First meeting of the Board of Directors in the Arab Association for Democracy
In an atmosphere impregnated with vitality and feelings of full responsibility, the Board of Directors of the Arab Association for Democracy held its first meeting in the Jordanian capital of Amman on 13 January 2008.
Secretary General of the Arab association for Democracy, his Excellency Dr. Abdul Karim El Iryani, opened the meeting with an address in which he welcomed those attending and submitted a general report on the activities of the Association ever since its establishment in Sana’ on 12 June 2007, including the First Annual Conference of the Association held on democracy in Sana’ on 22 August 2007.
Dr El Iryani confirmed that the documents that were approved by the constituent assembly included the Arab Covenant for Democracy and the Articles of Association of the Arab Association for democracy. He said that the conferees discussed the final draft of the articles of association.
He added that the conferees have also discussed the working plan of the Arab Association for Democracy for the forthcoming four years and the details pertaining to the holding of its second annual conference on the democratic culture in Beirut in October 2008.
ON the basis of the reports submitted by the first conference held in Sana’ on the freedom of expression, the democratic culture in the family and in educational and social institutions, the specifications of good governance, and the empowerment of women, the Board of Directors decided to hold seminars and to carry out activities aimed at disseminating democratic culture in the constitutional and electoral domains, in addition to the freedom of expression and the right of political participation.
A number of resolutions and recommendations were issued by the meeting. They included the confirmation of the decision made at the Sana’ constituent conference to open a branch office in Amman, to strengthen the Association’s foreign relations with the Arab, regional and international organizations involved in the question of the promotion and consolidation of democracy, to work for joining the Civil Society Commission of the Arab league, and to secure membership of an advisory status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
The conferees at the meeting also decided to hold four seminars on the topics of citizenry, democracy and development, transitional justice, and transparency and the circulation of data.
The Arab Association for Democracy expressed the hope that the Arab World would follow the path of reform and peaceful democratic transformation so as to consolidate and deepen political participation and awareness of the importance of the democratic means and methods so as to provide immunity for the individual and society and enhance their competence as well as the role of civil society in its capacity as a strong partner in the democratic transformation.
(Signed) The Board of Directors of the Arab
Association for Democracy
Amman on 13 January 2008.
