REPORT

H.E. DR. N. HASSAN WIRAJUDA

MINISTER FORFOREIGN AFFAIRS REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE BALI DEMOCRACY FORUM

BALI, 10 DECEMBER 2008

Your Excellency President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and the first lady Ibu Ani Bambang Yudhoyono,

Your Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah

The Honourable Prime Minister Kevin Rudd,

Your Excellency Prime Minister Kay Ralla Xanana Gusmao

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am greatly honored to welcome you to this inaugural session of the Bali Democracy Forum. It is heartening that you have graced with your presence this birth of a new forum that is aimed at enshrining democracy on the strategic agenda of Asia.

When we set out to organize this Forum, we were conscious of its great and splendid possibilities. We have decided, however, to proceed with deliberation. We will take one careful step after another.

Your Excellency President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,

I am privileged to report to you that 32 (thirty-two) countries of Asia are represented in this forum today. Although this is a ministerial forum, leaders of our region are in attendance at this inaugural session to signal their full support and lend it their personal prestige.

Moreover, 8 (eight) countries are also represented here as observes. It augurs well that countries outside the region have also taken a keen interest in this endeavor.

The media have also taken keen interest in this Forum: there are some 80 (eighty) national and international journalist in attendance.

Allow me also to report to you, Mr. President, that exactly a month ago, an Experts’ Group Preparatory Meeting was held here to thresh out the modalities of this Forum.

Attended by 41 experts from 21 countries, that meeting was in line with the inclusive nature of the process we are launching today. We in Indonesia felt strongly that we should reach out to other countries of the Asian region and obtain their perspectives on how we should proceed with the forum and how to develop it once it has been launched.

That meeting recommended a set of guiding principles, which emphasize that we are inaugurating an international forum, not an organization. And that this Forum should be inclusive, with the participating states sharing its ownership.

Its dialogue—based on equality, mutual respect and understanding—should be a sharing experiences and best practices.

While the modalities of the forum would be anchored on a regular meeting of foreign minister, it should also organize technical workshop in which government officials can share ideas and experiences. The forum should also be open to support from, and partnership with, governments outside the region as well as relevant international and region organizations.

The overall objectives of the Forum should be to foster regional and international cooperation in the field of democracy. Hence, the overall theme of this inaugural session is “Building and Consolidating Democracy: A Strategic Agenda for Asia.”

I am also delighted to report to you, Mr. President, that in order to institutionalize this process the Department of Foreign Affairs and the University of Udayana have agreed to jointly establish an Institute for peace and Democracy, which will facilitate and support the activities of the Bali Democracy Forum. The Institute will ensure the sustainability of the Forum, which is how you wish it to be.

The Rector of the University of Udayana and I, along with students, professors and other stake holders of the university, look forward to receiving your guidance later this afternoon when you inaugurate the institute on the site of its future premises. I am confident that, with the benefit of your personal commitment and leadership, Mr. President, the Institute will serve the region as a worthy centre of knowledge and expertise on democracy.

Your Majesty,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

If we look at the other regions in the world, in Europe, in the Americas, and even in Africa, we see that their discourse has already grappled with nation of democracy for quite some time. In those other regions, the debate on democracy has long passed. Their discourse has been transformed into various regional mechanisms that strengthen the democratic institutions of individual countries.

In comparison to those other regions, we should admit that Asia has some catching up to do. Nevertheless, various significant initiatives have been launched.

For example, the principles of democracy and human rights are embodied in the ASEAN charter that will soon enter into force. With this new charter, ASEAN has embraced democracy as a shared value. This is one effective way we can foster and maintain place, stability and prosperity in the region.

Your Majesty,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Asian economy today is one of the most dynamic and vibrant in the world. This is reminiscent of earlier times when Asia was not only the most prosperous economy in the known world, it was also home to several great civilizations.

These civilizations were the most advanced in science, technology, spirituality, arts and culture – and they flourished within the most sophisticated political structures of the time.

I think that we can all agree that Asia is on its way to regaining the golden age it once enjoyed. That is why many thoughtful international observers have said that the 21^st century is indeed the Asian century.

It is ironic therefore that the world’s most volatile conflicts persist in Asia. All sorts of grievous threats to human security abound in the region, including the threat of a nuclear catastrophe. We must also suffer relentless social problems associated with poverty, such as illiteracy, contagious diseases and high infant and maternal mortality.

To overcome those problems and challenges, we have been actively integrating on sub-regional and regional basis, but for the most part, integration has been purely economic. Of course, we must intensify our economic cooperation but, in the view of Indonesia, it is equally important that we intensify political and security cooperation. We should strike a happy balance between economic and political cooperation.

This means that in our dialogues we should shy away focusing on democracy and how it should be promoted. Democracy, after all, is one of the most dominant ideas in the Asian century.

And while democracy is no panacea, we must also realize that the great challenges of our time require a democratic response. We have to work with democracy on a day-to-day basis, but we must also develop I and sharpen it as an instrument of progress. Its development can only be a long-term strategic goal. It is a journey of a thousand miles.

A journey of a thousand miles, of course, begins with a single step. We take that first single step today, with the understanding that we are all committed to going the full thousand miles.

Mr. President,

It bodes well for the future of this forum that you have graced its inauguration with your presence. We look forward to your sharing with us your thoughts on this undertaking.

Hence, I have the honor, Mr. President, to invite you to deliver your opening statements, which marks not only the inaugural session of a dialogue, but also the birth of NEW Asian process, the Bali Democracy Forum.

I thank you very much.