Parliamentarians Attend Second International Conference of Asian Political Parties

December 10, 2002

On November 22, IRI sent six members of the East Timor Parliament (MPs) to Bangkok for the second International Conference of Asian Political Parties. The event marked the first opportunity for the MPs to meet their regional counterparts and learn first-hand the issues political parties in other countries face.

The three-day conference brought together politicians from across Asia to address issues affecting their individual countries and the region. Attendees discussed internal democracy within parties, good governance practices and regional communication and security.

The conference met the objectives of IRI's new political party program in East Timor by providing the delegates with a regional perspective on issues they will have to face in the future. Issues discussed at the conference will be addressed in upcoming IRI trainings.

The East Timorese members represented the Democratic Party, the Social Democrat Party, The Social Democratic Association of East Timor, the Timorese People's Party, the Liberal Party and the Revolutionary Front for an independent East Timor.

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