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During the opening of the sixth Ministerial Conference “Community of Democracies: Empowered, Energized, Engaged” at the Lithuanian Exhibition and Congress Centre LITEXPO, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis said that he firmly believed that repressive regimes would become a thing of the past.

“Democracy cannot be exported or imposed from the outside. The desire for equality and democratic governance stems from the hearts and the dreams of the people on the ground. Today, we are watching the manifestations for democratic change and freedom on the Arab streets that transform entire societies. Sadly, this transformation comes at a terrible cost of human life and loss,” A.Ažubalis noted.

According to him, the desire for freedom and respect for human dignity cannot be extinguished. It brings hope that repressive regimes will become a thing of the past.

The Minister reminded the Lithuanians had firsthand experience of what it meant to live without freedom and democracy. The people of this country also have firsthand experience of what it takes to break free from totalitarian rule. Likewise, our people have firsthand experience of how to make democracy happen.

However, the head of the Lithuanian diplomacy also stressed that democracy could never be taken for granted. For democracy to flourish, it must be supported by relevant instruments. According to A.Ažubalis, this has been one of the original tasks of the Community of Democracies, established more than 10 years ago in Warsaw. The Minister said that this had also been a guiding principle of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Community.

During Lithuania’s biennial Presidency of the Community of Democracies, the Community has grown stronger thanks to the addition of parliamentary, youth and business dimensions in its activities by Lithuania. Also relevant forums that held meetings these days in Vilnius were established.

“Besides the non-governmental process of the Community, three new pillars of the Community, namely the Young Leaders Forum, the Parliamentary Forum and Corporate Democracy Forum, have been established within the past two years,” A.Ažubalis said.

President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations Jorge Sampaio, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Secretary General of the Arab Democracy Foundation Mohsen Marzouk also delivered opening remarks at the Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies.

The participants of the Ministerial Conference discuss the strengthening of the Community of Democracies, its reforms and the enhancement of the efficiency of activities. Special attention is given to emerging democracies and the engagement of society in government.

Watch live broadcast of the conference online at http://vilnius2011.mfa.lt/.