The President’s Summit for Democracy, which includes representatives from Argentina, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Poland, Poland, South Africa, Spain, and Canada, according to a White House press release, is a testament to the interdependence of the U.S. and Taiwan in promoting democracy worldwide. [Update: Monday, 21 July, 9:48 AM: Five of those attendees have cancelled.]
President Barack Obama will host “global leaders of the Rule of Law movement,” at a “summit for democracy” in Washington in September, the White House announced today. “We are hosting this Summit for Democracy because, as one of our most important partners, we can use our influence to highlight the common values of democracy to underscore the critical role the rule of law plays in international affairs,” the press release read. “… We think that by working together with regional partners, we can encourage increased dialogue between the democratic governments of the world and the international community.
As a result of the event, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry has been invited to participate as a “special guest” and for its “participation in a roundtable discussion on democracy and freedom,” according to a statement [Chinese] from its foreign ministry posted to Taiwan’s State Council’s website. “This marks the first time that the administration of the United States invited Taiwan to partake in a Summit for Democracy”, the statement says.
Taiwan will also send a delegation to the 2012 Summit in Washington. Also invited are Columbia University, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the U.S. Department of State.
According to Taiwan’s State Council, “the summit to be held in Washington on Sept 8 and 9 will be attended by 70 representatives from 28 countries. The attendees include heads of states and ministers from Colombia, Australia, Egypt, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey, Turkey, Uruguay, and Ukraine, as well as the Chair of the Council of Europe, John Monks.
According to a White House announcement of the event, “the invitation includes Taiwan’s participation as a special guest”
The hope is that the summit will result in the restoration of international organizations and institutions to their original, “prominent roles of defending democratic ideals, upholding freedom of choice, and promoting human rights”, the White House said.
“These organizations were designed to do this during their founding – particularly throughout the 20th century – but were often politicized and politicized in many circumstances,” the White House said.
“The United States recognizes the importance of continuing to strengthen the cooperation and goodwill of its international partners on a range of issues,” the statement from the White House said. “A Summit for Democracy can further our efforts to advance these common values, so we can serve as strong voices around the world on the promotion of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.”