LITHUANIA’S PRESIDENCY OF THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES 2009-2011

2012-05-20

LITHUANIA’S PRESIDENCY OF THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES
2009-2011

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA

Phone +370 5 236 2803
Fax +370 5 231 3090
E-mail: info@vilnius2011.mfa.lt

ACCOMODATION INFORMATION

GOALS AND PRIORITIES

CoD TEAM CONTACTS

NEWS

2011-07-02 MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE OF THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES IN VILNIUS HONOURS DIPLOMATS WHO ACTIVELY PROMOTED DEMOCRACY

On 1 July at the sixth Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies in Vilnius, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Audronius Ažubalis conferred the Mark Palmer Prize on seven diplomats from different countries, including Lithuania, for promoting democracy and human rights.

-->

2011-04-29 THE LETTER OF THE U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE SUPPORTS EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF LITHUANIA TO ADVANCE ENERGY SECURITY AND THE DEVELPOMENT OF THE REGIONAL NPP

The United States strongly supports efforts of the Government of Lithuanian to advance energy diversification and energy security in the Baltic region, reads the letter of the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis.

The letter also emphasizes the U.S. support to the development of the nuclear power plant in Visaginas in cooperation with regional partners Latvia, Estonia and Poland.

“I am delighted that serious discussions are underway with U.S. industry,” H.Clinton wrote in the letter.

The U.S. Secretary of State also announced that she accepted the invitation of the Lithuanian Foreign Minister to take part in the Community of Democracies Ministerial in Vilnius on June 30 and July 1. The events will be the culmination of Lithuania’s Presidency of the Community of Democracies. -->

2011-02-16 LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: OSCE CHAIRMANSHIP AND PRESIDENCY OF THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES TESTIFY TO THE MATURITY OF PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LITHUANIA AND THE U.S.

On 16 February in Washington, D.C., Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis met with the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. According to the Minister, the cooperation between the United States of America and Lithuania during Lithuania’s OSCE Chairmanship and Presidency of the Community of Democracies testifies to the maturity of partnership between Lithuania and the U.S. -->

Archive

2011-07-01 ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY MR. GOMBOJAV ZANDANSHATAR, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE OF MONGOLIA, ON TAKING UP THE PRESIDENCY OF THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES

2011-07-01 PRESENTATION 0F DR. WAHID FERCHICHI, PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC LAW, CONSULTANT FOR INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE, TUNISIA (in french)

2011-07-01 SPEECH BY PROFESSOR BRONISŁAW MISZTAL, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PERMANENT SECRETARIAT OF THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES, AT THE VI MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE

2011-07-01 SPEECH OF H.E. MR. MOHAMED MOULDI KEFI, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF TUNISIA

2011-07-01 KEYNOTE SPEECH BY ALEKSANDER KWAŚNIEWSKI, CHIEF OF POLISH DELEGATION AND SPECIAL ENVOY, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND AT VI MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE OF THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES

2011-07-01 SPEAKING REMARKS OF SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS MIGUEL MORAIS LEITÃO AT VI MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE OF THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES

2011-07-01 STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON

2011-07-01 ADDRESS BY JORGE SAMPAIO, UN HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS TO THE VI MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE OF THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES

2011-07-01 INTERVENTION BY MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OF INDIA PRENEET KAUR

2011-07-01 SPEECH BY CATHERINE ASHTON, EU HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, AT THE 6TH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE OF THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES 6TH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE

Archive

IN THE NAME OF DEMOCRACY

For centuries mankind has sought and desired to find the perfect system of governance. Democracy is not ideal, however, it is the best one invented so far.

Over the past few years the shortcomings of democracy might had caused frustrations. In some countries the democracies have been overthrown by authoritarian regimes advocating for pragmatism. Nevertheless, if the economic merits become more important than the respect for human dignity, we might face the rise of totalitarian regimes once again.

There are continuous civil society calls for countries to unite in pursuit of democracy. The recent events in Middle East and North Africa prove that this call has been bearing fruits. However, the Eastern and Western European experience indicates that this is not an irreversible process. Democracy must be supported by relevant instruments. This has been one of the original tasks of Community of Democracies (CoD) chaired by Lithuania since July 2009.

Solidarity of countries in the name of democracy is one of the most important activities the CoD pursues. The goal of CoD is to ensure that totalitarian systems, the cult of personality, populism, racism, and xenophobia would never affect adversely the fate of countries and nations.

During ten years of existence CoD has achieved a lot despite limitations of its mandate. Therefore during the Lisbon summit, the members of CoD have decided to give a new impetus to the Organization. We are proud to say that Lithuanian Presidency has done its best to ensure that the goals of the CoD are consistently persued. The principles of respect, transparency and dialogue are at the core to our Presidency. We have signed a programme of reform for our Organization which aims to make the CoD even more active and efficient organisation. We are looking forward to discussing it during the Ministerial meeting in Vilnius this summer.

It should be noted that Lithuania has set up the Parliamentary Forum of CoD and the Youth Forum, and the theme of women and democracy remains a priority. One of the aims of Lithuanian Presidency is to involve more emerging democracies in the work of CoD. This is being done by means of workshops and sharing ownership of projects.

The motto of the 6th Ministerial meeting of the CoD to take place in Vilnius on 1 July, 2011 is as follows “Community of Democracies: Empowered, Energised, Engaged”. It reflects the eagerness of Lithuania to invite everybody to exchange views, share best practices as well as to welcome the new emerging democracies to our community.

We invite the countries of the Community of Democracies to continue the efforts in searching of the answers to specific questions, including how to assist countries in need, how to promote dialogue with NGOs and how to improve the general cooperation between governments and civil society. We hope that Ministerial meeting will result in plan of actions to be implemented in future.

We are looking forward to your active participation in the events of Community of Democracies in Vilnius this summer!

Visitors

From:	2011-03-28
In total:	56118
Today:	34
Online:	0