Remarks at the Rollout for Partnership for Democratic Governance

And I just want to acknowledge my good friend, the former Director of Policy Planning, Steve Krasner, who really -- this was, in many ways, an idea that he helped to promote and to create and he's now gone back to Stanford, but I just want to thank Steve for his leadership on this issue.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank you for all that you've done to make this possible for us today to launch this new multilateral initiative, the Partnership for Democratic Governance. I especially want to thank the founding members of this partnership. This unique multinational partnership focuses the international community on specific ways to help developing nations strengthen their institutions of governance. It expands our multilateral capability to support democratic institutions, sustainable development, and good governance.

The new partnership builds on the all important work of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the UN Development Program, and all the multilateral institutions that support development through improved governance. It also compliments the successes of other democracy promotion initiatives like the UN Democracy Fund and the Community of Democracies, which is focused, this year, under Mali's able leadership, on the importance of the link between democracy and development.

We know that well-functioning and accountable institutions are necessary for democracy to work. That is the key function of this partnership, to fashion multilateral policies that provide targeted assistance to help fragile states and emerging democracies bolster their own governance in an accountable and transparent manner. At the root of this partnership is an agreement between developing countries seeking help to improve their governance and more developed democracies that can send the money and manpower to help their developing partners meet.

And it is, for the first time, an effort in which more advanced developing countries can help those developing countries that are just on the road to democracy to do what they need to do to deliver for their people. This initiative empowers reformist leaders who want to meet the needs of their people. By participating, governments will signal to investors and aid providers that they are resolved to make their economies and their governments work more effectively. When the governing institutions critical to expanding trade, investment, and economic freedom are strengthened, these developing democracies will prosper and provide opportunity for all their citizens.

This partnership represents the first concerted effort to determine how the international community can best help governments to deliver essential services to their people through the temporary provision of international personnel. Long after the good work of the Partnership for Democratic Governance is done, what will endure is stronger, more capable institutions in democratic developing countries.

The concept of this new partnership is exciting, it is innovative, and I am pleased that it brings together a diverse group of countries and international organizations to work in concert in a new and hopeful way. I am proud to be here with such a great group of founding members who will bring valuable expertise to this partnership and I want to thank everyone who made this day possible. We look forward to working with all of you to make the Partnership for Democratic Governance a success and we hope that others will join in this important new initiative.

Thank you very much.

(Applause.)

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