Mizzima: World Democracies to meet

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World Democracies to meet in Poland

New Delhi, June 12, 2000
Mizzima News Group (http://www.mizzima.com)

More than a hundred government-representatives and a number of democracy
promoters around the world would gather in Warsaw, Poland for June 26
and 27 to "promote and strengthen democracy" across the world.

With the initiative of the United States, the foreign-ministerial level
conference "Towards a Community of Democracies" has been organized by
the Stefan Batory Foundation of Poland and Freedom House of the United
States.

A core group of seven countries - Poland, Chile, Czech Republic, India,
Mali, Republic of Korea and United States - took on the task of
organization. Over 130 countries were invited to participate in this
ministerial level conference and at least 100 have agreed to
participate.

Concurrent with the ministerial meeting, a number of distinguished
thinkers and path-breaking promoters of democracy from around the world
will be meeting in Warsaw. "These representatives of intellectual life
and civil society could contribute their enormous knowledge and
expertise to the ministerial sessions, presenting their ideas as to how
governments and citizens can work together to strengthen and preserve
democracy," said a release of the conference.

Some of the major topics scheduled are: "Cooperation Among Democratic
Governments in Strengthening Global, Regional and Specialized
International Institutions", "Democracy and Human Rights: Sharing Best
Practices", "Responding to Threats to Democracy", "Looking Ahead on
Issues of Democracy Assistance: Strengthening Democratic Institutions
through Mutual Support and Partnership".

The two-day conference is expected to come up with a "Warsaw
Declaration".