*EPF511 09/13/2002
Text: Powell to Attend Community of Democracies Ministerial
(Meeting to be held November 10-12 in Seoul, South Korea) (260)

Following is the text of a press statement issued September 13 by State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher:

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Press Statement
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
New York, NY
September 13, 2002

Secretary Powell to Lead U.S. Delegation to Community of Democracies Meeting

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell met in New York today with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Choi Sung-hong, and informed the Minister that he will lead the United States Delegation to the Ministerial meeting of the Community of Democracies, which will be held in Seoul from November 10-12. Secretary Powell expressed his appreciation to Minister Choi for the initiative taken by the Republic of Korea to host this meeting, and for the leadership that has been provided by the Korean Government in organizing and shaping the Seoul meeting.

The Community of Democracies is a unique gathering of nations from all regions of the world that share a commitment to building and strengthening democracy in their own countries, their respective regions and globally. The Community of Democracies held its first conference in Warsaw in June 2000. At the Warsaw conference, over 100 nations pledged to support democratic principles. The upcoming conference in Seoul will focus on a plan of action through which countries can advance these principles and consolidate governance in their own countries, regionally, and worldwide. As in Warsaw, the Seoul conference will consist of both a Ministerial meeting and a parallel meeting of non-government organizations and civil society representatives from around the world.

We look forward to the Seoul conference and the opportunity to work with other countries on strengthening democracy and respect for human rights worldwide.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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