Community of Democratic Choice
Formation | 2005 |
---|---|
Type | Political cooperation organization |
Location | |
Membership | 18 |
The Community of Democratic Choice is an
Membership
- Founding member states:
- Observer countries/organizations:
History
The creation of the Community of Democratic Choice was foreshadowed by the Borjomi Declaration of August 2005, a joint statement signed by the Presidents of Georgia and Ukraine, Mikheil Saakashvili and Viktor Yushchenko, which envisioned the Community as a "powerful instrument for removing the remaining divisions in the region, tackling human rights violations, and any type of confrontation, or frozen conflicts".[1]
The Community of Democratic Choice was subsequently established in Kyiv during a two-day forum aimed at promoting democracy and human rights in the wider region of the
Purpose
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk, said that the community is not a project against anybody, but rather a project in favor of democracy, stability and prosperity.[2] Likewise, President Viktor Yushchenko said that the initiative was not directed against any third countries or institutions and that its purpose was not "to befriend anyone against someone else", but that it must rather be seen as "dialogue between friends, adherents of ideas for promoting democracy and the supremacy of law".
On the other hand, Giorgi Arveladze, presidential administration head of Georgia, said that the community would in essence be "an axis of democratic countries that do not wish to remain in Russia's orbit".
Besides the question of its character, the membership of the community is still not clear. At the Vilnius Conference in 2006, the two founding members Macedonia and Slovenia did not take part with representatives but one of the hosts was Poland. Further the Prime Minister of Sweden, Göran Persson stated his country's intention to join the organization that was welcomed by Saakashvilli, saying that Sweden's entry would provide additional impetus to the CDC forum.[4] So up till now there the question of membership in the CDC is not answered.
Nevertheless, the President of Moldova, Vladimir Voronin, urged the Community to develop its own institutions, including its own parliamentary assembly, saying that it offered a possibility to integrate those countries that have chosen a European orientation.[1] The Vilnius Conference already gave a hint to what that means by including an Intellectuals, an NGO and a Youth Forum.[5]
Meetings
See also
- Black Sea Forum for Partnership and Dialogue
- Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations
- Community of Democracies
- Community of Democratic Choice Youth Forum
- Eastern Partnership
- Euronest Parliamentary Assembly
- European Integration
- Eurasian Economic Union
- Eurosphere
- Eurovoc
- GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development
- Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
- Politics of Europe
References
- ^ a b Ukraine: Regional Leaders Set Up Community Of Democratic Choice - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
- ^ "..:: ABHABER.COM ::.. Ukraine suggests nuclear cooperation to Turkey". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2006-03-11.
- ^ East: Leaders Meet In Ukraine To Create New Regional Alliance - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
- ^ Community of Democratic Choice fighting off an early frost? - Caucaz.com
- ^ "Vilniaus konferencija 2006". Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2020-07-26.