DISTINGUISHED PARTICIPANTS

A1+
[05:37 pm] 15 June, 2007

It is a great honour for the Swedish Parliament to host the 3rd
Council of Europe Forum for Democracy.

And it is a true pleasure for me to welcome you all to the Swedish
Parliament. Sweden has taken over the important task to chair this
Forum after last years Forum in Russia. Next years Forum will be held
in Spain.

You will travel back through Swedish Parliamentary history as you
move later this afternoon from the Plenary Hall to the Former 1st
and 2nd Chambers. In 1971 Sweden changed from a two-chamber system
to a unicameral system. Tonight you will move from our capital to
the historical city of Sigtuna.

Sweden is known as one of the worlds oldest democracies. What
is referred to as the First Swedish Riksdag meeting dates as far
back as 1435. Many years later, in 1766, Sweden took an important
step towards full-fledged democracy as freedom of press came into
force. When our constitution was written in 1809, nearly 200 years
ago, the fundaments of our parliamentary democracy was completed. The
pillars of the parliament ~Aã deciding the state budget, making laws
and exercising scrutiny of the government ~Aã were finalized. In
Sweden, the creation of the Ombudsman system has proved to be one of
our most successful inventions to safeguard the rights of the citizens,
an invention that has been extensively exported. For newly established
democracies, the development of parliaments capacity to scrutinize
governments is of highest importance for safeguarding the democracy.

Not only new and emerging democracies need to fight for the values of
democracy. Every nation needs to work constantly in protecting and
promoting the values of democracy and Human Rights. In the Swedish
Parliament we work on a daily basis to promote gender equality,
multi-cultural dialogue and pluralism. We strive to find actions
against intolerance and various forms of discrimination. Major formal
decisions are taken here in the Chamber. But also small steps are
important to strengthen fundamental rights of every individual.

The initiative of the Council of Europe to hold a series of conferences
on Democracy, gathering representatives from parliaments, governments,
local and regional bodies and non-governmental organisations is worth
every support.

It is only through open and frank exchange of views that we reach out
to new and emerging democracies. It is only through broad and public
debates that we reach out to the citizens of our countries.

I am confident that this Forum will form a major contribution to
further strengthening our joint democratic endeavour.

International cooperation, dialogue and exchange of experiences
are crucial to guide us through future action at national and local
levels. We need a lively debate to reach way outside this plenary
hall. Todays debate in Stockholm should be tomorrows discussions in
our respective countries. Each and every one of us can contribute in
our different capacities.

–Boundary_(ID_S2Z6vtEax7IfLhdRlzKKpQ )–