1.
PM Kan Calls for “Opening Japan and Reinventing KIZUNA” in Davos
2.
The Adoption of the Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in
the DPRK
3.
The Second Meeting of the Japan-Arab Economic
Forum
4. The Third Bali Democracy Forum
5.
Climate Change
6.
Japan's Assistance Package to Afganistan
7.
Launch of the “Visa for Medical Stay”
|
|
JICC
Newsletter
No.2, February 2011 |
4. The
Third Bali Democracy Forum
Japan Proposes Further Cooperation
for Elections

H.E. Mr. Seiji Maehara, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan,
attended the Third Bali Democracy Forum held on December 9 and 10,
2010. Many ministerial-level representatives from Asian countries,
including foreign ministers, have been attending the forum each year
since it was established in December 2008 on the initiative of
Indonesia as an intergovernmental forum for the promotion and
development of democracy. In 2009, H.E. Dr. Yukio Hatoyama, then
Prime Minister of Japan, served as Co-chair of the forum alongside
H.E. Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of
Indonesia.
During the Leaders’ Session this year, Minister Maehara delivered a
speech entitled “Democracy in Diversity - Building on Asia’s Unique
Strength -”. In his statement, Minister Maehara stressed that the
basis for promoting and deepening democracy in Asia would be
provided by realizing peace, stability, and prosperity through
vigorous development in the region. To that end, he continued to
point out that there exist three key issues: (1) continuation of
vital economic development, (2) promotion of regional cooperation,
and (3) securing stability in the region.
Minister Maehara also stressed the need to respect diversity in
Asia. He said, “One characteristic of Asia as a diverse society is
its tendency to make progress in a steady and patient manner
enabling everyone to participate in the process with confidence. The
development of Asia to date is proof that this approach produces
valuable results.” The Minister reported that as a part of the
“Election Visits Program” that Japan proposed in the 2009 forum,
working-level election officials from Asian countries were invited
to Japan on the occasion of the House of Councillors election, which
took place in July 2010 and held a seminar about democracy for the
participants to learn about democracy and the Japanese electoral
system. Furthermore, he stated that Japan would once again carry out
the “Election Visits Program” and host a seminar for working-level
election officials in April 2011, when the Tokyo gubernatorial
election takes place. Minister Maehara proposed that an “Election
Training Program” be implemented in Bali through international
cooperation.
The countries represented at the forum highly praised Minister
Maehara’s speech for being forward-looking and substantive. Japan’s
concrete proposals, including the “Election Training Program,” were
incorporated in the Chairman’s Statement of the Third Bali Democracy
Forum.
|