Europe should inspire democratic change in the Middle East and North Africa
13 April 2012 News
Europe's experience in building democracy should be an inspiration to democratic change in the Middle East and North Africa, Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov said today at the Global Security Forum, being held from April 12 to 14 in Bratislava.
Minister Mladenov said that the Arab world is changing and Europe should recognise the desire for change among the people of the region.
He emphasised that Europe also should put forward what it wants to see in terms of the application of universal values – human rights, political freedoms, equal economic opportunities.
“But most important is to work with people in every country in a manner consistent with the specific conditions. We must find and support those forces in Arab countries that share these values and help them become a factor in the political process of transition,” he said.
It is especially important to help build capacity for democratic control over the military, administration and the activities of political parties.
Minister Mladenov outlined some of the measures that may be taken to support democratic processes in Arab countries, such as an active role for the Council of Europe, inclusion of the European Foundation for Democracy as an instrument, and working towards building an Arab community along the lines of that of Europe.