ASEAN presents new flag of peace<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The new flag of the Association of Southeast
\nAsian Nations (ASEAN) was hoisted for the first time yesterday at
\nthe ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta during an official ceremony
\nmarking the organization's 27th anniversary.<\/p>\n
The flag consisted of the ASEAN symbol, six turret-like shapes
\nsymbolizing the ASEAN member countries, but minus the
\ninscriptions, standing in bold yellow against a sky-blue
\nbackground.<\/p>\n
"The flag symbolizes cohesion and the ASEAN identity. It is
\nalso a symbol of ASEAN strength and cooperation," Secretary
\nGeneral Dato' Ajit Singh told reporters following the ceremony.<\/p>\n
The ceremony was attended by the ambassadors of Brunei, the
\nPhilippines and Singapore, the Director General of ASEAN in
\nIndonesia and the Charges d'Affairs of Malaysia and Thailand, as
\nwell as diplomatic staffers of the embassies of ASEAN countries
\nand their families.<\/p>\n
Approved by the 27th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok last
\nmonth, Dato' Ajit explained that the flag's blue background was
\nchosen because it symbolizes peace.<\/p>\n
Other organizations which adopted this color for the same
\nreason include the United Nations and the European Union, he
\npointed out.<\/p>\n
The flag was raised yesterday together with those of the ASEAN
\nmember countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
\nSingapore, Thailand and Brunei.<\/p>\n
The ceremony was disrupted slightly when the flag of Brunei
\nwas inadvertently hoisted upside-down. Military cadets, however,
\nquickly pulled down the flag and righted it before raising it
\nagain.<\/p>\n
Dato' Ajit acknowledged that over the years ASEAN has grown
\nstrong enough politically to withstand pressure from other world
\norganizations.<\/p>\n
He expressed doubt that other organizations seek to minimize
\nthe political role of ASEAN, since it is in the interest of the
\nworld community that ASEAN play a stronger role in regional
\npolitics, security and economic cooperation .<\/p>\n
"A stable ASEAN means a stable region in Southeast Asia, and
\nstability in the region is basically built for everybody," he
\nsaid. (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-presents-new-flag-of-peace-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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