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P 311748Z OCT 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES OBSERVERS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 8911
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 9347

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 STATE 151024 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KDEM PHUM PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: ADVANCING THE DEMOCRACY AGENDA 
AT THE 4TH COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES MINISTERIAL IN BAMAKO, 
MALI, NOVEMBER 14-17, 2007 
 
REF: A. A:STATE 116583 
     ¶B. B: STATE 129764 
 
¶1.  (U) This is an action request.  Please see paragraphs 
3-18.  The CD Ministerial in Bamako, November 14-17, will 
have five thematic and five regional roundtables.  We ask 
that Posts inquire as to the priorities of host government 
for the ministerial and each roundtable, and share the U.S. 
priorities listed in this cable. 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶2.  (U) The upcoming 4th Community of Democracies (CD) 
Ministerial will occur November 14-17 in Bamako, Mali.  As 
Chair of the CD for the last two years, Mali has been charged 
with setting the agenda, leading the Convening Group to 
determine priorities and the invitation list, and carrying 
out logistics for the Ministerial.  The U.S. continues to 
place great importance upon the development of concrete 
democracy promotion initiatives, increased participation by 
countries in the work of the CD, and strengthening the CD's 
interaction and response to events in multilateral and 
international fora.  The U.S. delegation will be led by 
Deputy Secretary Negroponte, accompanied by U/S Dobriansky, 
Ambassador Danilovich of the MCC, and DRL Front Office. 
Additional participation from WHA, NSC, and Congressional 
staff is likely.  The Government of Mali has distributed an 
agenda of the meeting which includes an Inaugural Opening 
plenary on the first day, followed by thematic and regional 
roundtable discussions, and a final 
 plenary on the last day of the conference. 
 
OBJECTIVES 
---------- 
 
GENERAL POINTS 
 
¶3.  (U) Action requested to all Posts. 
 
-- Encourage host country representation at the Ministerial 
at an appropriate level.  Inquire about delegation list. 
 
-- Bamako Declaration: Urge host country to support a forward 
leaning declaration with minimal changes at the Ministerial. 
A draft of the document was distributed Oct 1st during the CD 
Ministers meeting in New York and will be circulated again by 
Mali during the 1st week of November.  Input and submissions 
should be sent to the Malian chair.  Preference is to 
conclude the final draft Declaration prior to the Ministerial 
so that delegates can focus more on the development of 
concrete democracy promotion initiatives in Bamako, rather 
than the Declaration text. 
 
-- Democracy and Development: Highlight the critical 
importance of democracy for sustainable development, the 
theme of the Bamako Ministerial.  Democratic governance has 
the power to attract the types of investment that lead toward 
sustainable development through initiatives such as the 
Millennium Challenge Corporation.  Rather than additional 
rhetoric on democracy and development, CD participants should 
spotlight tangible programs that integrate democratic 
governance with poverty alleviation. 
 
-- Countering the NGO Backlash: Recognize the indispensable 
role of NGOs and other civil society organizations in the 
development and success of free societies and their vital 
function in ensuring accountable and democratic governments. 
NGOs play a pivotal role in the Community of Democracies as 
well; just this year the non-governmental International 
Steering Committee provided recommendations to the CD 
Convening Group to improve upon the invitation process by 
upholding rigorous standards of democratic governance and 
respect for human rights.  The CD Declaration as well as a 
thematic roundtable will address rights relating to NGOs. 
Urge that countries express support for NGOs and mention 
restrictive NGO laws as one of the biggest global democracy 
challenges we face as a community. 
 
-- CD Secretariat Launch: Urge countries to expressly support 
the establishment of the newly created CD Secretariat both 
politically and financially.  (Note: The U.S. Government has 
contributed some $953,000 to the CD in the past year and a 
 
STATE 00151024  002 OF 007 
 
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: ADVANCING THE DEMOCRACY AGENDA 
AT THE 4TH COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES MINISTERIAL IN BAMAKO, 
MALI, NOVEMBER 14-17, 20 
half alone.  We don't want to be viewed as the prime mover or 
financier of the CD, and hope other countries will come 
forward to support the Secretariat initiative with seed 
money, detailees and other resources.  End Note.)  The U.S. 
believes that this small secretariat, which the Government of 
Poland has offered to host, is necessary to assist the CD in 
meeting its objectives and help in coordinating democracy 
promotion initiatives. 
 
-- Consultations with host country: Engage host country 
government on what they intend to discuss or what initiatives 
they intend to put forward during the thematic and regional 
roundtables.  Encourage them to put forward some concrete 
democracy promotion initiatives, issues, or areas of focus. 
 
THEMATIC ROUNDTABLE POINTS 
 
"INSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICAL ENVIRONMENTS FOR THE PROMOTION 
OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE" 
 
¶4.  (U) Action requested to all Muslim-Majority posts (and 
posts with significant Muslim populations even if not a 
majority): 
 
-- Encourage the host governments to raise the issue of 
complementary nature of Democracy and Islam (reftel A) and to 
explore possibility of follow on meeting specifically on this 
topic.  Countering ideological support for terrorism is an 
important goal we all share.  Terrorist leaders seek to 
portray the West as at war with Islam as a justification for 
their terrorist actions.  As such, correcting the 
misrepresentation that the West is at war with Islam is one 
of the key objectives in our efforts to counter violent 
Islamic extremism.  An important step in achieving this 
objective is to make evident that Islam and democracy are 
wholly complementary and support others who are already 
promoting this message. 
 
¶5.  (U) Action request to Dar es Salaam: 
 
-- Per Reftel A, Urge the Government of Tanzania to announce 
at Bamako its offer to host a follow-on meeting of Muslim 
democrats to discuss the complementary nature of Islam and 
democracy.  (Note: The U.S. continues to seek funding for 
this conference, but does not have readily-identified 
resources.  End Note.) 
 
 
"POVERTY REDUCTION, SUSTAINABLE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND 
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE" and "INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT TO 
ADVANCE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT" 
 
¶6.  (U) Action requested to all Posts. 
 
-- Encourage countries to discuss ways in which concrete 
public policies under democratic governance support 
sustainable development. (Note: U.S. intends to spotlight 
MCC.  End Note.) 
 
-- Under the banner of energizing the Democracy Caucus at the 
UN, the CD should both recognize the importance of education, 
in particular civic education (or education about democracy) 
for democracy and sustainable development.  UNESCO could be 
an ideal mechanism to follow up on any discussions. 
Possibilities for UNESCO action include: 
 
   -- Promoting best practices for the teaching of civic 
education and transmitting concepts of democracy to students 
   -- Working with ministries of education (as appropriate) 
and NGOs to provide information and expertise on 
incorporating civic education programs into country-specific 
education programs 
   -- Utilizing the existing UNESCO Associated Schools 
Network to encourage international school partnerships 
incorporating civic education 
 
¶7.  (U) Action requested to Canberra, Brasilia, Copenhagen, 
Wellington, Ankara, Ottawa, Santiago, Tokyo, Mexico City, 
Warsaw, and Seoul regarding the same Working Groups. 
 
-- Press countries, as founding members of the new 
Partnership for Democratic Governance (PDG), to actively 
engage in this panel and support increased multilateral 
partnership, especially south-south cooperation, for 
improving democratic governance globally.  PDG members should 
also promote the new initiative at OECD and its potential 
application in CD member countries. 
 
"ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN DEMOCRATIC 
 
STATE 00151024  003 OF 007 
 
 
¶8.  (U) Action requested to all Posts. 
 
-- NGO Principles: Press governments to take a strong 
position against NGO restrictions.  In 2006 Secretary Rice 
announced the U.S. commitment to adhere to a set of 
principles related to treatment of NGOs.  The World Movement 
for Democracy (NED network of NGOs) and ICLD will launch 
their own recommendations on "Defending Civil Society" at the 
Bamako Ministerial.  Participants should be urged to support 
said principles and endorse the WMD report.  (Note: The U.S. 
has worked to include the principles in the Bamako 
Declaration.  End Note.) 
 
-- Working Group Initiatives: All CD Working Groups were 
created with the goal of developing concrete democracy 
promotion projects to be carried out under the aegis of the 
CD.  The Democratic Governance and Civil Society working 
group has developed a Diplomats' Handbook; urge countries to 
contribute to and support the activities of the working group 
and to use the Handbook in training programs for diplomats 
working with civil society.  Further, urge countries to 
become more engaged in all working groups as their activities 
continue beyond the Bamako Ministerial in preparation for 
Lisbon 2009. 
 
"REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: PROMOTING PEACE, DEMOCRATIC 
GOVERNANCE AND EXPANDING PROSPERITY" 
 
¶9.  (U) Action requested to Tokyo, Canberra, New Delhi, 
Jakarta, Ottawa, Wellington, Seoul, Ulaanbaatar and Manila. 
 
-- Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP): Urge interested 
APDP countries to brief or highlight as appropriate this 
nascent initiative that will complement the CD and strengthen 
regional cooperation on democracy issues.  During the recent 
APEC Meeting in Sydney President Bush called for the creation 
of the Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership.  The U.S. is 
planning to host a working breakfast for the initial members 
of APDP on November 15, on the sidelines of the Bamako 
ministerial. (Note: Not all members of the Asia regional 
working group have been approached about the APDP because it 
remains in the developmental stage.  End Note.) 
 
¶10.  (U) Action requested to all Posts regarding the same 
Working Group. 
 
-- Reenergizing UN Democracy Caucus (UNDC): Countries should 
press for the CD to reinvigorate its efforts to act as a 
Democracy Caucus by committing to pass at least one 
CD-sponsored resolution on democracy in both New York and 
Geneva in 2008, coordinating common positions on democracy 
and human rights issues before United Nations bodies, and 
committing to help elect democracies to important UN bodies. 
 
-- Support for the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF): The CD ought to 
explicitly recognize that grants or support to civil society 
are an important component of building a strong democracy. 
Urge countries to make such support explicit at the Bamako 
Ministerial, and to consider donating to UNDEF (if they 
haven't already done so) as a concrete demonstration of 
support for civil society. (Note: In the first round of UNDEF 
grants, 60% went to civil society organizations; the U.S. 
goal is to increase that to 75%.  End Note.) 
 
¶11.  (U) Action requested to Organization of American States 
(OAS)/ African Union (AU) Member Countries. 
 
-- Organization of American States (OAS)/ African Union (AU) 
Democracy Bridge: Encourage member countries of the OAS and 
AU to pursue implementation and broadening of the "intention 
to cooperate" agreement in the field of democracy promotion, 
as agreed to by both institutions on July 10, 2007. 
Observers to the OAS/AU should be encouraged to provide input 
and support for this initiative.  Specific areas of 
experience-sharing and increased interaction include: 
electoral observation, crisis prevention, civil society 
participation, and the protection of human rights.  Urge key 
states Colombia and Brazil, which have large Afro-descendant 
populations, to lead in this initiative in advance of the 
2008 OASGA in Medellin, Colombia.  The OAS and AU could 
further work together on core democracy promotion issues such 
as elections, human rights, and promoting increased civil 
society participation.  Further, we note the benefits of 
engaging entities such as the OSCE, which is an excellent 
source of best practices and prin 
ciples. 
 
 
STATE 00151024  004 OF 007 
 
 
AFRICA 
 
¶12.  (U) Action requested to Cotonou, Gaborone, Ouagadougou, 
Praia, Accra, Maseru, Bamako, Lilongwe, Antananarivo, 
Windhoek, Niamey, Dakar, Sao Tome and Principe (through 
Libreville), Dar es Salaam, Pretoria, and Lusaka. 
 
-- Encourage countries to ratify the African Union's Charter 
on Democracy, Governance and Elections. 
 
-- Urge countries to consider what the AU or regional 
countries can do to press for improvements in their record on 
human rights, such as what can be done collectively on 
difficult cases such as Zimbabwe. 
 
AMERICAS 
 
¶13.  (U) Action requested to all CD Western Hemisphere Posts. 
 
-- Strengthening Implementation of the Inter-American 
Democratic Charter: Urge participants to agree to support the 
efforts of civil society and NGOs in accessing the OAS 
General Assembly and OAS Permanent Council without member 
state veto, monitoring the implementation of the Charter, and 
in assessing threats or impediments to democracy in the 
region. 
 
-- Municipal Government Initiative: Local government is 
well-positioned to deliver some of the benefits of democracy 
by providing the necessary tools and access for citizens to 
share in the successes of their countries.  Encourage 
countries to consider supporting the development of an 
initiative that would provide training for mayors and 
councilmen, as well as opportunities to share best practices 
with regional counterparts.  Such work could build upon the 
progress and broad hemispheric support of the Summit of the 
Americas-initiated and U.S.-led "Opportunity Zones" effort to 
enhance the role of local government and NGOs in advancing 
good governance and development. 
(Note: Argentina, Honduras, and Guatemala are very interested 
in generating more interest and follow-up for this effort. 
End Note.) 
 
-- Support for Independent Judicial Institutions: To solidify 
recent efforts to revamp judicial systems and institutions, 
encourage countries to seek technical assistance from fellow 
CD participants in addressing corrupt practices as well as 
excessive delays and backlogs in the region's courts. 
 
-- Discussion on Cuba and Venezuela: As the only two Central 
and South American countries not invited to the CD, the state 
of democracy in Venezuela and its total absence in Cuba will 
likely be raised.  With respect to Cuba, we encourage 
countries to consider Cuba's adherence to the Inter-American 
Democratic Charter as the framework for its reincorporation 
in the inter-American system.  On Venezuela we invite 
countries to consider ways to address the rapid deterioration 
of civil, political, and economic liberties. 
 
ASIA AND OCEANIA 
 
¶14.  (U) Action requested to Canberra, New Delhi, Tokyo, 
Seoul, Wellington, Ulaanbaatar, and Jakarta. 
 
-- Burma Discussion: Propose that countries that have not 
done so already consider establishing legislative caucuses on 
Burma and participating in the existing regional network, the 
ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC). 
Parliamentarians in India, the Philippines, Malaysia and 
Indonesia, among others, have been very active on Burma. 
(Note: Parliamentary caucuses in non-ASEAN states can link to 
the AIPMC and some have already done so, including the 
Indians.  End Note.) 
 
-- Pacific Islands Core Partners: Countries should press for 
CD support of the Core Partners Consortium to coordinate 
democracy promotion, rule of law, and development in Pacific 
Island states.  The Core Partners' focused effort to restore 
democracy to Fiji again highlights CD's need to address 
threats to democracy through both regional and global 
solutions. 
 
-- ASEAN: Urge countries to seek cooperative ways for the CD 
to strengthen ASEAN's work on good governance and sustainable 
development and build on elements in the forthcoming ASEAN 
charter. 
 
 
STATE 00151024  005 OF 007 
 
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: ADVANCING THE DEMOCRACY AGENDA 
AT THE 4TH COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES MINISTERIAL IN BAMAKO, 
MALI, NOVEMBER 14-17, 20 
-- South and Central Asia: Discuss potential for established 
regional organizations such as the South Asia Association for 
Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Central Asia Regional 
Economic Cooperation group (CAREC) to eventually expand 
governance strengthening activities by promoting democracy 
and the rule of law. 
 
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA: 
 
¶15. (U) Action requested to Rabat, Kabul, Manama, Baghdad, 
Tel Aviv, Amman, Beirut, and Sanaa. 
 
-- Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA): Urge 
countries to seek CD endorsement of the G8's partnership with 
the countries of BMENA in support of reform, and to urge CD 
recognition of the Democracy Assistance Dialogue. 
 
-- Role of Civil Society in the Democratic Process: Encourage 
countries to discuss difficulties for civil society in the 
region, and agree to work through the CD, and partnerships 
such as BMENA, to engage a broad cross-section of civil 
society reformers in the Middle East to contribute to best 
practices and lessons-learned from a global civil society 
perspective. 
 
-- Encourage host governments to raise discussion in this 
working group regarding the complementary nature of Democracy 
and Islam (reftel A) and to explore possibility of follow on 
meeting specifically on this topic. 
 
EUROPE 
 
¶16.  (U) Action requested to Berlin, Prague, Bratislava, 
Budapest, Warsaw, Ljubljana, Vilnius, Tallinn, Bucharest, 
Kyiv, Tbilisi, and Riga. 
 
-- Democratic Neighbors Initiative: Encourage countries in 
Europe's East who have recently gone through - or are in the 
midst of - democratic change to share their experiences with 
less democratic neighbors as means of encouraging and 
assisting democratic activists in those countries.  Suggest 
organizing panels, conferences, or videoconferences with or 
between NGOs and activists. 
 
-- Belarus: Urge countries to raise the situation of Belarus 
during the Europe regional roundtable.  The aspirations of 
the Belarusian people for democracy, human rights, and the 
rule of law, as well as their hopes for the integration of 
Belarus into the European community of democracies should be 
supported.  The CD ought to address threats to, and the 
absence of, democracy such as that witnessed in Belarus. 
 
¶17.  (U) Action requested to all CD European Posts. 
 
-- OSCE: Encourage members to draw upon, adhere to, and 
promote beyond Europe the body of OSCE best practices, 
standards and commitments, particularly in areas such as 
democratic institutions, the conduct of free and fair 
elections, and the protection of human rights.  A roundtable 
with the OAS and AU on elections monitoring would be an 
excellent opportunity to begin such outreach. 
 
OTHER ISSUES 
 
COOPERATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF NEW AND 
RESTORED DEMOCRACIES (ICNRD) 
 
¶18.  (U) Action requested to Ulaanbaatar, Budapest, Kyiv, 
Santiago, Prague, Warsaw, London, and San Salvador. 
 
-- Urge countries to maintain distance between CD and the 
ICNRD.  While the ICNRD may profess to have the same goals as 
the CD, the ICNRD lacks the rigorous participation criteria 
the CD Convening Group and the non-governmental International 
Steering Committee worked so hard to uphold in preparing for 
this year's Ministerial.  CD and ICNRD may on occasion find 
it useful to share information and best practices, but in the 
main should remain separate processes. 
 
REPORTING DEADLINE 
------------------ 
 
¶19.  (U) Posts should report results of efforts by cable to G 
- Joaquin Ferrao, DRL/MLGA - Laura Jordan, and IO/RHS - Amy 
Ostermeier before November 5. 
 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
 
STATE 00151024  006 OF 007 
 
¶20.  (U) This extensive background is provided for posts' 
reference.  More information is available in reftel B. 
Unclassified portions may be provided to host governments. 
 
SIPDIS 
Sensitive portions should not be. 
 
MINISTERIAL PREVIEW 
 
¶21.  (U) The Bamako Ministerial will be held November 15-17, 
with Senior-level working meetings on the November 14 to 
finalize the Bamako Declaration.  Opening ceremonies and 
dinner at the Presidential Palace will be held on the 15th. 
Thematic and regional roundtables will be held on the 16th. 
The thematic roundtables include: "Institutional and 
Political Environments for the Promotion of Democratic 
Governance" to be facilitated by Working Group 4, "Poverty 
Reduction, Sustainable Human Development and Democratic 
Governance" facilitated by Working Group 2, "Role of Civil 
Society and the Private Sector in Democratic Governance and 
Development" facilitated by Working Group 1, "Regional 
Organizations: Promoting Peace, Democratic Governance and 
Expanding Prosperity" facilitated by Working Group 3, and 
"International Engagement to Advance Democratic Governance 
and Development."  On the final day, rapporteurs will present 
recommendations and conclusions from each of the roundtables 
before the final plenary session 
 and closing session, after which a press conference will end 
the Ministerial. 
 
SELECTION 
 
¶22.  (U) The Community of Democracies includes over 120 
countries with (nascent or developed) democratic governments 
which have committed to promoting democracy around the world 
and sharing their unique experiences and lessons learned with 
others.  The U.S. has been an active supporter of CD because 
we view it as a unique forum where democracies can act 
together to address issues of democracy and human rights. 
More information about the Community can be found at 
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/c10790.htm. 
 
¶23.  (U) The Criteria for Participation and Procedures set 
out the basis upon which countries are to be judged for 
Observer or Participant status.  The Criteria for 
Participation and Procedures are available at 
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/26085.htm. 
 
¶24.  (U) Although the selection is made by CG participants, 
it is informed by the non-governmental International Advisory 
Committee (IAC), organized by several NGOs affiliated with 
the CD process.  The IAC issued recommendations to the CG on 
which countries to invite to the ministerial based on an 
agreed upon criteria.  The recommendations are not binding on 
CG members.  Invitations for full Participants and for 
Observers went out in late August, the lists for which are 
available at the CD Ministerial website at 
www.bamako2007.gov.ml/paysparticipant.htm and 
www.bamako2007.gov.ml/observateurs.htm. 
 
WORKING GROUPS 
 
¶25.  (U) At the Santiago CD Ministerial in April 2005, 
participants established four working groups to develop 
democracy promotion projects and initiatives with the aim of 
meeting their commitments made under the Seoul Plan of Action 
and Santiago Commitment. The CD Convening Group was charged 
with organizing these working groups and making them 
operational to further the CD's work in between CD 
Ministerials, which occur every two years.  Mali has been 
working with the 16 CG members of the Convening Group to 
activate the groups. 
 
¶26.  (U) During preparation for the November Ministerial, 
Mali asked Convening Group members to assist in urging other 
CD countries to participate in a CD working group.  The U.S. 
made considerable efforts to support the working groups and 
to increase participation by other CD countries. 
 
¶27.  (U) Because these working groups are open to all CD 
participants and members of civil society organizations, they 
serve as a basis to expand the number of countries and 
organizations actively involved in CD.  The four CD working 
groups and their chairs are: 
 
(A) Democratic Governance and Civil Society (India); 
(B) Poverty, Development and Democratic Governance 
(Mexico); 
(C) Regional and Inter-regional Cooperation for Democracy 
(formerly Portugal, now Romania); and 
(D) Promoting Democracy and Responding to National and 
 
STATE 00151024  007 OF 007 
 
 
¶28.  (SBU) All four working groups have met to consider how 
to advance their respective issues, but only the working 
group on Democratic Governance and Civil Society has 
developed any concrete initiatives to carry on beyond Mali's 
Chairmanship.  The group has developed a Diplomats' Handbook 
training manual on diplomacy and civil society with the goal 
of promoting democratic governance through future training 
programs.  The U.S., India, Canada, and two NGOs provided 
financial assistance to this program.  A second project under 
consideration would create an assessment tool to gauge the 
relationship between the state and civil society and provide 
recommendations for its improvement. 
 
U.S. SUPPORT 
 
¶29.  (U) The U.S. has provided significant financial and 
logistical support to Mali, to the non-governmental Executive 
Secretariat, and to several projects emerging from efforts 
 
SIPDIS 
leading up to the Ministerial.  In 2006 and 2007, the 
Department of State's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and 
Labor has provided over $450,000 for Ministerial logistical 
support, NGO process support, NGO travel and project support 
for the Diplomats' Handbook.  Additionally, USAID has 
provided $500,000 for secretariat-type services to support 
the Malian Chair of the Convening Group.  The U.S. Mission to 
the OAS provided $230,000 for the July 2007 high-level 
meeting of the CD-mandated OAS-AU Democracy Bridge in 
Washington. 
 
PERMANENT SECRETARIAT 
 
¶30.  (U) On October 1, 2007, on the margins of this year's UN 
General Assembly, Mali hosted a short meeting of Ministers 
that set the stage for the November Ministerial.  The 
Secretary spoke at the event, outlining U.S. priorities for 
 
SIPDIS 
the Ministerial, highlighting Mali's $460 million MCC 
Compact, the OAS-AU Democracy Bridge, the UN Democracy Fund, 
the Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership, and the importance of 
CD engagement in international fora.  Her remarks are 
available at www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2007/10/93344.htm. 
 
¶31.  (U) A newly created CD Secretariat will be unveiled 
during the Bamako Ministerial and will be hosted by Poland in 
Warsaw.  At the October 1, 2007 meeting, Mali re-circulated 
the secretariat structure, mission, and mandate.  Under the 
direction and guidance of the Convening Group and the CD 
Chair, the Secretariat will provide a focal point for 
governmental and NGO interaction during and between 
Ministerials to become the institutional memory of the CD. 
The proposed secretariat has a limited mandate and small size 
(5-6 people); it will be supported by voluntary 
contributions.  The Foreign Minister of Poland has offered to 
provide a site and detail three Polish diplomats.  After two 
years, the CD will evaluate all aspects of the Secretariat, 
including but not limited to financing mechanisms and 
staffing and recruitment procedures, to determine whether any 
revisions are necessary. 
 
POINT OF CONTACT 
---------------- 
 
¶32.  (U) Please contact DRL/MLGA - Laura Jordan at 
202-647-3088 or via email for any necessary further 
background information or argumentation to meet our 
objectives. 
RICE