REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice President Boediono has officially opened the Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals Association (ICMI) National Conference at Jakarta Convention Center, here on Friday. He urged the nation to learn from the past.

Indonesia, which is eager to move forward with a reformation spirit, is facing a dilemma in achieving a democratic nation and state, as it is still being overshadowed by the era of New Order or "Orde Baru".

"On the one hand, Indonesia is already being recognized as a fully democratic country. But on the other, our development is not yet optimal," he said.

"That is why perhaps we have to learn from our past. I think we can take the positive sides of the achievements during the era of the New Order, as we know that the New Order was indeed recognized worldwide as success for development," Boediono added.

However, Vice President Boediono also emphasized that Indonesia has to stick to reformation and democratic values in order to develop the country.

"I don't say that we have to go back to the New Order, but what I underline here is that we need to find a balance," he explained.

The ICMI National Conference 2013 projects "Indonesian New Economic Movement: Access Mobilization for People Prosperity" as the tagline and aims to empower small and medium enterprises through the Indonesian Halal Business and Food exhibition held on December 20-21, 2013.

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