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On April 25, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis sent a letter of congratulations to the new Secretary General of the Community of Democracies Maria Leissner, highlighting her significant contribution to the promotion of the organization’s activities and confirmed the commitment of Lithuania to further the cooperation that was launched during the country’s chairmanship and to continue support the worldwide dissemination of democratic values.

“We sincerely appreciate your endeavours and wholehearted dedication to revitalizing and reforming the Community of Democracies during Lithuania’s chairmanship. Thanks to your efforts and vision the forum of democratic countries has been gradually transformed into a platform for democracy promotion and assistance. Your appointment as the Secretary-General of the Community of Democracies is a recognition of your great achievements which we appreciate with great admiration. We are convinced that in the post of the Secretary – General you will spare no effort to further strengthen the support to global democratic development,” Ažubalis wrote in his letter of congratulations.

According to the Minister, Lithuania will remain an active member of the network of democratic states, ready to lend assistance to the activities of the empowered Community of Democracies in implementing the Vilnius Declaration.

“I am confident that the partnership that we have started building during Lithuania’s chairmanship will develop into a long-lasting one,” Ažubalis stressed.

Lithuania chaired the Community of Democracies in 2009-2011.

The Vilnius Declaration was adopted on 1 July 2011 during the Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies in the capital of Lithuania. The document underlines the goal to strengthen the activities of the organization related to the protection of core democratic values in the countries where there is a threat to the survival of democracy and the coordination of policy to improve the effectiveness of democratic governance.

The Community of Democracies unites almost one hundred and fifty democratic and democratizing countries around the world. The Community of Democracies is based on the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Warsaw Declaration of 2000.