President Ahmadinejad Off To Indonesia For Annual Democracy Forum

Tehran, Nov 7, IRNA – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad left here for Indonesia Wednesday morning to attend the fifth annual Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) slated for November 8-9. President Ahmadinejad was seen off by the senior Advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ali Akbar Velayati. Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, senior Advisor to President Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi and Head of the Presidential Office Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei are accompanying the President during his Bali visit. The Iranian President who also holds the rotating presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is to address the BDF and hold meetings with the leaders of the participating states. Iran's presence in the Bali Democracy Forum indicates the country's high commitment to strengthening democracy and bringing peace to the world and region. The BDF is being co-chaired by the Indonesian and South Korean Presidents Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Lee Myung-bak respectively and the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The fifth annual BDF aims at boosting international and regional cooperation in bringing peace and democracy through dialog./end