Quigley Celebrates Poland's and Others' Efforts to Promote Democracy Throughout the World

Last night, Congressman Quigley delivered the following remarks on the House floor:

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1143, a bipartisan resolution commending the Community of Democracies on its ten year anniversary.

The Community of Democracies is a global, intergovernmental organization of democratic nations.

The organization seeks to promote democracy and strengthen democratic institutions around the world.

Spearheaded by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the overarching goal was to create a global community of democratic nations.

Secretary Albright's vision became a reality in 2000 when 106 nations came to together in Warsaw, Poland to launch the Community of Democracies.

This July marks the 10-year anniversary, and my resolution honors their achievements over the last decade.

The resolution also expresses hopes for success at the anniversary conference to be held in Krakow this July.

Honoring the Community has always been important, but in light of the recent Polish tragedy, the significance of this resolution has dramatically increased.

The Community of Democracies has deep ties with Poland, and Polish leaders.

The organization was founded in Warsaw, Poland, under the leadership of then-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Bronislaw Geremek.

It was the Government of Poland that initiated the establishment of a Permanent Secretariat in Warsaw in January 2009 to strengthen the institution.

It is fitting, therefore, that Poland will host the anniversary conference.

Poland has endured much sorrow recently, but we know the country and her people will find the resilience to emerge stronger, as they have before, following this unimaginable tragedy.

This resolution honors those democratic institutions exemplified by Poland, and by every other democracy throughout the world.

I urge my colleagues to support H.Res. 1143, commending the Community of Democracies.