TIMOR-LESTE TAKES PART IN 5TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RESTORED DEMOCRACIES

The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste has designated Mr. Jacob Fernandes, Vice President of the National Parliament and Mr. Roberto Soares, Director of Regional Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation to attended the 5th International Conference on New or Restored Democracies, held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 10th – 12th of September 2003, In his statement at the Parliamentarian’s Forum, Mr. Jacob Fernandes, Vice President of the National Parliament, said that, “democracy is universally recognized ideal, based on values common to people everywhere regardless of cultural, political, social and economic differences. Democracy is equally a political system that enables people to choose freely an effective, honest, transparent and accountable government”.

In a parallel session, at thematic session on strengthening democratic governance and cooperation with civil society, Mr. Roberto Soares also said that, “Democracy is one of the greatest achievements that the human civilization gained through its long historic development.
Democracy means that a civil society where political and economic rights and freedoms of individuals are cherished, where the Government acts on the basis of rule of law and where the economic is based on free market.
Therefore, democracy needs to be protected, improved and developed.

The 5th International Conference on New or Restored Democracies was formally open by His Excellency Mr. Natsagiin Bagabandi, President of Mongolia. The Conference was attended by more that 114 countries a cross the world.