Lithuanian Presidency of the Community of Democracies strengthened and revitalized it, Lithuanian Foreign Minister says
Two-year Lithuanian presidency of the Community of Democracies has shown that this body uniting democratic states can effectively consolidate experience of countries in strengthening democracy and organize assistance for emerging democracies, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis said at the United Nations Democracy Caucus meeting on 23 September in New York.
“During the Presidency, we concentrated efforts to implement necessary solutions in order to give the Community of Democracies a new impetus. We are glad that our joint efforts have brought tangible results. I believe that the Community of Democracies becomes more inclusive, more transparent, more effective, and relevant forum for participating countries ready to exercise democratic developments within the region and around the world,” the Minister said.
He presented the changes to the Community of Democracies management structure, designed to strengthen this convention of democratic states, to clarify the scope of its activities, to adapt it to the realities, involve more countries in the organization’s decision-making.
Structural changes of the Community of Democracies were approved at the Ministerial Conference on 1 July in Vilnius.
The former Convening group of the Community of Democracies is replaced by the Governing Council. It will be a key decision-making body open to all democratic states. During Lithuanian Presidency Parliamentary, Young Leaders and Business Forums of the Community of Democracies were also established. In order to implement initiatives to promote democracy Lithuania initiated the establishment of working groups of the Community of Democracies.
Ministerial meeting in Vilnius launched a new initiative, the Democracy Partnership Challenge, to encourage and support reforms in countries that have experienced recent democratic breakthroughs.
At the UN Democracy Caucus meeting A.Ažubalis stressed the necessity of interaction between the Community of Democracies and the UN to help countries strengthen democratic institutions, as well as the importance of closer cooperation with other international and regional organizations that promote and strengthen democracy.
