Mega urges ASEAN to address poverty<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri called on Association
\nof Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) member countries to improve the
\nwelfare of people in the region.<\/p>\n
Citing the lingering problems of poverty and the widening gap
\nin welfare among member countries, Megawati suggested the
\norganization initiate more efforts to address the issue.<\/p>\n
Addressing the 36th anniversary of the association as the
\npresident of ASEAN, which Indonesia assumed last June, Megawati
\nsaid poverty remained the major problem in the region.<\/p>\n
\"Today, the problem of poverty remains as real as ever and its
\nultimate conquest remains a dream in Southeast Asia,\" the
\nPresident said.<\/p>\n
She said that addressing poverty would address the challenges
\nof security, especially terrorism and separatism in the region.<\/p>\n
The President said that after the financial crisis in 1997,
\nthe region, once dubbed the \"Asian economic miracle\", struggled
\nto eradicate poverty.<\/p>\n
To add to various efforts that had been made, Megawati
\nunderlined the need to build cooperation in maritime affairs as
\nthe sea has played an important role in trade, transportation and
\ncommunication activities of the ASEAN member countries.<\/p>\n
\"Effective maritime cooperation can indeed help ASEAN overcome
\nthe problem of poverty in the region.\"<\/p>\n
ASEAN consists of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei
\nDarrusalam, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos
\nand Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Among the 10-member countries, only Brunei Darussalam,
\nSingapore and Malaysia have managed to maintain their economic
\ngrowth and reduce the number of people living in poverty.<\/p>\n
Megawati said ASEAN was currently seen as a two-level
\norganization with the six founding members at the upper level,
\nand the four latest members at the lower one.<\/p>\n
\"We are realistic enough to acknowledge the need for greater
\ncohesiveness within the association for bridging the gaps in
\nsocial and economic development among the members of ASEAN.\"<\/p>\n
She said there should a forthright attempt to get the last
\nfour members -- Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam -- to catch
\nup with the rest of the ASEAN family.<\/p>\n
Acknowledging the existing initiative of ASEAN integration to
\nnarrow the gaps, the President said that there should be stronger
\ncooperation to implement the idea.<\/p>\n
\"ASEAN may need to take a close look at its bodies, procedures
\nand approaches with a view to accelerating and enhancing its
\nresponses to situations and developments as they rapidly unfold.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-urges-asean-to-address-poverty-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}