Deputy Secretary John Negroponte Leads U.S. Delegation to Community of Democracies Meeting in Bamako, Mali

Deputy Secretary Negroponte

A U.S. delegation, headed by Deputy Secretary of State Ambassador John D. Negroponte, joined representatives from around the globe attending the November 14 – 17 Fourth Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies in Mali.  The Deputy Secretary led the official delegation to the meeting of the Community of Democracies to highlight the United States’ commitment to promoting democracy, good governance, and partnership with nations that share common values.  During his visit to Bamako, the Deputy Secretary met with government leaders and representatives of Malian civil society and gave a press conference to local and international media.

Deputy of State Secretary John D. Negroponte visited Mali as part of a November 9-16 trip to Africa that included stops in Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Mali.    During this trip, the Deputy Secretary’s delegation discussed democracy, security, rule of law, and sustainable development with key partners in West Africa.

The Fourth Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies -- a coalition of democratic countries that work to promote and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide -- was hosted by the Malian Government in Bamako from November 14 – 17, 2007.  The main theme of this conference was democracy and development.

The Community of Democracies was founded in 1999 by 10 countries -- Chile, Czech Republic, India, Korea, Mali, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, South Africa and the United States – who initiated the formation of the community to affirm their commitment to the fundamental principles of democracy and the promotion of democracy worldwide.  Since that time, the United States has remained a strong participant in the Community of Democracies, a unique forum that brings together those nations committed to promoting and strengthening democracy around the world. Text of Deputy Secretary Negroponte's Speech to the Community of Democracies