ASEAN to issue Bali Concord II<\/p>\n
The Jakarta post, Nusa Dua, Bali<\/p>\n
The leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations (ASEAN) are scheduled to issue during their 9th summit on
\nTuesday in Bali the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II, which will
\npave the way for the establishment of a dynamic, cohesive,
\nresilient and integrated ASEAN Community. The Community is to be
\ncomposed of three pillars: the ASEAN Security Community, the
\nASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Social and Cultural
\nCommunity.<\/p>\n
The concord is also to be known as the Bali Concord II, with
\nthe first ASEAN concord issued in 1976 in Bali.<\/p>\n
However, in contrast to their harsh stance against the
\ndetention of Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi by
\nthe military junta, the draft concord does not directly reflect
\nthe principle of non-interference applied in a flexible manner,
\nas earlier proposed by Indonesia during the ASEAN foreign
\nministerial meeting in June 2002 in Phnom Penh.<\/p>\n
At the meeting, Indonesia insisted in its concept paper
\nregards the ASEAN Security Community that the regional grouping
\nshould be "more open to greater and cooperative involvement of
\nother member states -- through an agreed mechanism -- in trans-
\nboundary issues (internal issues with clear regional
\nimplications) and issues with an identifiable humanitarian
\ndimension (such as gross violations of human rights and in the
\nevent of humanitarian crisis)".<\/p>\n
Indonesia, which assumed the ASEAN presidency also in June
\nlast year, proposed the security concept to deal with the many
\nlong-standing security issues in the region.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said it was time
\nthat ASEAN "look ugly" as they brought their conflicts out into
\nthe open and chose to seek outside help to resolve the issues.<\/p>\n
"We have been dwelling on enhancing economic cooperation for
\ntoo long and have sidelined the importance of the security
\ncooperation," he said.<\/p>\n
Many ASEAN member countries were reluctant to accept the
\nconcept, as there were concerns that such a cooperation might
\nlead to defense pacts or a common foreign policy, and to a
\npossible interference in the domestic affairs of ASEAN members.<\/p>\n
According to the draft concord, a copy of which was provided
\nto The Jakarta Post by reliable sources, ASEAN reaffirms "the
\nfundamental importance of adhering to the principle of non-
\ninterference and consensus in ASEAN cooperation".<\/p>\n
Further, it is stated in the draft that "ASEAN shall continue
\nto promote regional solidarity and cooperation. Member countries
\nshall exercise their rights to lead their national existence free
\nfrom outside interference in their internal affairs".<\/p>\n
In terms of regional security issues, it is emphasized that
\n"ASEAN shall nurture common values, such as habit of consultation
\nto discuss political issues and the willingness to share
\ninformation on matters of common concern, such as environmental
\ndegradation, maritime security cooperation, the enhancement of
\ndefense cooperation among ASEAN countries, develop a set of
\nsocio-political values and principles, and resolve to settle
\nlong-standing disputes through peaceful means".<\/p>\n
On the ASEAN Economic Community, a concept proposed by
\nSingapore, the draft concord declares that "the ASEAN Economic
\nCommunity is the realization of the end-goal of economic
\nintegration in the ASEAN Vision 2020, to create a stable,
\nprosperous and highly competitive ASEAN economic region in which
\nthere is a free flow of goods, services, investment and freer
\nflow of capital, equitable economic development and reduced
\npoverty and socio-economic disparities in year 2020".<\/p>\n
As for the ASEAN Social and Cultural Community, the draft
\nnotes that the community will envisage "a Southeast Asia bonded
\ntogether in partnership as a community of caring societies".<\/p>\n
The ASEAN Summit is to run from Oct. 7 to Oct. 8.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-to-issue-bali-concord-ii-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }