AGA KHAN: DEMOCRACY, PLURALISM KEY TO STABILITY</I> - 2004-09-08

BERLIN: Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary imam of Shiite Ismaili Muslims and founder of the Aga Khan Development Network, said Tuesday that democratic governance, pluralism and civil society are the three preconditions for developing countries to be transformed into peaceful, modern societies. Speaking at the fifth German Ambassadors Conference, the theme of which was 'The Future of the Near and Middle East,' the Aga Khan stressed the need to mutually reinforce democratic governance, pluralism and civil society to create an environment in which societies in developing countries could develop and prosper. Emphasising the importance of stable and competent democratic governance, the Aga Khan said that nearly 40 percent of UN members were failed democracies, spanning the Muslim world, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Africa.