U.S. Says Wants To Advance Democracy Agenda 'With Partners In Azerbaijan And Elsewhere'

Washington/01.04.23/Turan: Top U.S. diplomat for democracy and human rights said on Friday that the outcomes of this week's Summit For Democracy apply to "everywhere", including countries beyond those who took part in the summit, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"We’re in a better position to address shared challenges when we do so through strong, inclusive coalitions," said Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.

Zeya was speaking to reporters during a special briefing organized by the State Department's Brussels Media Hub on the results of the second Summit for Democracy.

She laid out three takeaways: Expanding the chorus of democratic champions, (there were more than 120 invited governments and authorities at the 2nd summit); participants' implementing over 750 pledges in the last 15 months, and underscoring the value of partnership and co-leadership.

"Alongside our global summit partners, the United States is doing its part to strengthen democracy at home and abroad," the Under-Secretary said.

According to her, through the two-year summit process, the participants have "revitalized" traditional partnerships and woven together new ones of common purpose.

"A prime example of this is the Summit Focal Group, which brought together over 60 geographically diverse government representatives to develop and negotiate a summit declaration reaffirming participants’ commitment to democracy and collective action. It has already been endorsed by more than 70 governments and authorities from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America, with hopefully more to come," she said.

When asked by TURAN's Washington correspondent whether the results of the summit were applicable for people living in Azerbaijan, in Türkiye, and in other countries that were not part of the conversation, Zeya said, "absolutely!"

"Our Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal, the lines of effort, are simply global," she said.

"We want to advance this agenda with all of our partners in every country where we’re represented" she went on to elaborate: "whether it’s supporting free and independent media, supporting democratic reformers, and pushing back against the trend of closing space for civil society that we see, sadly, all over the world; elevating the fight against corruption, which is a core national security priority which President Biden put forth at the very first Summit for Democracy in December 2021; the agenda on tech for democracy, where Secretary Blinken led a really groundbreaking session with international partners from government, the private sector, and civil society – this is an issue that affects every country in the world."

She concluded: "So our open and inclusive approach to the summit guides our diplomacy, and certainly we want to advance this agenda with partners in Azerbaijan and elsewhere."

The 3rd Democracy Summit will be hosted by South Korea.

"As we prepare for the next Summit for Democracy, we look forward to sustaining the incredible momentum of this week, and we’re energized to continue to renew and revitalize our democracies, to help one another, and to prove that they can deliver for our people and the world," Zeya said.

Alex Raufoglu