U.S. PRIORITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 129764 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PHUM PREL UNGA PGOV SUBJECT: U.S. PRIORITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES ¶1. This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 3 - 5. BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. (U) On October 1, 2007, on the margins of this year,s UN General Assembly (UNGA),Mali, the Chair the Community of Democracies (CD),will host a short meeting of Ministers that will set the stage for its biennial Ministerial in Bamako, Mali from November 15-17 2007. The 2007 ministerial,s theme is democracy and development. During the meeting in New York the U.S. will convey its priorities for the Bamako Ministerial and will ask other participants for their support. OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶3. (U) Action requested to all CD participants. --Note that we are looking forward to seeing their Minister at the CD meeting hosted by Mali to be held on the margins of the UN General Assembly, October 1, 2007, at 2:30 PM. -- Express support for Mali, as Chair, in its efforts to organize a high-profile and successful Ministerial that will highlight the connections between democracy and development, and strengthen cooperation between CD countries. Participants should emphasize importance of carrying out sustainable development policies while actively promoting all civil and political rights. -- Request all 126 CD participants to approach Mali and offer political and logistical support in preparation for the Bamako Ministerial. By supporting Mali, we are supporting Africa,s leadership on global democracy and human rights promotion. -- Urge countries to expressly support the establishment of the newly created CD Secretariat that will be unveiled during the Bamako Ministerial and will be hosted by Poland in Warsaw. Prior to the Ministerial in Bamako, at the UNGA, Mali will re-circulate the secretariat structure, mission, and mandate. The proposed secretariat has a limited mandate and small size (5-6 people); it will be supported by voluntary contributions. The U.S. believes that this small secretariat will assist the CD in meeting its objectives and SIPDIS help in coordinating democracy promotion initiatives. The Foreign Minister of Poland has offered to provide a site and detail three Polish diplomats. Participants are urged to endorse it and to make mention of it during their ministers' statements. -- Encourage all CD participants to express support and to actively participate in one or more of the four CD working groups including: civil society; democracy and development; regional and interregional cooperation; and threats to democracy. During the meeting the ministers will receive a report of working group activities including potential projects. Examples of CD working group initiatives include the OAS-AU meeting on sharing of democracy experiences and the development of a handbook for diplomats on engagement with civil society. Participants should consider supporting specific projects as appropriate. -- Recognize the indispensable role of NGOs and other civil society organizations in the development and success of free societies and their vital function in ensuring accountable and democratic governments. Urge that countries express support for NGOs and mention restrictive NGO laws as one of the biggest challenges facing democracy today in many countries. STATE 00129764 002 OF 003 -- Contribute actively to the building of a global democracy network that has a strong connection to the CD. For example, through the regional and interregional cooperation working group, initiatives such as the OAS-AU Democracy Bridge could be highlighted. -- To strengthen the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF),urge all CD participants to announce a contribution during the UNGA CD Ministerial. (Background: Australia, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Mongolia, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Senegal, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, United Kingdom have made contributions or pledged to do so.) (Continued UNDEF Background: The UNDEF is the only voluntary UN Fund whose sole purpose is democracy promotion. The CD could serve as an important alliance of democracies that strives to ensure that the UNDEF fulfills the role for which it was created. To date the UNDEF has received close to seventy million US Dollars in pledges and donations from 32 member states, and approved for funding 125 projects throughout the world aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and pro-democracy civil society. In Africa, UNDEF funds a project for civic education, electoral support, and political parties. In the Asia/Pacific region, UNDEF finances a project to develop practical tools for judicial reform in accordance with human rights norms. In Latin America, there are several projects aimed at strengthening democratic institutions. There are also projects for the Arab and Muslim world focused on increasing civil society input into the decision-making process. A list of projects by country can be found at www.un.org/democracyfund.) -- Other initiatives which support the CD,s fundamental mission to build a global democracy network include the Partnership for Democratic Governance and the Asia-Pacific Democracy Partnership, recently announced by President Bush at the APEC Summit in Sydney. -- Encourage all CD participants to use the UN Democracy Caucus in New York, Geneva, and other cities that host UN meetings. The Caucus is not intended to supplant long-standing regional or other groupings, but rather to provide an added mechanism for like-minded democratic nations to cooperate. If Asked about USG Representation at UNGA Ministerial. -- Secretary Rice is scheduled to attend part of the ministerial. Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky will also participate. ¶4. (SBU) Action requested to Paris. -- We urge that you consider providing Mali financial, logistical, and political support for the Ministerial conference. The US hopes that France will play a larger role in CD. The CD is an important forum for democracy promotion cooperation. The US believes that democracies have a special responsibility to help others aspiring to obtain the same rights and freedoms. French support for the CD would benefit CD participants and supporter broader transatlantic cooperation. ¶5. (SBU) Action requested to Tokyo, Ottawa, and Gabarone. -- Inquire of host governments whether they would be interested in taking a larger role in the CD, even perhaps chairing it at some point in the future, especially after Portugal ends its chairmanship in 2011. Future CD chairs will be decided during the Bamako ministerial. (BACKGROUND: Though none of these countries are in the 16-member CD Convening Group, a mechanism to make them co-convenors would STATE 00129764 003 OF 003 have to be established if they choose to chair the CD at some future date.) REPORTING DEADLINE -------------- ¶6. (U) Posts should report results of efforts by cable to Joaquin Ferrao in G and to Gianni Paz in DRL/MLGA by September 24. RICE