Imposing democracy models could be major destabilizing factor: Russian diplomat

GENEVA -- "Exporting" democracy to various regions, regime change, the staging of "color revolutions" and the imposition of other models of so-called democratic development upon sovereign States with no consideration for their history, culture, and traditions have become major destabilizing factors, a senior Russian diplomat said Thursday.

Speaking at a webinar entitled "Democracy & Human Rights: Common Goals with Diversified Approaches", Gennady Gatilov, the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, said that the results of this irresponsible policy can be seen in the Middle East, Africa, and even in Europe.

Thursday's webinar was co-hosted by the Permanent Missions of China and Russia in Geneva. "We have decided to focus today's discussion on what unites all countries, contrary to the modern discourse based on the assumption that each State must copy a number of so-called "old", "leading" or "real" democracies or other definitions used by those who identify themselves as a model for the rest of the world," Gatilov said.

Building a real democracy is impossible without cultivating respect for human rights and freedoms in society, he said, as well as establishing an effective system for their promotion and protection. At the same time, when implementing universally recognized human rights and freedoms, cultural characteristics, moral standards, and traditional values should be taken into account.

Gatilov believes that Western mentoring is becoming more obsessive, oppressive and even aggressive. The "Cold War" thinking of some western countries, based on compliance with so-called democratic criteria, has nothing to do with efforts to make our world a better and safer place, he added.

"In this regard I would like to quote Dwight Eisenhower, the 34th U.S. President who said 'The world must learn to work together, or finally it will not work at all," Gatilov said.