REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesia will highlight its success in conducting direct general elections at the 7th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) scheduled in Bali, on October 10-11, according to a foreign ministry official.

"The BDF is coincidentally being held just after we concluded the legislative and presidential elections and so (we have planned to showcase their successful implementation) despite some shortcomings," Esti Andayani, the director general of public information and diplomacy, stated on Tuesday.

She emphasized that democracy had also continued to develop in the ASEAN region, which was apparent from the development of democracy in Myanmar that had become more open, despite a setback in Thailand.

Indonesia hopes that the rate of participation in the 7th BDF will remain high. The event is scheduled to be attended by Timor Leste's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, and delegates from 51 countries as well as 68 international observers.

BDF aims to promote dialog and cooperation in democracy in the framework of building good governance and ensuring sound political development. This year's event is themed "Regional Development in the Democratic Architecture: Dynamics of Political Development, Social-Economic Progress and Public Participation in the Democratic Process."

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