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UNCLAS STATE 128912 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y (ADD SWO SCROWLEY) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MG
SUBJECT: ASKING MONGOLIA TO JOIN ASIA PACIFIC DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP 
 
¶1.  This is an action request.  See Para 3 for suggested talking 
points. 
 
¶2.  Background, for Embassy Info Only: On April 10, Deputies approved 
plans to develop a partnership among Asian democracies.  Subsequent 
consultations with prospective members led us to broaden the concept 
to an Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP).  The President 
called for the formation of the APDP is his speech at APEC in Sydney 
on September 7.  We now hope to complete consultations with 
prospective members, and secure commitments to participate in APDP. 
We are hoping to have an initial organizing meeting of the APDP on 
the margins of the Community of Democracies meeting in Bamako, Mali, 
in November. We have decided to add Mongolia to the initial group of 
prospective members. 
 
¶3.  Action Request: Post is requested to approach the Mongolian 
government at an appropriately senior level to encourage Mongolia's 
participation in and ideas and feedback on the APDP.  A formal 
response is requested by October 12 to ensure adequate time to 
prepare for a November organizing meeting in Bamako. Post may draw on 
the following talking points: 
 
-As called for by President Bush on September 7, the United States is 
interested in helping to form an Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership 
(APDP), and would like to invite your ideas, input and participation. 
 
- The  APDP would be an partnership of Asia-Pacific democratic states 
working together to support and promote democracy, rule of law, and 
civil society in the region. 
 
- The APDP would be consistent with other initiatives such as the 
Community of Democracies, which has encouraged the development of 
regional democracy partnerships. 
 
- It would be an action-oriented organization, which could encompass 
activities such as (1) coordinating existing bilateral democracy 
funding and programs, (2) sharing "best practices" expertise, and (3) 
supporting the work of democracy-promotion NGOs. 
 
- We envision the APDP being initiated by a group of leading 
Asia-Pacific democracies, including Australia, Canada, India, 
Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea 
and the United States. 
 
- Further participation would be open to any Asian democracies 
committed to strengthening democratic values and institutions in the 
region. 
 
- We hope to hold an initial organizing meeting of the APDP in 
Bamako, on the sidelines of the Community of Democracies ministerial. 
 
- The President announced this is his speech at APEC in Sydney on 
September 7.  Speaking of efforts by APEC members to support 
democracy, he said: "These are important steps-and now we must build 
on them by forging new regional institutions to encourage the 
continued expansion of freedom in this vital part of the world.  And 
so this week, the United States is proposing the creation of a new 
Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership.  Through this partnership, free 
nations will work together to support democratic values, strengthen 
democratic institutions, and assist those who are working to build 
and sustain free societies across the Asia Pacific Region." 
 
-Please let us know of your government's interest and ideas regarding 
the structure and activities of the APDP, including participation in 
a meeting during the CD ministerial. 
 
4.Embassy may leave the following background information with host 
government: 
 
The Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP) is a proposed new 
initiative to develop a coalition of democracies to support 
democratic institutions in Asia and the Pacific, including free and 
fair electoral processes, independent media, rule of law, human 
rights, and civil society.  It would highlight democracy's progress 
in Asia, as well as the "shared values" between the United States and 
many Asian nations.  It would build on, and be supportive of, the 
Community of Democracies. 
 
The APDP could be initiated by an initial group comprised of 
Australia, Canada, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, 
the Philippines, South Korea and the United States.  Further 
participation would be open to any Asian democratic states committed 
to strengthening democratic values and institutions in the region. 
An APDP would provide a multilateral mechanism for strengthening and 
promoting democracy, rule of law, and civil society in Asia. 
 
The APDP would be action-oriented.  The APDP's activities could be 
initially in three areas: 1) Coordinating existing bilateral 
democracy funding and programs, 2) Sharing "Best Practices" 
expertise, developing election standards, and diplomatic activities, 
and 3) Public/Private Partnerships (e.g. supporting the work of 
democracy-promotion nongovernmental organizations).  Though the 
APDP's structure will be determined by participant governments, one 
possible model for the ADP would be: 
-Each member nation designates a lead official (at a level still to 
be determined) to meet once per year at an "APDP Leaders Conference"; 
-Each member nation also designates lead agency/office to coordinate 
activities on ongoing basis. 
 
We request a formal response by October 12 to ensure adequate time to 
 
prepare for a November organizing meeting in Bamako on the margins of 
the Community of Democracies. 
 
¶4.  Post should direct replies and feedback to desk, with a copy to 
Kelley Currie, Christian Whiton and John Kachtik.  Department also 
requests embassy designate an officer as principal POC for further 
APDP issues. 
RICE