Wednesday, February 10, 2010

November 20, 2009 18:20 PM

Indonesia To Host Democracy Forum For Asian Countries

JAKARTA, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- Indonesia is scheduled to hold an international democracy forum to be attended by heads of state and heads of government from Asian countries from Dec 10 to 12 in Bali, Indonesian foreign affairs ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said here on Friday.

The upcoming forum, called Bali Democracy Forum II, would be the continuation of a similar forum held last year in Bali.

"The forum would be an inclusive meeting, involving prominent Asian and national figures. They would discuss the world's ongoing democracy issues casually, sit side by side in a non-formal atmosphere," China's Xinhua news agency quoted Teuku as saying.

The foreign affairs spokesperson said that the organising committee is drafting the essential programmes to be implemented in the two-day meeting in the Indonesia's prominent tourist-destination island.

Teuku said there are possibilities that efforts to settle the democracy issues in the region could be conceived in the upcoming meeting.

"Since many heads of state and senior officials in the region would attend the forum, efforts to settle dispute between Cambodia and Thailand could be started from the forum," Teuku said.

The Bali Democracy Forum is an initiative of Indonesian government, launched on Dec 10-11, 2008. The forum was aimed at promoting regional and international cooperation in the field of democracy and political development amongst countries in Asia.

The Bali Democracy Forum is expected to contribute to the pursuit of the democratic ideals through dialogue and practical cooperation.

The forum was initially expected to strengthen democratic institutions at the national level and, therefore, it will also bridge the gaps in political development in Asia.

-- BERNAMA

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