ASEAN voices support for RI's territorial integrity<\/p>\n
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (JP): Indonesia scored a diplomatic triumph here on
\nTuesday when the foreign ministers of the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) included an expression of support
\nfor the country's territorial integrity in the Joint Communique
\nof the 33rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting.<\/p>\n
The inclusion of this statement of support in the communique
\nraised some eyebrows, as ASEAN does not normally refer to member
\nstates' specific political situations in official declarations.<\/p>\n
The statement, contained in an exclusive paragraph in the 13-
\npage document, not only affirms support for Indonesia's
\nterritorial integrity as a whole, but also specifically makes
\nreference to the restless provinces of Aceh and Irian Jaya, where
\nseparatist sentiments are heightening.<\/p>\n
\"The foreign ministers reiterated their continuing support for
\nthe sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity of
\nIndonesia, which includes the provinces of Aceh and Irian Jaya
\n(Papua),\" the communique reads.<\/p>\n
\"The foreign ministers commended the efforts and measures
\ntaken by the Indonesian government to restore peace and order.<\/p>\n
\"The foreign ministers reaffirmed that the stability and
\nprosperity of Indonesia would positively contribute to the peace,
\nstability and prosperity of the Asian region as a whole,\"
\naccording to the communique.<\/p>\n
The communique, issued on Tuesday evening at the foreign
\nministers annual two-day meeting here, was also a major boost for
\nJakarta as it lauded Indonesia's role in resolving the East Timor
\nissue.<\/p>\n
This was an extreme departure from western criticism of
\nIndonesia for not doing enough to resolve the problems related to
\nits former province.<\/p>\n
\"The foreign ministers commended Indonesia for all its efforts
\nin resolving the East Timor issue, and noted the key role of the
\nUnited Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET)
\nin ensuring the territory's smooth transition to full
\nindependence,\" the ASEAN communique reads.<\/p>\n
ASEAN, which groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
\nMalaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
\nVietnam, has traditionally shied away from domestic political
\nissues, strictly adhering to the principle of nonintervention.<\/p>\n
A number of ASEAN officials revealed the Indonesian delegation
\ndrafted the paragraph voicing support for Indonesia's territorial
\nintegrity.<\/p>\n
There also seemed to be little expressed concern among ASEAN
\ndelegates at the close of Tuesday's proceedings that a dangerous
\nprecedent had been set.<\/p>\n
Since ASEAN does not interfere in domestic issues, can a
\nmember state then raise a domestic issue to gain regional
\nsupport? ASEAN secretary-general Rodolfo Severino brushed aside
\nsuch concerns.<\/p>\n
\"It is in everyone's interest that Indonesia stay together,\"
\nhe told The Jakarta Post here after the close of official
\nproceedings. \"I don't think that this is entirely a domestic
\nissue. The (threatened) breakup of Indonesia is something very
\nserious.\"<\/p>\n
When asked whether Indonesia might be using or exploiting
\nASEAN for its own domestic political interests, Severino replied:
\n\"Indonesia is using ASEAN, and ASEAN is supporting Indonesia.\"<\/p>\n
Asked if there were other such issues which might be addressed
\nby ASEAN in the future, such as the separatist movement in
\nMindanao in the Philippines, Severino simply replied: \"I don't
\nknow. I don't think we have reached that point\".<\/p>\n
Approach<\/p>\n
The Joint Communique also addressed a multitude of regional
\nissues covering economic, security and social affairs which
\nrequire greater people-oriented approaches.<\/p>\n
In the economic sphere, the ministers welcomed Thai Prime
\nMinister Chuan Leekpai's proposal to hold an ASEAN Trade Fair to
\nhelp increase trade in the region.<\/p>\n
Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Surin Pitsuwan said Thailand
\nhad offered to hold the first fair, which would be hosted on a
\nrotational basis every three years.<\/p>\n
On regional political issues, the foreign ministers expressed
\nsatisfaction with \"East Asia cooperation\" in the context of
\nmeetings of the 10 ASEAN members and China, Japan and South
\nKorea. Ministers from these 13 countries are scheduled to sit
\ndown together here on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The foreign ministers stressed the formalization of this
\nmeeting, dubbed \"ASEAN+3\", was not meant as another security
\nforum which could undermine the established ASEAN Regional Forum.<\/p>\n
\"The ASEAN+3 is a result of the evolution of the cooperation
\nbetween ASEAN and these three countries in East Asia ... I think
\nwe are convinced, they are convinced, that the two parts of Asia
\n-- southeast and northeast -- can no longer live apart in
\nisolation from each other,\" Surin said.<\/p>\n
On social affairs, the foreign ministers agreed that an ASEAN
\nHIV\/AIDS Summit be convened in conjunction with the seventh ASEAN
\nSummit next year.<\/p>\n
The ASEAN foreign ministers also agreed to move forward the
\ntarget date for achieving a \"drug-free ASEAN\" from 2020 to 2015.<\/p>\n
Surin said this was a priority issue among member states
\n\"which effects us all\".<\/p>\n
However, when asked what specific actions ASEAN would take to
\nachieve this goal, Surin merely said it would be left to the
\nrelevant officials. \"The important thing is there is a will to
\nmove forward ... measure us against our progress.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-voices-support-for-ris-territorial-integrity-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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