Bali Democracy Forum earns greater acknowledgement

Monday, 13 December 2010

The Jakarta Post

In its third year, the Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) has continued to gain a stronger foothold and earn better recognition among countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The forum is thought to have further consolidated as part of the regional democratic architecture, in line with progress that countries in the region have made over the last couple of years.

Increasing recognition was also evidenced by the increasing number of participants at this year’s forum. The two-day meeting was attended by representatives from 44 countries in Asia and the Pacific, as well as 24 observers from other countries — far greater than last year’s 35 participating nations and 29 observers.

Since its inception in 2008, the BDF has been consistent in promoting intergovernmental platforms for sharing experiences and best practices on democracy, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said at the meeting, which closed on Friday.

“The Bali Democracy Forum has found its traction and has been of great utility and contribution to our region, as evident by the level of participation, the highest ever during these three years, as well as in terms of substance, where we have moved beyond generality of themes,” the minister said.

In its first year the BDF focused on endeavors supporting regional countries seeking to adopt democracy as part of an overall strategic agenda for the Asia-Pacific region.

In its second year the forum concentrated on efforts to create synergies in democracy and development based on prospects of cooperation in the region.

This year’s forum, themed “Democracy and the Promotion of Peace and Stability”, reflected the countries’ common commitment to ensuring that democracy brings concrete benefits to the people, Marty said.

“We explored in depth how a democratic system can create and provide political stability, so that people can live with confidence in their security,” he said.

The forum’s theme was timely given the ongoing conflict in the Korean peninsula. Participants used the opportunity to convey their concerns to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who co-chaired the forum with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Holding bilateral talks with Lee on the forum’s sidelines, Yudhoyono expressed appreciation for Lee’s attendance despite his domestic crisis, saying it reflected the solidarity and commitment of his South Korean counterpart to improving democracy in Asia.

In his remarks, Lee said that his country had managed to develop its economy to a certain level that in turn accelerated the progress of democracy, despite the security threats his country has faced since the Korean War in 1950.

“Despite confrontation in the Korean peninsula, we have achieved both industrialization and democratization within a single generation,” he said. “Within the last 60 years following the division of the Korean peninsula, our economy has grown 38 times larger than that of North Korea.”

Lee said he believed the forum would be a valuable asset for all Asian countries in developing their own democracy.

In the interactive session on “How a Democratic System Helps Prevent the Occurrence or Escalation of Violent Conflict”, participants underscored the importance of exploring various possible democratic peace mechanisms to prevent conflicts.

During another interactive session on “Why Democracy and Economic Development are Essential to Building Peace”, delegates underlined the importance of democracy for reducing poverty as a means to building peace and stability and ensuring economic development that benefits all citizens.

During the closing session, participating country representatives agreed to further develop the substance of the annual meeting by carrying out more programs and advancing the role of the Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD) as the forum’s implementing agency.

Delegates declared that the forum has firmly enhanced their confidence and comfort level for exchanging views and experiences on democracy improvements in their respective countries. To seize this positive momentum, participants discussed the possibility of holding a BDF Summit in 2012 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the forum.

Several country delegates expressed their appreciation for Indonesia’s efforts to successfully pave the way for greater improvement of democracy in the region through the BDF.

“Indonesia deserves all appreciation and support for successfully convening the forum, maintaining the momentum built up around this initiative to enhance cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region for strengthening democratic institutions at all levels,” India’s State Minister for External Affairs Preneet Kaur said.

“This forum has become an important fixture on the calendar of democratic countries in Asia and elsewhere in the world. The growing profile of this forum is reflected in the increased levels of participation and its substantive outcomes,” she said.

Thailand Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya said the forum, as an Indonesian initiative, is providing impetus and making great contributions to the awareness of democracy in the Asia-Pacific region.

“It is also making the global community aware of democratic changes going on in this part of the world, reflecting the fact that the Asia-Pacific is not only giving weight to be the engine of global economic growth, but is also attempting to make political freedom and political participation a reality and an example of openness of economic and political activities,” he said.