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Emerging Democracies Forum
Managing the Twin Transitions
Opening Ceremonies
(4 of 29 pages)
And our work will not end with this conference. NDI plans to maintain this network
through follow-up regional consultations, exchange visits by individual experts, an interactive Web site, and other
mechanisms that will facilitate ongoing and even accelerated transfers of ideas and experiences. Our challenge
is to build upon the relationships that are established here.
In closing I wanted to acknowledge those who truly have made this conference possible. First, Prime Minister Eryani,
whose vision inspired the forum itself. NDI's Middle East director, Les Campbell, who managed to pull this together
against all odds. Rarely did any of us believe this could really happen. The NDI staff who have that rare quality
of being both competent and friendly—and probably is the only group of people who is operating under less sleep
than those who arrived last night from London. The supporters of this conference who are listed on the banner behind
me and in your folders. Without their contributions—financial and otherwise—this event simply would not have
happened. The thousands of Yemenis who have watched a very unique collection of people descend on their country
and who have worked very hard to make us feel welcome. And finally, Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Saqqaf, a Yemeni patriot
who is a champion of democracy, freedom of the press, and human rights. Dr. Abdul Aziz was tragically killed
in an automobile accident earlier this month following a planning meeting for this forum. He truly personified
the cause that brings us all together here.
I spoke earlier about the generous international support for the forum from many individuals, corporations, organizations,
and governments. But I would now like to introduce two senior officials representing the government of Japan and
the United Nations Development Program. Both the Japanese government and the UNDP played singularly important roles
in backing this effort. First, Minister Wataru Nishigahiro from the permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations.
Minister…
Wataru Nishigahiro: First I'd like to acknowledge Mr. Abdullah Saleh, President of Yemen, Mr. Kenneth Wollack,
President of the National Democratic Institute, excellencies, and ladies and gentlemen. It is a great honor for
me to be here in Sana'a to represent the government of Japan and to participate in the Emerging Democracies Forum
co-organized by the government of Yemen and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. My government
decided to contribute to the successful outcome of this forum and to send a representative because we think that
promoting democracy is a key way to achieve peace and stability throughout the world. The theme of this gathering
is Managing the Twin Transitions, Political and Economic Reform in Emerging Democracies. This is a very important
topic. It is the responsibility of the international community to provide outward support for efforts such as this
forum. This is exactly the reason that my government has decided to contribute $250,000 U.S. to UNDP to ensure
its success.
We highly appreciate the initiative taken by the government of Yemen and National Democratic Institute. My government
is especially appreciates the fact that it is the government of Yemen that has taken this initiative because during
President Soraha's (ph) recent visit to Japan in March this year he had a meeting with Prime Minister Obushi (ph)
who said to him that the government of Japan will continue to support the efforts of President Soraha to promote
democratization and economic reform of Yemen.
Supporting emerging democracies must be one of highest priorities of the international community. After the changes
that took place in international relations at the end of the Cold War, Japan, for its part, made a decision at
the cabinet level in 1992 to establish an ODA order that clearly stipulates that in implementing programs of economic
cooperation, we will pay careful consideration to the promotion of democratization, the introduction of market-oriented
economies, and ensuring basic human rights and freedoms. Any countries struggling to establish democracies are
facing difficult obstacles. In such a period or transition, ODA can help to surmount those obstacles.
Ladies and gentlemen, after ending a lengthy period of isolation until the middle of the 19th century, Japan has
experience establishing national institutions and policies, a political and regal system, learning from the rest
of the world. This is precisely the process of democratization that we are gathered here to discuss. Based on that
experience we are prepared, and even eager, to support the democratization process in developing countries. We
have taken series of initiatives in this field—the first partnership of democratic development, what we call
PDD, having been announced in 1996 at the occasion of Leon (ph) Summit. The basic principles to which we have adhered
and conducted PDD is that cooperation is to be achieved in partnership with developing countries and that emphasis
is to be placed on ownership. In this initiative there are five priority areas—institution building, election
support, the strengthening of stable society, assistance in intellectual endeavors, and advancement of the status
of women. Another important initiative that Japan has taken is, of course, the TICAD process. The second total
international conference on applicant development, which was held in October of last year with the help of the
UN Global Coalition for Africa, which served as organizers, was a great success. And concluded with the adoption
of total Agenda for Action. One of the key elements of the Agenda for Action was first, the strengthening of good
governments, which coincides with the basic theme of this forum of Emerging Democracies. We can see that TICAD
is not a single or distinct event, but rather a continuing process based upon the principles of partnership and
ownership of development.
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