Nigeria is committed to the entrenchment of democratic values says President Goodluck Jonathan.

[FMINigeria]

                        President Goodluck Jonathan has assured of Nigeria's commitment to entrenching of democratic values in all nations.

The President gave this assurance at the 7TH Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies which held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

President Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo and stated that Nigeria, as the biggest democracy in Africa, was prepared to work at all times with other nations to create a league of democratic drivers who would ensure the entrenchment of best practices.  "Nigeria will at all times lead the way to strong democratic values amongst the nations of Africa.   It is on this note that our administration has pledged to ensure that local elections in Nigeria are held according to established international norms", he said.

The president, who described the positive relationship between democracy and economic growth draws example from Nigeria's democracy whose relative stability has brought about democratic dividends to her people.

Furthermore, President Goodluck Jonathan reiterated his administration's commitment to providing the people of Nigeria good services on a democratic platform where he stated that his government remained focused on strengthening democracy through the institutionalization of good governance creation of opportunities as well as economic growth.

The President however, lamented some global challenges to democracy, which range from activities of undemocratic elements that seize the opportunity of the freedom which democracy offered, to destabilize the political system with terrorism by non-state actors, which tend to overwhelm legitimate democracies. He called on all members to work hard in entrenching democracy and rule of law to defeat those challenges.  The President however, called on all not to relent in pursuing the principles of democracy and rule of law to defeat these unwholesome agents.  "We must continue to strengthen our collective resolve to confront current and future challenges as a united entity and thereby engender sustainable peace and development for our people" said, the President.

President Jonathan further lauded member countries for electing Nigeria as the incoming president for the period, 2015-2017 and assured of his administration's continued commitment to the entrenchment of democratic values within the nation and in working towards the internationalization of democratic values.

Earlier, the noble Aung Suu Kyi, who was the guest of honour at the event, thanked those who stood by them in their more than two-decade of struggle for democracy and also prayed that they shall continue to stand by them in their journey towards democratizing.

The Nobel prize laureate  who was also the chairperson of the National League for Democracy of Myammar, described democracy as the ability to chose right over wrong "positively negative"; but, however cautioned that democracy must be accompanied by a genuine improvement in the standard of living of the people.

Aung Suu Kyi, who draws on the multi-pluralistic society she hailed from, Myanmar, cautioned against conflict in overcoming difficulties.  She advocated for a non- violent approach in their quest to achieving democracy and development.

Other speakers at the event were President Ts. Elbegdorj of Mongolia, Tawakkol Karman (2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureatte), Maria Lessner CD, Secretary-General, Alfio Piva Mensen, the Vice President of Costa Rica, Catherine Ashton, Vice President of the European Commission, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Director-General of the UN office at Geneva (UNOG), and Yingluck Shinawatra, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand

The Community of Democracies is a global intergovernmental coalition of democratic countries with the goal of promoting democratic rules and strengthening democratic norms and institutions around the world.

The governing council is the highest decision making body with twenty four member countries (Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Finland, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Republic Of Korea, Sweden, United States and Uruguay.   Over 100 democratic countries participate at ministerial meetings every two years.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria