Jakarta Globe, Made Arya Kencana, November 06, 2012
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be attending the Bali Democracy Forum in Nusa Dua later this week. (AFP Photo) |
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Denpasar.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is among 12 heads of government coming to
Nusa Dua later this week for the two-day Bali Democracy Forum.
Indonesia’s
Foreign Ministry said that leaders from Afghanistan, Australia, Brunei, China,
East Timor, Iran, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand,
Yemen had confirmed their attendance at the event.
“The Asean
secretary general will also be present,” Siti Nugraha Mauludiah, the ministry’s
technical cooperation director, told reporters in Denpasar on Monday.
The
ministry said that the annual forum on Thursday and Friday would also be
attended by 27 ministers.
“The number
of ministers could increase, given that each head of state may bring along
several ministers,” Siti said.
So far,
1,246 participants from 73 countries have confirmed their attendance. Countries
not sending heads of government or ministers will be represented by appointed
observers.
Siti said
that the BDF would be opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, with
representatives from Australia and South Korea acting as co-chairs.
Ten heads
of government will speak on democracy on the first day, while the agenda for
the second day will be filled with discussions across three sessions.
Discussions
in the first session will center on security and peace, the second session on
human rights and the third session on economic development.
Several
heads of government are also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings on the
sidelines of the conference. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will deliver
a keynote speech at the conference.
During the
address, Lee plans to stress the importance of democracy as a universal value
of humankind and underscore the need to promote democracy for the sake of
international peace, safety and prosperity, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency
reported.
On the
sidelines, Lee will meet with Yudhoyono to discuss ways to deepen relations
between the two countries to mark the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic
relations, the Foreign Ministry said.
Trade
volume between South Korea and Indonesia has more than doubled in the past five
years, to $30.7 billion in 2011. Preliminary talks on a bilateral free trade
deal have also taken place.
After the
summit, Yudhoyono plans to award Lee with Indonesia’s highest state medal,
Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipurna (Star of the Republic of Indonesia), in
recognition for his contribution to relations between the two countries.
Ahmadinejad’s
participation in the BDF comes after several years in which Iran has been
represented by ministers.
Meanwhile,
police and military have started to intensify security in Bali.
“Security
points start from Bali’s entrance points,” Maj. Gen. Wisnu Bawa Tenaya, the
head of Bali’s military command, said on Monday.
Wisnu said
that security would be most intense in the Nusa Dua area, including around the
meeting venue and hotels where the participants are staying.
Also
protected will be roads to the meeting venue and strategic points such as the
airport, waterways and tourism sites.
Security
forces have deployed rubber boats, armored cars, helicopters and battleships as
part of security measures.
Bali Police
community director Putu Gde Suastawa said 1,400 personnel would be deployed to
secure the event.
“We will
also be assisted by pecalang [traditional village security officers] who will
control security in their respective villages,” he said.
The BDF was
an Indonesian government initiative first held in 2008 with the aim of
developing democracy in the Asia Pacific. The forum seeks to promote regional
and international cooperation in the development of peace and democracy through
dialogue and the sharing of experiences.
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