Date:10/11/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/11/10/stories/2002111004300800.htm

National

Sinha for Seoul

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI NOV. 9. The External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, left for Seoul today to attend the Second Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies from November 10-12. The Community of Democracies, launched in Warsaw in June 2000, saw participation by a total of 103 countries with the United States, India, South Africa and the Czech Republic taking an active part.

During the conference, four Ministerial round tables on different themes are to be held with Mr. Sinha co-chairing a session with the Czech Republic on "Media and Democracy.'' ``The Seoul conference is expected to deliberate on two documents apart from the round tables mentioned above. There will be a declaration on terrorism and Seoul Action Plan for furthering and promoting democracy. The threat that terrorism poses to democracies and special responsibilities of open societies are likely to come under focus,'' an official statement said.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, will not be travelling to Seoul for the meeting. In his place, the Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs, Paula Dobriansky, will lead the American delegation.