CHAPTER TWENTY THREE CO-OPERATION IN POLITICAL MATTERS ARTICLE 123 Political Affairs 1. In order to promote the achievement of the objectives of the Community as set out in Article 5 of this Treaty particularly with respect to the eventual establishment of a Political Federation of the Partner States, the Partner States shall establish common foreign and security policies. 2. For purposes of paragraph 1 of this Article, the Community and its Partner States shall define and implement common foreign and security policies. 3. The objectives of the common foreign and security policies shall be to: (a) safeguard the common values, independence of the Community; fundamental interests and (b) strengthen the security of the Community and its Partner States in all ways; (c) develop and consolidate democracy and the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; (d) preserve peace and strengthen international security among the Partner States and within the Community; (e) promote co-operation at international fora; and (f) enhance the eventual establishment of a Political Federation of the Partner States. 4. The Community shall pursue the objectives set out in paragraph 3 of this Article by: (a) establishing systematic co-operation between the Partner States on any matter of foreign or security policies of general interest within the Community in order to define a common position to be applied by the Partner States; 97