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OEA/Ser.P
AG/RES. 1724 (XXX-O/00)
5 June 2000
Original: Spanish 

RESOLUTION

STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY: SPECIAL FUND

(Resolution adopted at the first plenary session, held on June 5, 2000)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT:

That the strengthening and consolidation of representative democracy is one of the fundamental aims of the Organization of American States;

That the region still faces serious political, social, and economic threats that could undermine the stability of democratic governments in the member states;

That one of the essential purposes of the Organization is to promote and consolidate representative democracy, with due respect for the principle of nonintervention;

That it is advisable to strengthen hemispheric cooperation and solidarity, recognizing that the democratic system is developed and consolidated according to the specific characteristics of each member state; and

That the elimination of extreme poverty is an essential part of the promotion and consolidation of representative democracy and is the common and shared responsibility of the American states;

RECALLING:

That resolution AG/RES. 1696 (XXIX-O/99), "Strengthening Representative Democracy," instructs the Permanent Council to "continue to examine, within the framework of the principles of the Charter, of international law including the Charter of the United Nations, and of the relevant declarations and resolutions of the Organization, measures to consolidate and strengthen representative democracy";

That in recent years a set of resolutions has been adopted, such as resolution AG/RES. 1080 (XXI-O/91), "Representative Democracy"; resolution AG/RES. 1352 (XXV-O/95), "Mechanism for Executing and Financing Special Activities Arising from Application of Resolution AG/RES. 1080 (XXI-O/91)"; and resolution AG/RES. 1476 (XXVII-O/97), "Regulations Governing the Use of Resources under the Mechanism for Executing and Financing Special Activities Arising from Application of Resolution AG/RES. 1080 (XXI-O/91)," in accordance with the aforementioned purposes and principles;

That the Santiago Commitment to Democracy and the Renewal of the Inter-American System states that the OAS is the political forum for dialogue, understanding, and cooperation among all countries of the Hemisphere; and

That the Declaration of Managua [(AG/DEC. 4 (XXIII-O/93)] states that "the Organization’s mission does not exhaust itself in the defense of democracy wherever its fundamental values and principles have collapsed, but also calls for ongoing and creative work to consolidate democracy and a continuing effort to prevent and anticipate the very causes of the problems that work against democratic rule"; and

CONSIDERING:

That activities to preserve, strengthen, and consolidate the democratic system are necessary as part of a joint hemispheric effort; and

That the necessary financial resources are needed to promote such activities,

RESOLVES:

1. To establish a permanent specific fund financed by voluntary contributions, to be called the Special Fund for Strengthening Democracy, which will support activities to preserve, strengthen, and consolidate representative democracy in the Hemisphere.

2. To instruct the Secretary General, subject to prior consideration by the Permanent Council, to use the resources of the Special Fund to respond in a timely fashion, with strict respect for the principle of nonintervention embodied in the Charter of the Organization, to a request for assistance by a member state affected by situations that, in the view of the state involved, affect the development of the democratic process or the exercise of power by the democratically elected government.

3. To instruct the Secretary General to administer the Special Fund in accordance with the General Standards to Govern the Operations of the General Secretariat and other provisions and regulations of the Organization.

4. To invite all member states, permanent observers, and other donors, as defined in Article 68 of the General Standards to Govern the Operations of the General Secretariat and other provisions and regulations of the Organization, to contribute to the Special Fund for Strengthening Democracy.

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