CCD convened a meeting on July 9 between members of the nongovernmental International Steering Committee of Community of Democracies (ISC/CD) and civil society leaders from the Muslim world to discuss ways in which the CD can better support the development of democracy in these countries. 35 participants from more than 20 countries participated in these sessions, which introduced the Community of Democracies to those in attendance and considered some of the particular challenges and experiences for democratic activists in countries from Indonesia to Morocco. Muslim democracy activists urged greater engagement with religious leaders in these countries; as religion is a major social force in many of these communities, effective democratic processes and institutions cannot seek to ignore it. Participants also discussed the benefits to be gained from building networks of Muslim democrats that extend internationally, with leaders from Indonesia and Bangladesh describing networking strategies that have been successful on the national level in their countries.

Selima Ahmad (left) and Sarwar Bari discuss the impact of the economic crisis on democracy in Bangladesh and Pakistan

• Final Program for July 9 Meeting on Supporting Democracy in the Muslim World through the CD

On July 10, all nongovernmental participants in the Lisbon Ministerial met to prepare and coordinate roles for the Ministerial. CCD welcomed Bronislaw Misztal, Executive Director of the CD Permanent Secretariat in Warsaw, who helped introduce the CD to civil society leaders new to the process and described the partnership between governments and civil society that the Permanent Secretariat hopes to strengthen. Leading scholars and activists from around the world presented updates on the most pressing issues facing their regions. The meeting was also an opportunity to engage civil society in the ongoing projects related to the Community of Democracies, including the Diplomat's Handbook for Democracy Development Support and the Global Strategic Plan for Democracy Education. NGOs developed and issued a series of statements on the invitation process for the CD, future activities for the CD, and a special statement on Iran.

Emad Shahin (center) presents an analysis of developments on democracy and human rights in the Middle East and North Africa

• Final Program for July 10 Meeting of Civil Society
• ISC/CD Statement on the Invitation Process
• ISC/CD Statement on Future Activities of the CD
• ISC/CD Statement on Iran

The Portuguese Chair hosted a special workshop on July 11 with civil society on "Democratic Governance and Intercultural Dialogue." Moderated by ISC/CD member Joao Carlos Espada, the panel included a presentation by ISC/CD Chair Paul Graham. Graham urged the CD to engage actively in the issues facing the development of democracy around the world, saying that "unless they are taken seriously here in this forum created especially for them, we will not be taken seriously. Instead they will be conducted elsewhere, in spaces where our differences as peoples and countries are magnified and sometimes manipulated." Others shared their own impressions more generally on the importance of intercultural dialogue, including Lebanese author Amin Maalouf; Andre Azoulay of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures; and Jorge Sampaio, High Representative of the Secretary General of the UN for the Alliance of Civilizations.

Paul Graham speaks on the essential role of the Community of Democracies as a forum for intercultural dialogue in support of democracy

• Prepared Remarks by ISC/CD Chair Paul Graham

The full Ministerial sessions of the Lisbon Ministerial were held on July 12. Opening remarks were presented by several heads of delegations of government, including U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, who delivered a message from the Obama administration hailing the establishment of the Permanent Secretariat in Warsaw as a positive sign for an action-oriented Community of Democracies and saying that it "intends to remain fully committed to this vital cause." A special session, led by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, awarded the inaugural Geremek Prize for Outstanding Achievement of Democracy Promotion to Nelson Mandela, who prepared a video address to the participants in Lisbon. Breakout sessions explored a set of vital themes for strenghtening democracy promotion through the CD: Implications of the Current Financial and Economic Crisis on Democratic Governance; Democratic Governance and Development; and Future Challenges for the Community of Democracies. Civil society participated actively throughout the meeting, including the participation of ISC/CD member and CCD Board Member Morton Halperin on the panel on the Future Challenges for the CD. The meeting concluded with the transfer of the Chair to Lithuania, which will host the Sixth CD MInisterial in 2011.

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright presents the keynote address awarding the Geremek Prize to Nelson Mandela

• Remarks by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to the Community of Democracies
• Remarks by United States Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg
• Remarks by Minister of State for External Affairs of India Shashi Tharoor
  
• Summary of Thematic Round Table Sessions, Presented by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal

In April 2009, the International Advisory Committee for the Invitations Process of the CD presented its recommendations to the Convening Group for which countries should be invited to the Lisbon Ministerial. The IAC, which includes CCD Board Members Mark Palmer and Morton Halperin, reviewed 34 countries in which democracy and human rights trends appeared to have changed sufficiently over the last two years since the ministerial gathering in Bamako, Mali. The Convening Group, under the leadership of the Portuguese Chair, is currently reviewing these recommendations and is expected to issue official invitations to the Fifth Ministerial soon.

Read the Press Release on the IAC Recommendations

Download the Full IAC Report

CD Seminar in Lisbon Held in Preparation for July Ministerial

From March 23-24, the Portuguese Chair of the Community of Democracies hosted a Seminar in Lisbon to examine the ways in which the Community of Democracies can strengthen its democracy promotion policies in light of the global economic and financial crisis.  The Portuguese Ministy of Foreign Affairs organized the event in partnership with the Institute for Political Studies of the Catholic University of Portugal and the Portuguese Institute for International Relations (IPRI), with representatives of government and civil society leaders from around the world present. Presentations and discussions led by representatives from the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CD officials, and members of the nongovernnmental International Steering Committee of the Democracies previewed and informed the issues to be discussed at the full Lisbon Ministerial in July.

Read More on the March 2009 Seminar of the Community of Democracies