ASEAN to step up regional security commitments<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
When the foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gather on Wednesday for their
\nannual meeting, they will likely realize that Indonesia is
\nregaining its self-confidence as a major player in the regional
\ngrouping.<\/p>\n
Using the opportunity as the one-year chair of the regional
\ngrouping, Indonesia is on the path to regaining its leading role,
\nif not its leadership, in ASEAN, which it lost following the fall
\nof Soeharto in 1998.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's newfound confidence is reflected in the country's
\nsuccess in gradually convincing its neighbors to accept its ASEAN
\nSecurity Community (ASC) concept as a crucial part of the
\ngrouping's road toward achieving its ambitious plan to create an
\nASEAN Community by 2020.<\/p>\n
However, Indonesia has not had it all its own way and has had
\nto make major concessions by pulling back from many of its
\noriginal ideas on ASC.<\/p>\n
Indonesia surprised most member countries of ASEAN by
\nproposing ASC during the Phnom Penh ministerial meeting last
\nyear, as the bold initiative touched on sensitive issues such as
\ndomestic political developments and security. ASC is one of the
\nthree pillars of the envisioned ASEAN Community, the other two
\nbeing the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Sociocultural
\nCommunity.<\/p>\n
After a year of discussions among senior officials, the member
\ncountries agreed to include the ASC concept as part of ASEAN's
\ncourse as it moves toward 2020 and the ASEAN Community.<\/p>\n
\"The AMM (ASEAN Ministerial Meeting) will take up the issue of
\nASC with follow-up action as an item on the meeting's agenda,
\nmeaning they will continuously review the progress,\" Indonesian
\nMinister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He underlined that with this endorsement, the security
\ncommunity concept was no longer the monopoly of Indonesia, but
\nwas part of the wider ASEAN commitment.<\/p>\n
However, the plan of action is much less than the original
\ndraft proposed by Indonesia, which gave specific time frames for
\nthe implementation of action plans in each area of activity.
\nIndonesia's proposal to set up a peacekeeping force was also
\nrejected.<\/p>\n
According to the revised ASC plan of action, which is expected
\nto be endorsed by the ministers on Wednesday, the areas of
\nactivity in building the community can be achieved at a pace
\ncomfortable for all of the member countries.<\/p>\n
On the political development component, ASEAN member countries
\nagreed not to condone unconstitutional and undemocratic changes
\nof government or the use of their territory for any actions
\nundermining the peace, security and stability of other member
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Citing its maturity and increased confidence since its
\ninception in 1967, the 37th AMM is slated to agree to engage in a
\nprogressive security cooperation, but not in the form of a
\n\"defense pact, military alliance or a joint foreign policy\".<\/p>\n
\"In addressing future security challenges, ASEAN member
\ncountries share the responsibility for strengthening peace,
\nstability and security of the region free from foreign military
\ninterference in any form or manifestation,\" stated the draft ASC
\nplan of action obtained by The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
To implement the plan of action, ASEAN will seek innovative
\napproaches to the six components of the security community:
\npolitical development, the shaping and sharing of norms, conflict
\nprevention, conflict resolution, post-conflict peace building and
\nimplementation mechanisms.<\/p>\n
ASEAN also committed itself to the promotion of \"a just,
\ndemocratic and harmonious environment, promotion of human rights
\nand obligations ....\"<\/p>\n
On Wednesday morning, President Megawati Soekarnoputri will
\nreceive the delegates at the State Palace, after which they will
\nretreat to Gedung Pancasila, located in the foreign ministry. The
\ndelegates will later issue a joint communique.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, ASEAN will meet with its major trading partners
\nin the Post Ministerial Conference (PMC).<\/p>\n
Friday's meeting, however, will attract major international
\nattention because ASEAN will meet with 12 foreign ministers from
\nthe Asia Pacific, including U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell,
\nand the European Union, during the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). --
\n(For more stories click National button)<\/p>",
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