georgia, Serbia about the dependence between security, economic development and establishing of an open, democratic and just society. The objective was to help  the Belarusian participants strike the just balance between complex system structures in their state and the challenges they face every day.

The conference was divided into two panels “International Influence – Leadership, Vision, Responsibility and Agendas” and “International Impact – Practitioners, Work Plans and Added Value” focusing on the opportunities for change an individual can create in its own environment through work, strength of character, ethics and skills. The panelists representing international organizations such as FRONTEX and ODiHR focused on their roles in shaping of political, economic, and social changes and influencing the lives of ordinary citizens. Invited representatives from the international organizations and NGOs had a chance  to share their thoughts on best practices and also discussed with the participants the functioning of their organizations, and the importance of their mission and work.

To see the program click here.

Executive Director Prof. Misztal with a Visit to Greece - 1-3 December

On December 1-3, Professor Misztal, the Executive Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Community of Democracies has payed a visit to Greece. The purpose of the visit was to establish and to dynamize the active presence of the Hellenic Republic in the works of the Community of Democracies. Current Prime Minister of Greece, Mr George Papanedreu was among the original signataries of the Warsaw Declaration from the year 2000. The Executive Director has met with Mr. Ilias Fotopoulos, Head of the Directorate of Human Rights, MFA, dr. Jens Bastian, Senior Research Fellow, Eliamep (Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy), Professor Christodulos Yiallurides, Director, European Cultural Centre for Delphi, Professor Evangelos Chrysos, President, The Hellenic Parliamentary Foundation and Professor Thedoroe Christodoulis, Department of International & European Affairs, Panteion University. It was agreed that Greece will intensify its institutional presence in the Community of Democracies, especially since the year 2010 is a commemoration of the battle of Marathon, where the principles of Hellenic Democracy have been established. The Greek parliament will consider passing a declaration on support of the Community of Democracies upon receiving an appropriate request from Poland. Greece will also be glad to participate in the program of Local Democracy Mentoring and serve as a regional hub for the Balkans.

Democracy Support Workshop - 20-21 November 2009

The College of Europe and the Permanent Secretariat of the Community of Democracies hosted a “Democracy Support Workshop” for European diplomatic academies’ representatives, human rights officials from Foreign Ministries and civil society participants specializing in East and Southern Central Europe. The workshop focused on the Diplomat's Handbook covering issues of diplomatic support for civil society and democratization.  

The main issues covered during the workshop are:

• Analyse how the EU can export its values and more precisely its democratic principles in its neighbourhood
• Enable foreign ministers to assess the role and value of democracy development support by diplomats
• Identify through the experiences of diplomats and civil society representatives the good practices in the field 

The Diplomat’s Handbook on Democracy Development Support was the key pedagogical tool for the workshop. The presentational emphases was drawn from actual experience of European diplomats in supporting human rights and democracy in the field, with a particular accent on experience in transitions, past and present, in Europe and the Mediterranean.  

To see the program of the workshop click here.