News

On 23 September at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Lithuania‘s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis chaired a ministerial meeting of the UN Democracy Caucus, which was held at Lithuania‘s initiative together with the Council of Women World Leaders.

The panel discussion meeting “Women as a Critical Force in Democratic Governance” focused on women’s role in establishing democracy. President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė delivered a speech at the event.

According to Lithuania‘s Foreign Minister, the event in New York marks the midterm of Lithuania‘s Presidency of the Community of Democracies.

Lithuania took over the Community of Democracies Presidency in the middle of 2009 and will continue to perform this function until the middle of next year.

“In the period of one year, Lithuania gave new impetus to the activities of the Community of Democracies. This has received response from the international community. The meeting of the parliamentary forum at the U.S. Congress on 15 September, which saw active participation of legislators from a variety of countries, was the latest clear demonstration of the success of our endeavour “, Minister A.Ažubalis said.

The Minister announced that foreign ministers meeting on 30 June-1 July next year would be the final highlight of Lithuania‘s Presidency. It is expected to adopt important decisions on the Community of Democracies reforms during this meeting.

Minister A.Ažubalis said that Lithuania was one the most active supporters of the reforms of this intergovernmental organization.

“In order to remain effective, the Community of Democracies has to solve real problems that the democracy faces“, Minister A.Ažubalis highlighted.

The Community of Democracies was founded in 2000 in Warsaw at the initiative of the then Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Bronisław Geremek and the former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. The intergovernmental organization which joins together more than 100 countries has the aim of promoting and strengthening democracy and democratic institutions all over the world.