The E.U. is more than just a trade organization or a common market it is a guarantee of democracy freedom justice and human rights. Nations cannot stay in the E.U. if they do not respect these guarantees.

Anybody who asks for democracy to be introduced should respect the results of democracy.

But the Western countries that link their partnership with the poorest countries with respect for democracy also have to consider that they have obligations towards these countries.

For about ten years now the struggle for democracy and the respect of human rights has been in the focus point - if not a commodity - of political groups aiming to rise to power.

To win the cause we all believe in the spread of true democracy all over the world we need to win by example not just with speeches but by example not just with military might but by gaining the respect of the world.

We are not directly involved in Syria. But we will be working with our partners in the European Union and at the United Nations to see if we can persuade the Syrian authorities to go as I say more in that direction of respect for democracy and human rights.

Democracy may have arisen in the West as the way of striving for the universal aspiration to dignity and freedom but it isn't alien to the underlying concepts that infuse religion and moral philosophy everywhere.

Let me say again that the relationship is asymmetrical: there's no democracy without a market economy but you can have a market economy without democracy.

The American polity is infected with a serious imbalance of power between elites and masses a power which is the principal threat to our democracy.

Concentration of executive power unless it's very temporary and for specific circumstances let's say fighting world war two it's an assault on democracy.