Rice, Dervis welcome steps to strengthen democracy

United Nations, 19 September 2005— United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis welcomed steps taken at the UN 2005 World Summit to strengthen democratic institutions, including the establishment of the new UN Democracy Fund, in remarks to a gathering of the Community of Democracies, a five-year old association of countries working to build democracy internationally.

Dervis said the Community of Democracies has a direct interest in continuing efforts to reform and revitalize the UN system. “A more effective UN will be better able to protect human rights, promote democracy, fight poverty and build a safer and more secure world for all its citizens,” Dervis said.

Representatives of participating governments at the meeting at the UN in New York urged the Community of Democracies to continue its own work in support for democratization around the world. The Community has held ministerial-level conferences in Warsaw, Seoul and Santiago, with more than hundred nations participating, and plans to convene its next major gathering in Mali in 2007.

"The size, diversity, and depth of this group is a testament to the universality of democratic values,” Secretary Rice said at the meeting here today. “This group bears witness to the fact that all human beings yearn to live in freedom.”

Foreign Minister Moctar Ouane of Mali, the current chair of the Community, said his goals for the group were focused on poverty reduction, strengthening democratic organizations, and building civil society. Ouane said the Community of Democracies should function as a “democracy caucus” within the UN.

“In order to achieve these objectives, Mali hopes to be able to count on the support of all members of the Community of Democracies, international and regional organizations, as well as civil society,” Ouane said.

Mali is the first LDC—Least Developed Country—to chair the Community. Past chairs include Poland, South Korea and Chile.

Ouane announced that five new countries had been added to the Community’s core convening group, including Cape Verde and Morocco for Africa, Mongolia for Asia, Italy for Europe, and El Salvador for the Americas. Another country representing Asia will be added later in the year.

Dervis said the 2005 World Summit had made “important strides” on a number of global challenges, but that much more needed to be done and that the Community of Democracies had a key role to play. He cited efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and said countries must work together to ensure the success of the new Democracy Fund, the Human Rights Council and the Peacebuilding Commission. He noted that 13 countries have already pledged $32 million to the fund.

“Let me also say that it is clear that a reformed UN will also need to embody greater participation, transparency and accountability—the very hallmarks of a democratic community,” Dervis said.

For more information contact:

William Orme, Tel. +1 212 906 5382, E-mail:William.orme@undp.org

UNDP is the UN’s global development network. It advocates change and provides countries with access to knowledge, skills and resources their populations need to improve their lives.

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