News

Foreign Ministers state strong support for the UN Democracy Fund

Meeting at the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York, the Foreign Ministers and other state representatives members of the Community of Democracies expressed their strong support for the UN Democracy Fund and its activities.

Opening the meeting, the Foreign Minister of Mali recognized the importance of the creation of the UN Democracy Fund and of the Human Rights Council in the expansion of democratic ideals and commended the Community's active role in this process.

The Deputy-Secretary-General, Mr. Malloch-Brown, dedicated most of his speech to the UN Democracy Fund, expressing his appreciation for the promising start of its operations and the efective way in which the initiative had moved forward. Citing examples of projects approved, the Deputy Secretary-General welcomed the strong focus on gender and the fact that the Fund would be looking at ways to strengthen democracy in both North and South. The Fund was an important instrument that would have a long future at the UN and should be supported.

[Click here for the Deputy Secretary-General's statement]

The Foreign Ministers of Portugal, Australia, Poland and the Republic of Korea, all contributors to the UN Democracy Fund, praised the Fund's achievements and welcomed the announcement by the Secretary-General of the selection of the first round of projects worth US$ 36 million. The Foreign Ministers of Mongolia and of Ukraine also supported the Fund and its activities and looked forward to cooperating and participating in its activities. The Foreign Minister of Mongolia also expressed his appreciation for the work of the Executive Head a.i. of the Fund, Mr. Magdy Martinez-Soliman.

The United States Under Secretary of State praised the Fund as a mechanism to address the global challenges to democracy and expressed satisfaction with the approved projects and their focus on the role of civil society. She urged all members to contribute to the Fund. The Deputy Permanent Representative of France stated his support to the Fund and his country's attachment to the Fund as a UN instrument that would contribute to further consolidate the UN's central role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Vice-Foreign Minister of Chile stated that his country was pleased that the UN Democracy Fund had become operational and that it would serve as an essential element of renovation and strenghtening of the UN's assistance to democracy. The Representative of Morocco also expressed support for the Fund and its proposed activities. Finally, Mr. Paul Graham Member of the International Steering Committee of the Non-Governmental Process and Director of the Institute for Democracy in South Africa, also took note of the UN Democracy Fund and urged the Community of Democracies'members to replenish it.

^ Back to top

Return to homepage