REPORT ON THE FIFTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF NEW OR RESTORED DEMOCRACIES

(www.radicalparty.org) DOCUMENTS ON: GLOBALISATION / DOC.TYPE: REPORTS

15/09/2003 | REPORT ON THE FIFTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF NEW OR RESTORED DEMOCRACIES

1. International Civil Society Forum: the Forum was attended by over 200 participants from 68 countries and was structured on plenary and workshop sessions which dealt with a wide range of democracy and civil society issues. The final declaration of the Forum, which was presented to the governments later in the week together with a Plan of Action, can be found at http://www.icsf-2003.mn/outcome.htm. The debate among civil society representatives warmed up over the week, in particular as regards the recommendations to the Governments concerning International Organizations. Such recommendations, even if later were approved by the plenary, proved to be contentious because, while focusing on the Iraqi war and on economic issues at the international level, completely failed to address the issues of lack of democracy and the abuse of human rights, in countries governed by authoritarian regimes such for example, China, Burma, Vietnam, Laos. Matteo Mecacci, on behalf of the TRP did not endorse the part of the Recommendations to Governments which dealt with International Organizations;
3. Fifth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies: more than 100 (between 100 and 110) governments attended the Conference. A presentation of the documents adopted by the International Civil Society Forum was made during the opening plenary session. The debate among delegations ranged from countries that clearly posed the promotion of democracy as priority in their foreign policy and others that rejected any attempt by international organizations of influence on “internal matters” concerning democratization. Such debate was reflected also in the documents adopted by the conference (Final Declaration and Plan of Action). The final documents can be found at http://www.icnrd5-mongolia.mn/dec_eng.htm and
http://www.icnrd5 mongolia.mn/pla_eng.htm.
The Plan of Action will be presented by Mongolia is to the 58th session of the UN General Assembly.

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