Ten Years after Warsaw Declaration, Members of Community of Democracies Putting

into Practice Principles Underpinning All Democracies, Says Secretary-General

(Delayed for technical reasons.)

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the high-level meeting on the tenth anniversary of the Community of Democracies, in Krakow, Poland, 2–4 July, delivered by Roland Rich, Executive Head of the United Nations Democracy Fund:

In holding its tenth anniversary ministerial meeting in Poland, the Community of Democracies has returned to its roots.  It was in Warsaw in 2000 that more than 100 nations pledged to work together to advance the cause of democracy worldwide.  The roots of this Community extend even more deeply in Poland, as it was the Solidarity trade union movement that paved the way for so many of the fundamental political changes that have shaped this part of the world.

There is a link between those events that continues today.  Bronisław Geremek led the newly elected Solidarity deputies in Parliament; and Bronisław Geremek co-hosted the meeting in Warsaw in 2000.  Today, in recognition of his towering contribution, the Community of Democracies has a Geremek Award for Outstanding Achievement in Democracy Promotion.

As we meet here today, we also remember the tragedy that befell Poland just three months ago with the deaths of President Lech Kaczyński and so many of his colleagues.  Let me again extend the condolences of the United Nations to the Polish people.  It is a tribute to the strength of Poland’s democracy that it was able to absorb this tragedy and allow the democratic process to go on.

Ten years ago in this country, the Community of Democracies adopted the Warsaw Declaration, which reaffirmed many of the basic principles to which all democracies subscribe.  Even more important than those principles, members of the Community are taking action to implement them.

The working groups established by the Community deal with important subjects:  these include poverty, development and democracy; gender equality; and empowering civil society.  In working on these critical subjects, members of the Community know that the United Nations is their partner.

Indeed, those topics are addressed in the Guidance Note on Democracy I issued to the United Nations family last year — the first United Nations document of its kind.  In the Note, I spelled out that development is more likely to take hold if people are given a genuine say in their own governance, and a chance to share in the fruits of progress; empowering women and promoting women’s rights must form an integral part of any United Nations democracy assistance; a freely functioning, well-organized, vibrant and responsible civil society is essential for a democracy.

As the Guidance Note concluded, democracy, based on the rule of law, is ultimately a means to achieve international peace and security, economic and social progress and development, and respect for human rights — the three pillars of the United Nations mission as set forth in the Charter of the UN.

Our two institutions, therefore, share a range of common goals.  Today, the United Nations is honoured to congratulate the Community of Democracies on its tenth anniversary and thank its members for a decade of fruitful collaboration.  We look forward to an even closer and more productive partnership in the decades to come.

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For information media • not an official record