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<title>MR. KILGOUR - ADDRESS AT THE 5TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NEW ORRESTORED DEMOCRACIES - ULAN BATOR, MONGOLIA</title>
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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong><u>CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY</u></strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>THE HONOURABLE DAVID KILGOUR,</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>SECRETARY OF STATE (ASIA-PACIFIC),</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>AT THE 5TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NEW OR</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>RESTORED DEMOCRACIES</strong></font></p>
<p><strong></strong><font size="+1"><strong></strong></font><font size="+1"><strong>ULAN BATOR, Mongolia</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><strong>September 10, 2003</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">On behalf of the Canadian delegation, I must not say another word without wishing a speedy and full recovery
to the dear friend of democracy, Anna Lindh, the Swedish Foreign Minister. Our Swedish colleagues here
indicate that that she is one of the most respected parliamentarians in Sweden; that she is the mother of two
small children; that she has no regular security; and that they see this as a direct assault on Sweden's
celebrated open society. The hearts and prayers of all of us go out to Ms. Lindh, her husband and children, and
to the Swedish people generally. [Unfortunately, Ms. Lindh died on September 11, as a result of her injuries.
Her murder is being investigated by Swedish authorities.]</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The Canadian delegation thanks the Mongolian government and the UNDP [UN Development Program] for
their superb organization of this important event. Could there be a more appropriate country than Mongolia to
act as host? The renowned people of this beautiful land turned to democracy 13 years ago with the conviction
that citizens should own and run their government, not vice versa. Mongolia's successes, described eloquently
yesterday by its President and Prime Minister, testify to the strength of this national conviction. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"><strong>The Democratic Spirit</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">What of the democratic endeavour generally? Commenting on his own country's new- found freedom,
President-elect Vaclav Havel of what was then Czechoslovakia once asked: "From where did
[Czechoslovakia's] young people . . . take their desire for truth, their love of free thought, their political ideas,
their civic courage and civic prudence?" </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Does the answer for all of us not lie in the human desire everywhere to choose the types of societies we want
to build for ourselves: ones grounded on the values of human dignity for all (including the disabled), liberty and
the rule of law?</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Democracy is generally flourishing. At no time in history, as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's message
reminded us yesterday, has it been so widespread; but there is no room for complacency. Democracy is a
difficult process. Democrats everywhere know that there is no perfect model. But is it not in this very difficulty
and imperfection that the strengths of democracies emerge? It is in learning from each other--new, restored
and traditional democracies alike--that we improve the systems that some have enjoyed for centuries; and
others, like our host, are consolidating.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">We must accept that all of us have an interest in strengthening democracy everywhere. The challenges in doing
so are too great for any one country to tackle itself. This is why Canada works with its partners to support
democratic development through the UN, the G8, NEPAD [New Partnership for Africa's Development], the
Commonwealth, La Francophonie and the Organization of American States. The newly established
International Criminal Court has an important role to play in this regard as well.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"><strong></strong></font><font face="Arial"><strong>Instruments of Democracy </strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">A genuinely democratic culture thrives on diversity, inclusion, peaceful dissent, education for all, vibrant civil
societies, NGOs and volunteers, and the widest possible ownership of homes, farms and enterprises, including
the media. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The rule of law is, I believe, essential for authentic democracy. Where there is meaningful rule of law, judges at
every level must be truly independent of the executive and legislative branches. Does this not require long-term
if not essentially lifelong appointments until retirement? Otherwise, how can judges be expected to make fair
decisions in cases involving the executive branch? It probably also means relatively high salaries by a country's
standards to avoid both corruption and the appearance of it. Does it not mean a judicial culture of not being
afraid to find against the executive in criminal, tax and other cases? </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">A democracy's strength must be measured in terms broader than the transparency and inclusiveness of its
elections. Other instruments are vital as well: for example, the use of ombudspersons, ethics and privacy
commissioners, truly independent commissions against corruption, committees scrutinizing regulatory
measures, and many more. Each democracy's use of such instruments must be observed in its own unique
context. The types will vary but their purposes--participation, accountability, transparency, human rights and
the rule of law--will remain the same. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"><strong>Civil Society</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Democracy can only thrive in an open and inclusive civil society. Mongolia's success in building democracy is in
part due to its vibrant civil society, where, as we heard yesterday, there is now approximately one NGO for
every thousand citizens. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Canada welcomes the impressive program of deliberations and successful outcome of the International Civil
Society Forum held earlier this week. The Forum has also taken promising steps to launch a follow-up
mechanism for international civil society, including a permanent secretariat and a program of national,
international and regional actions. As government representatives, our deliberations will only lead to concrete
progress if we support the Government of Mongolia in its follow-up mechanism to this conference. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"><strong>The Spirit of Democracy</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">To conclude, perhaps the most important lesson we have learned from our struggle to help democracy flourish
is that no one can be complacent. We must be resolute in our struggle against those factors that threaten the
foundations of democracy everywhere, particularly poverty, corruption and unemployment. Similarly, in our fight
against global terrorism, we cannot surrender any part of our democratic foundations. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Finally, we need to ensure that the culture and spirit of democracy endures and blossoms. President Havel,
whom I quoted at the outset, indicated that there is more to democracy than institutions and instruments.
Democracy, for example, is not only for adults; its spirit should be nurtured at a young age. Children, as
UNICEF argues, are good for democracy; and it is, or should be, good for them. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Stephen Leacock, a well-known Canadian author, wrote:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">... we must remember that no code or social legislation, no written law, can of itself guarantee true democracy
and preserve liberty. The spring can rise no higher than its source. Democracy must continue to be fed from the
altitude of the high ideals that founded it. . . . Democracy is a spirit.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Through gatherings such as this one, I am confident that all of us here will continue to strengthen the spirit of
democracy around the world. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Thank you. </font></p>
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