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The Secretary-General Message to the Community

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The Secretary-General Message to the Community THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES SEMINAR "THE ROLE OF REGIONAL AND MULTILATERAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE DEFENSE AND PROMOTION OF DEMOCRACY" Washington. D.C.. 20-21 February 2001 I am pleased to convey my best wishes to the participants in this seminar on a subject of great importance to the work of the United Nations. The United Nations' efforts in promoting democracy are based on a set of key principles drawn from the lessons of past decades, and seek to provide a universal basis for the success of democratic rule. First, democracy and the rule of law are inseparably connected. Democracy strengthens respect for the rule of law by making the people the ultimate source of legal authority. And democracy depends on the rule of law, because widiout respect for the rule of law it is not possible to hold free and fair elections. A strong, independent judiciary is essential as well. The UN's governance programmes have given support to countries in need of assistance in this field. Second, democracy implies majority rule. However, this does not mean that minorities can or should be excluded from the exercise of power. The minority must always be free to state its case, and to have its case considered freely and openly. Third, democracy needs a free and vigorous mass media. For an election to be truly fair, different parties and candidates should have equal access to the media, and should be equally open to its scrutiny. Neither state power nor the power of money should determine that one party gets a hearing while another is denied it. Fourth, democratization is an essential part of the development process. That is why we have come to understand that our work for development has to focus on issues of governance. War is the worst enemy of development, and broad-based development is the best form of long-term conflict prevention. Almost all the work of the United Nations is aimed, one way or another, at breaking the vicious cycle of deprivation and conflict, and replacing it with a virtuous cycle of development and peace. Fifth, democratization gives people a stake in society. The importance of this process can hardly be overstated, for unless people feel that they have a true stake in society, lasting peace will not be possible and sustainable development will not be achieved. It is vital that all segments of society be able to participate in decision-making, at the national, regional and local levels. Sixth, creating a democracy involves much more than holding elections. Elections should be organized within the broader context of a comprehensive strategy aimed at creating stronger, democratic national institutions. Seventh, unconstitutional changes of Government or attempts at outright subversion of democracy must be condemned consistently and universally. Recent attempts to legitimize the illegal seizure of power through flawed, unfair and un-free elections should be seen for what they are. An important element in strengthening democratic processes is to promote the emergence of a culture of human rights. The UN treaty-based human rights system provides a normative basis for the implementation and monitoring of human rights in all countries around the world, including countries in transition to democracy. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights provides advisory services and technical assistance for educational campaigns, and for the preparation of national reports to be submitted to the UN's human rights treaty bodies. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, The UN has supported the efforts of groups of Member States in their initiatives aimed at promoting democracy. Since 1988, four Conferences of New or Restored Democracies have been held in Manila, Managua, Bucharest and Cotonou, to explore ways to identify and put in place democratic ideals, mechanisms and institutions. The most recent of these - and the first to be held in Africa - was open to all countries of the United Nations. I hope the Community of Democracies will establish a complementary and mutually reinforcing process with the New and Restored Democracies movement, to promote democratization around the world. Your movement — Community of Democracies — has a unique ability to mobilize political will among the democracies of the world. I applaud your efforts to anchor democracy where it is fledgling and protect it where it is endangered, and I wish you all success in your deliberations. Thank you. To: Tapio Kanninen/UNDPA@UNDPA, Axel Wennmann/UNDPA@UNDPA, Edward Mortimer/NY/UNO@UNHQ, Ruxandra Ferascu/NY/UNO@UNHQ cc: Subject: Democracy Seminar Attached, please find the revised text for the SG's message to the Democracy Conference at which he will be represented byAmb. Gambari. Thanks. oas.dem.doc THE SECRETARY-GENERAL 25 January 2001 Excellency, I would like to thank you for your letter dated 15 December 2000, inviting me to be a keynote speaker at an international forum on the role of regional and multilateral organizations in the promotion and defense of democracy, to be held at the headquarters of the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C. from 20-21 February. I regret that I will be unable to accept this invitation, due to previous commitments. I am pleased to inform you, however, that I have designated Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, my Adviser for Special Assignments in Africa, to represent me at this event and deliver a message on my behalf. Please accept. Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Kofi A. Annan His Excellency Mr. Cesar Gaviria Secretary-General Organization of American States Washington. D.C. F: Jack Christofides@UNDPA 24/01/2001 05:13 PM To: Fatemeh Ziai/NY/UNO@UNHQ cc: Michael Moller/UNDPA@UNDPA, Joan Felli/UNDPA@UNDPA, Tapio Kanninen/UNDPA@UNDPA, Danilo Turk/UNDPA@UNDPA Subject: OAS mtg on Democracies Prof Gambari has agreed to attend the OAS mtg on democracy in Washington on 20 and 21 Feb. DPA colleagues will see to briefing Prof Gambari and preparing the necessary statement for delivery on behalf of the SG./J ROUTING SUP FICHE DE TRANSMISSION Room No. — No de bureau Extension — Poste Date FOR ACTION POUR SUITE A DONNER FOR APPROVAL POUR APPROBATION FOR SIGNATURE POUR SIGNATURE FOR COMMENTS POUR OBSERVATIONS MAY WE DISCUSS? POURRIONS-NOUS EN PARLER ? YOUR ATTENTION VOTRE ATTENTION AS DISCUSSED COMME CONVENU AS REQUESTED SUITE A VOTRE DEMANDS NOTE AND RETURN NOTER ET RETOURNER FOR INFORMATION POUR INFORMATION <M- 4- wc COM.6 '2-78: (J (r- 0 B II , ORGANIZATION or AMERICAN STATES WASHINGTON, D. C. EXECUTIVE OFFICE Of THE i'tCRFTARY-GENERAL THE SECHETAHY GENERAL December t£ , 2000 Excellency: It is an honor for me to lnvite_Your_Excellency to be a_keynote speaker at an important gathering of_ organizationsi .from around the world to discuss a topic that increasingly demands our attention - the promotion and defense of democracy. The Convening Group of the Community of Democracies (Poland, Chile, the Czech Republic, India, Mali, Portugal, the Republic of Korea and the United States) has agreed to sponsor an international forum on the role of regional and multilateral organizations in the promotion and defense of democracy. I am pleased to serve as host of this important event at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) II in Washington, D.C. on February 20-21, 2001. The historic gathering of over 100 leaders from around the world at the Community of Democracies conference last June in Warsaw, Poland highlighted the important role regional and international organizations are playing in bolstering democratic institutions. Practice in this field varies greatly from region to region. The OAS and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), for example, have developed extensive experience in carrying out member states' commitments to support emerging democracies. In other institutions, member states are beginning to take steps in this direction. I am certain that all of us could learn a great deal from one another as we tackle the difficult task of executing our mandates in this field. His Excellency Dr. Kofi Annan Secretary General United Nations One United Nations Plaza Room S-3770A New York, N.Y. 10017 -2- The genesis of this meeting comes from a desire on the part of many governments, as expressed in Warsaw, to exchange information about recent experiences in supporting democracy. As noted in the final Communique issued at the Warsaw Ministerial, participants agreed that responses by regional organizations to threats to democracy need to be strengthened, and that regional organizations should coordinate to share lessons learned among themselves. Participants also suggested that the Community of Democracies at large should consider ways to support efforts by regional and multilateral organizations to prevent and respond to threats and crises, and to promote dialogue aimed at improving and establishing cooperation on this issue. I believe this gathering will provide an opportunity for a high-level exchange of views on the whole range of democracy-related activities that have emerged as governments strive to consolidate democratic institutions. Topics to be discussed, for example, include efforts to promote and strengthen democratic values, institutions and practices; political and juridical instruments to defend democracy; and efforts to prevent the interruption of democracy. It will also be an opportunity to discuss steps international organizations could take in the future to continue collaboration in this field, with an eye towards the next Community of Democracies conference in Seoul in 2002. To participate in this event, please contact Elizabeth Spehar, Executive Coordinator of the Unit for the Promotion of Democracy (UPD), at (202) 458-3589. Her office will provide the agenda and all of the pertinent follow-up details for the meeting. I very much look forward to Your Excellency's participation in this event.
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