Balkan democracy under spotlight at Crans Montana Forum
The task of promoting democracy and security in the Balkan states was the focus of talks at the Crans Montana Forum in Switzerland on Saturday.
The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, was a guest at the forum and spoke of the difficult task facing the international community in promoting stability in the troubled region.
Deiss chaired a plenary session devoted to the subject of democracy, and told participants at the outset of the talks that the discussion should be wide ranging.
“We should conceive of ‘democracy’ in the widest possible sense of the word,” Deiss said.
“It is not limited to the political sphere, but should also include areas such as the battle against corruption and the respect of human rights.”
Deiss also stressed the importance of international collaboration in resolving regional conflicts, just one day after the Swiss economics minister, Pascal Couchepin, presided over a similar session devoted to the effects of globalisation.
The annual Crans Montana forum, now in its 14th year, is similar to the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos. It has become an important platform for the exchange of ideas between world and business leaders.
The forum, attended by representatives of 100 countries, ends on Sunday.
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