ASIA PACIFIC DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP WORKING BREAKFAST IN

UNCLAS STATE 152803 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM MG SUBJECT: ASIA PACIFIC DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP WORKING BREAKFAST IN BAMAKO - INVITATION ¶1. This is an action request. (Info only: Bamako) See Para 3 for suggested talking points. For Jakarta, Tokyo, New Delhi, and Seoul, please also note specific additional information in Para 4. ¶2. Background, for Embassy Info Only: On April 10, Deputies approved plans to develop a partnership among Asian democracies. Subsequent consultations with prospective members led us to broaden the concept to an Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP). The President called for the formation of the APDP in his speech at APEC in Sydney on September 7. We now hope to complete consultations with prospective members, and secure commitments to participate in APDP. We are hosting an initial organizing meeting of the APDP on the margins of the Community of Democracies ministerial meeting in Bamako, Mali, on November 15. ¶3. Action Request: Post is requested to approach the host government to provide them a formal invitation to attend the working breakfast in Bamako. A formal response is requested by November 9. Post may leave the following with host government contact: Your Excellency: The United States will host a working breakfast to discuss the Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP) on the sidelines of the upcoming Community of Democracies ministerial meeting in Bamako, Mali. It is our pleasure to cordially invite the head of your delegation to the CD, and one additional member of your delegation, to attend this breakfast. As your country will already be sending a delegation to the CD ministerial, we see this as the ideal venue for a working meeting to discuss the APDP. The breakfast will take place on November 15, at 8:00 a.m., in the private dining room of the Le Belvedere Restaurant at the Kempinski Hotel el Farouk, Boulevard du 22 Octobre 1945, Quatier du Fleuve, Bamako, Mali. The favor of your reply is requested, including the names of participants, not later than November 9. With warmest regards, Paula J. Dobriansky Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs 4.EMBASSY JAKARTA, SEOUL, TOKYO, NEW DELHI Info: If asked, please assure these host governments that we welcome their attendance at the breakfast, even if they are unable to give us a final decision at this time regarding full participation in the APDP. 5.Embassies may leave the following background information with host governments: The proposed Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP) would be a regional, multilateral coalition to support democratic institutions in Asia and the Pacific. Its activities would include concrete projects in areas such as good governance, free and fair electoral processes, independent media, rule of law, human rights, and civil society. It would highlight democracy's progress in Asia, as well as the "shared values" among Asian democracies. It would build on, and be supportive of, the Community of Democracies. ¶6. Post should direct replies and feedback to desk, with a copy to Kate Friedrich (G). RICE