REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NUSA DUA -- Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa affirmed that relationship between Indonesia and Vanuatu grew stronger with that country's participation in the Bali Democracy Forum VII.

"I had met Vanuatu's Foreign Minister Meltek Sato Kilman Livtuvanu several weeks ago in New York and invited his country to BDF VII in Bali," Marty said here on Friday.

According to the Minister, Meltek's visit to Indonesia was also aimed at finding potential areas for increasing their bilateral cooperation through better policy understanding.

Marty expressed hope that Vanuatu's presence at BDF VII will straighten out any misunderstanding the country has of Indonesia's policies, particularly the one related to Papua.

The Minister said Indonesia and Vanuatu have many similar concerns such as maritime and human rights issues.

"Through diplomacy efforts, Indonesia was appointed as an observer on the Pacific Forum. Vanuatu also has plans to open an embassy in Indonesia, which is a transformative effect of our foreign policy for the eastern regional countries of Indonesia," the Minister said.

The Bali Democracy Forum is an annual foreign ministerial meeting that was established by former foreign minister Hasan Wirajuda in 2008.

Countries share and discuss their experiences in democracy implementation and development, thereby promoting and boosting further cooperation on regional and international levels.

The theme of BDF VII: "Evolving Regional Democratic Architecture: the Challenges of Political Development, Public Participation and Socio-Economic Progress in the 21st Century," was decided by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry.

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