United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Pretoria Director and National Information Officer were invited to the launch of the Democracy in Development Report, prepared by the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and the European Union Presidency Project (EUPP).
The report is the culmination of a series of studies and consultations involving key institutions including the African Union, Association of Southeastern Asian Naitions, the League of Arab States and the Organisation of American States and was commissioned by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The launch was thus hosted by the Embassy of Sweden.
The launch provided the opportunity for the authors of the report to discuss the results and main findings of the project, including the African consultation held under the auspices of the AU Commission in February 2009 in Addis Ababa under the title “EU’s role in Democracy building in Africa.”
Ms. Ingrid Wetterqvist, the Director of International IDEA, delivered a presentation on the salient points in the report. She was followed by Dr Patrick Molutsi, the Executive Director of the Botswana Tertiary Education Council. Dr Molutsi used his own country as an example of a successful democracy though he cautioned against complacency and apathy.
Dr Joseph Diescho, the Director of International Relations at the University of South Africa was the additional panelist. Dr Diescho criticized the EU’s past engagement with African countries and questioned the sometimes ‘double standards’ of the EU in its dealings with African countries by turning a blind eye to the excesses of some regimes and only focusing on others.
The discussion period provided an opportunity for a wide range of issues to be raised by the audience which included five EU member state Ambassadors as well as representatives of academic and civil society.
The report and other public information materials by IDEA were handed out after the formal presentations. The NIO made contact with the IDEA colleagues and offered to share information materials with them. A meeting will be set up with the newly-established IDEA office in Pretoria shortly.