"The conclusion by almost all of the participants is that this forum needs to be continued because the forum is very beneficial for these countries," Dino said after the closing ceremony of BDF VII here on Saturday.
Further, according to Dino, the participating countries received several benefits, including lessons learned and mutual sharing of the development of democracy in their homelands.
Each country learned about the development of democracy from other countries, particularly targeting the development of political, economic and social conditions.
"Several decades ago, we assumed that democracy and economics could not be developed hand in hand. But at this moment, all participants agreed that politics and economics can be developed simultaneously in different ways," Dino said.
The Vice Minister added that participant countries are free to bring recommendations from BDF VII to their countries political systems.
"It is an open and free forum. All participants are free to take lessons from other democratic systems," Dino said.
The input from participants regarding the next BDF includes inviting more institutions from political parties and politicians.
Additionally, Dino said several rejections from Non-Governmental Organizations should not be allowed to disrupt the sustainability of the international democracy forum.
"The BDF is a forum that discusses regional democracy issues that have very broad impacts upon us. Do not equate the forum with local issues in our country," the Vice Minister added.
The BDF VII has been held from 10-11 October and saw participation by 85 countries and four international organizations.
"Evolving Regional Democratic Architecture: the Challenges of Political Development, Public Participation and Socio-Economic Progress in the 21st Century" was the theme chosen by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry for BDF VII.
(T.B019/A/KR-BSR/O001)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
