Iran To Attend Bali Democracy Forum At Highest Level

Tehran, Nov 5, IRNA - Director for International Affairs at President Ahmadinejad's office Mohammad Reza Forghani said on Sunday Iran will participate at the highest level in the 5th International Democracy Forum from November 8-9 to be held in the island resort of Bali, Indonesia. He told IRNA that Iran had participated in the 4th forum last year in Bali at foreign minister level, but this year, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as President of one of the most important Asian countries will attend the forum. World leaders, ministers and high-level officials from 54 countries across the Asia-Pacific region will participate in the 5th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) to discuss ways of promoting democratic principles and values, from November 8-9 in Nusa Dua, Bali. This year the BDF, an annual event for government representatives to share their respective countries’ latest democratic developments, will be co-chaired by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. More than 50 countries have registered for the BDF so far and more are expected to join. The first day will be a general debate followed by interactive sessions on the second day. Launched in 2008, the BDF has gained increasing support and recognition from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond as a premier regional forum to promote practical political cooperation and to share views and experiences, with an aim of advancing democratic principles. The forum has explored and identified common principles on various aspects relevant to the promotion of democracy at the national level in the region./end