Brussels, 26/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - All states must recognise that although free and fair elections by secret ballot and legitimate national institutions are necessary preconditions for democracy, they are not enough to guarantee democratic governance. For that, states must be guided by respect for the universal democratic principles and norms enshrined in international and regional legal instruments. This was the message delivered on 22 November by the Joint Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Kigali (Rwanda), which brought together 78 MEPs and 78 parliamentarians from ACP (African/Caribbean/Pacific) countries. The resolution on the elections and electoral processes in ACP and EU countries adopted by the assembly particularly stresses the freedom of the press, the representation of minorities, the rights of the opposition, the fight against fraud using sanctions in ACP countries, the use of provisions guaranteeing at least 30% representation by women in decision-making bodies, the disarmament and reintegration of former soldiers and militias as other vital factors. As co-rapporteur, Betty Amongi, a representative from Uganda, stressed the importance of organising the funding of campaigns by the parties rather than by wealthy individuals, and of “taking on board women and other disadvantaged groups”. Her fellow co-rapporteur, Spanish MEP Miguel Angel Martinez Martinez (PES group) emphasised that this joint resolution had made efforts to avoid “imposing a Eurocentric vision”. He also attacked “brainwashing by tyrants who say elections are just a western model”. (A.N.)