Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said good democracy and government in 2011 is the reason for the increase in the number of participants this year.
Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA News) - Around 83 countries joined the Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) V 2012, with 43 more countries participating this year as compared to those in 2009.

"The number of participants has increased as compared to the first BDF event in 2009. There were 40 countries in 2009, but today there are 83 countries," said the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Marty Natalegawa, during his speech in the BDF V at Nusa Dua, Bali on Thursday.

According to him, good democracy and government in 2011 is the reason for the increase in the number of participants this year.

"The BDF V 2012 is also attended by 11 country leaders including the Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and the South Korean President, Lee Myung-bak," Marty added.

About 1243 delegations from 83 countries and international organizations attended this forum which goes by the theme, Advancing Democratic Principles at the Global Setting: How Democratic Global Governance Contributes to International Peace and Security, Economic Development and Effective Enjoyment of Human Rights.

Among the attendees were the Brunei Darussalam's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, the Iranian President, Mahmud Ahmadinejad, the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Xanana Gusmao, the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Thai Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guniea, Peter O'Neill.

42 foreign ministers, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay and the United States Congressman Mc Dermott also attended the forum.

Four country leaders out of 32 countries and eight observers attended the BDF I 2008 whereas 35 countries and 13 observers participated in the BDF II 2009. In 2010, the numbers increased and 44 countries and 27 observers participated in the BDF III. Last year, seven country leaders out of 40 country participants and 45 observers attended the BDF IV.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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