Multinational CD Delegation to East Timor, May 10-15, 2004From May 10-15, democracy practitioners from nine countries traveled as part of the Community of Democracies East Timor Initiative to meet with their East Timorese counterparts working to strengthen and consolidate democratic institutions in this new democracy. Delegates came from Australia, Cape Verde, Chile, Israel, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, and the United States of America. Each delegate brought experience in one or more sectors of democratic governance, including elections, public defense, law and judiciary, and local governance. As fellow democrats, they came to East Timor committed to exchange ideas on how to overcome challenges to the further development of democracy in East Timor and to bring home the observations and lessons they learned from the work of Timorese people. The group met with a wide range of officials including President Gusmao, Prime Minister Alkatiri, Foreign Minister Ramos Horta, numerous ministers and other government officials, judges, parliamentarians, UN officials, and civil society representatives. The group presented their thoughts and observations to Foreign Minister Ramos Horta in a closing session. Click here for more photos. |