PROPOSED DEMOCRACY CONFERENCE

UNCLAS AMMAN 005905

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT XF JO
SUBJECT: PROPOSED DEMOCRACY CONFERENCE



1. POST CONCURS WITH THE IDEA OF A REGIONAL DEMOCRACY
CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THE ISSUES RAISED
IN REFTEL, WITH THE GOAL OF BETTER FOCUSING OUR REGIONAL
EFFORTS AND OF ACHIEVING GREATER REGIONAL COORDINATION
BETWEEN EMBASSIES AND WITH THE VARIOUS WASHINGTON AGENCIES.
WHILE THE SITUATION IN EACH COUNTRY IS UNIQUE, NONE OPERATES
IN TOTAL ISOLATION FROM ITS NEIGHBORS, AND THERE ARE
CONSTANTS WHERE A REGIONAL APPROACH CAN BE BENEFICIAL.


2. POST IS INTERESTED IN EXPLORING BEST PRACTICES, AS WELL
AS COORDINATING APPROACHES TO THE MEPI INITIATIVE. ISSUES
OF MOST RELEVANCE HERE WOULD BE JUDICIAL REFORM, PRESS
FREEDOMS, THE ROLE OF NGOS, CIVIL SOCIETY AND EDUCATION,
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AS A CATALYST FOR DEMOCRACY, AND
ELECTIONS TRAINING.

GNEHM