MEDIA ADVISORY

Mongolia to Host High-Level Meeting of the Community of Democracies ULAANBAATAR, 18 April. In what will be the biggest multi-lateral gathering ever to be held in Mongolia, the 7th Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies (CD) will take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on 29 April. Among the several hundred participants will be President TsakhiaElbegdorjof Mongolia, President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, the Prime Minister of Thailand YingluckShinawatra, forty foreign ministers, as well as Nobel Peace prize winners Aung San SuuKyi of Myanmar and Tawakkol Karman of Yemen. The Community of Democraciesis a global intergovernmental coalition of democratic countries, with the goal of promoting democratic rules and strengthening democratic norms and institutions around the world.The first meeting of the Community, which was initiated by the United States and Poland, took place in Warsaw in June 2000. At the conclusion of that meeting, senior officials from 106 countries signed a declaration entitled Toward a Community of Democracies which is still today considered the most comprehensive international declaration on democratic values. The vision of the Community of Democracies is to serve as a global platform for democratic countriesthat, together with civil society, parliamentarians and the private sector, seek to strengthen democracy both at the national level and internationally. Its mission is to support democratic transition and consolidation worldwide and help bridge the gap between principles and practice of democracy and human rights. Ministerial meetings of the Community of Democracies are held every two years. This 7th session is expected to focus on how to advance democratic reforms in CD member states, especially in emerging democracies and those facing challenges. Thematic discussions will be held on: democracy education; corruption; the Arab Spring; democracy and the Millennium Development Goals; as well as on-line and press freedom. A high-level discussion will be held on threats against civil society and freedom of expression. The Ministerial meeting will be preceded on 27 and 28 April by meetings of the CD's five pillars: civil society, women, youth, parliamentarians' and the corporate sector. More information on the CD and the 7" Ministerial Conference in Ulaanbaatar as well as information on media accreditation can be found at www.cdmongolia.mn. Information on the CD and its activities can be found at www.community-democracies.org. For press enquires please contact: Mr. Dashnyam Enkhtaivan, Head of Press and Public Relations Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia E-mail: enkhtaivan@mfat.gov.inn. media@cdmongolia.mn