OAS-IDEA cooperate to bolster political parties in the Americas
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| Published on Friday, February 23, 2007 |
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WASHINGTON, USA: Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, signing a cooperation agreement between the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Sweden-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), said on Thursday that he believes the two organisations can work together effectively to help strengthen political parties in the Americas.
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OAS Secretary General, José
Miguel Insulza. OAS Photo |
“We sincerely hope to continue making a meaningful contribution to the development of democracy,” said Insulza, adding that any initiatives undertaken would not involve domestic party politics but would seek to strengthen the democratic system in general.
Insulza welcomed the enhanced collaboration with International IDEA during a signing ceremony with that organization’s Secretary-General, Vidar Helgesen, at OAS headquarters in Washington. Secretary General Insulza explained the work of the OAS in monitoring elections and providing technical assistance to member countries to strengthen their electoral process, adding that these efforts have produced positive results.
Citing the groundbreaking OAS work that produced the Inter-American Democratic Charter—adopted by the member states in 2001—Insulza underscored the important role democracy plays in development and the elimination of poverty. In response to a suggestion from his IDEA counterpart, Insulza expressed a willingness to lend the experience of the OAS towards the development of a democracy charter for African countries. According to Insulza, the inter-American organisation’s vast experience in electoral matters could be useful to Africa’s initiative for its own democracy charter. He also talked about OAS efforts to strengthen relations with the African continent, including through an upcoming meeting with the African Union.
IDEA Secretary-General Helgesen, for his part, said this new agreement sets the stage for a strengthened, consolidated and promising partnership. He noted that the areas of elections, electoral capacity-building and the role of political parties are of particular relevance for this partnership initiative.
As an intergovernmental organisation with a global reach, he explained, International IDEA focuses considerable attention on Latin America and has some of its strongest programs in that region. Helgesen also outlined his organisation’s efforts to consolidate Africa’s momentum in democracy, indicating that a conference to be held in Africa on the subject will also feature a panel on Latin American experiences. | | | | Reads : 233 | | | |
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