Indonesia seeks more cooperation in ASEAN<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia will propose the establishment of a stronger, more
\neffective Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) security
\nagreement to be further discussed at a ministerial meeting in
\nJune.<\/p>\n
The talks will emphasize the importance for ASEAN countries to
\nfurther strengthen cooperation on political and security issues
\nin the face of global security challenges, Indonesian Minister of
\nForeign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"We will propose the concept, which is not just a defense pact
\nor security cooperation pact, but an agreement that covers all
\naspects of politics and security,\" Hassan said.<\/p>\n
He cited the Iraq crisis as an example of ASEAN's failure in
\naddressing the issue as a united region and to solve conflict
\nbetween member countries.<\/p>\n
\"In the past five years we have been concentrating more on
\neconomic cooperation, while to have a strong ASEAN we need to
\nbalance that with political cooperation,\" Hassan remarked.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will assume the ASEAN presidency next month in the
\nASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Phnom Penh and host an ASEAN
\nsummit in October on Bali.<\/p>\n
The first ASEAN summit was held on the resort island in 1976,
\nwhich resulted in a document known as the Bali Concord, which
\nemphasized cooperation among member countries in both economics
\nand politics.<\/p>\n
However, it was obvious shortly thereafter that many issues
\naffected by political interests failed to unite ASEAN in
\naddressing the issues, as was the case in the recent Iraq crisis.<\/p>\n
Several ASEAN member countries supported the United States-led
\nattack on Iraq, while others opposed the war without UN
\nauthorization.<\/p>\n
\"The failure of conflict resolution among us (ASEAN), provides
\nloopholes for other countries to interfere. It is important
\ntherefore to build ASEAN's political power,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
Another proposal Indonesia will present in the coming meetings
\nwill be on integrated maritime security cooperation.<\/p>\n
\"We need to have more integrated cooperation to deal with sea
\npiracy, smuggling, pollution and other maritime activities,\"
\nHassan said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia acknowledged that there had been cooperation among
\nmember countries to deal with maritime security issues, but
\nimplementation had been weak.<\/p>\n
The meeting will take place from June 16 to June 20, and will
\ninclude the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and Post Ministerial
\nConference (PMC) meetings.<\/p>\n
Sources at the foreign ministry said that there was a
\npossibility that ASEAN member countries will sign several
\nsecurity cooperation agreements with China and Russia during the
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
Another joint statement between ASEAN and Japan is also under
\ndiscussion and will be discussed in Phnom Penh.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-seeks-more-cooperation-in-asean-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}