LEND Network members meet in Madrid to discuss democratic transition

January 31, 2014

Leaders from Tunisia and Moldova, members of the LEND Network, met in Madrid on January 27-28 for a face-to-face meeting organised by the Community of Democracies and Club de Madrid.

Secretary General of the Community of Democracies, Ambassador Maria Leissner, former President of Latvia, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, and former President of Uruguay, Luis Alberto Lacalle, met with participants and advisors of the LEND Network, and discussed with them the achievements and challenges of the democratization processes in Tunisia and Moldova. The meeting was organized by the Community of Democracies in cooperation of Club de Madrid and with the support of the U.S. State Department and the Government of Estonia. 

Face-to-face meetings are an important component of the LEND Network, allowing participants to come out of the online platform, discuss in person the most important topics in their agenda, and learn from the experience and lessons of renown world leaders, members of the Club de Madrid. Discussions revolved around topics such as electoral processes, transparency, media freedom, e-governance and other democratic principles and their implementation. 

Picture: Club de Madrid. In the picture: Secretary General of the Community of Democracies, Ambassador Maria Leissner, former President of Uruguay, Luis Alberto Lacalle, former President of Latvia, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, and Secretary General of Club de Madrid, Carlos Westendorp, at the meeting.