30 July 2017

East Timor Government supports Next Generation Democracy Roundtable

Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and

Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

 Dili, July 30th, 2017

Government supports Next Generation Democracy Roundtable

The Sixth Constitutional Government is pleased to be supporting the Next Generation Democracy Roundtable taking place in Dili on the 30th and 31st of July. The roundtable, organized by the World Leadership Alliance ‘Club de Madrid’, will bring together senior leaders and stakeholders to discuss “Shaping a Next Generation Democracy Agenda for Asia and Oceania”.

Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo will be participating in the closing panel discussion on Sunday afternoon which considers “The Future of Democracy in Asia and Oceania: What is at stake for youth in the region”. The President of the Republic, H.E. Francisco Guterres Lú Olo welcomed participants on the 29th of July and Club de Madrid member, former President H.E. Dr. José Ramos-Horta, will be involved throughout the event.

Notable visitors expected to attend include the Club de Madrid members H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono [President of Indonesia 2004-2014], H.E. Jennifer Mary Shipley [Prime Minister of New Zealand 1997-1999] and H.E. Jigmi Yoser Thinley [Prime Minister of Bhutan 2008-2013]. H.E. Madhav K. Nepal [Prime Minister of Nepal 2009-2011] is also anticipated to participate along with a wide array of regional experts from international organizations, government, NGOs, Civil Society, academia, youth, the diplomatic corps and more.

The Club de Madrid said that the roundtable would discuss “existing good practices and transformative new ideas to advance democracy in the different sub regions of the Asia-Oceania region.”

The Democracy Index 2016, published earlier this year ranked Timor-Leste as the top country in South East Asia based on a consideration of electoral process and pluralism, the functioning of the Government, political participation, political culture and civil liberties.

Spokesperson, Minister of State Agio Pereira, said “we welcome many distinguished guests who will visit our shores to participate in the Next Generation Democracy Roundtable. It is completely fitting that the delegates are coming to Timor-Leste just after we have conducted our parliamentary elections in a way that has been lauded by experts around the world. We know the discussions, which will include our own experts and contributors, are going to support the advancement of democracy in our region.”ENDS

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