RI suggests peacekeeping force<\/p>\n
Indonesia has proposed that ASEAN establish its own
\npeacekeeping forces by 2012.<\/p>\n
Acting director general of the ASEAN cooperation of the
\nforeign ministry Marty Natalegawa said here Friday that the
\nproposal was in line with the action plan in the ASEAN Security
\nCommunity (ASC) concept.<\/p>\n
\"The idea came up in our deliberation over programs for the
\nASC action plan,\" he was quoted as saying by Antara. Marty made
\nthe comment on the sidelines of a meeting between ASEAN high
\nofficials at the Hilton hotel.<\/p>\n
The ASC document was incorporated in the Bali Concord II
\nduring the ASEAN October 2003 summit in Bali.<\/p>\n
Key points in the document include tackling issues such as
\ntransnational crime, terrorism, conflict resolution and a call
\nfor more consultation and cooperation between ASEAN members.<\/p>\n
Asked how other ASEAN members responded toward Indonesia's
\nidea, Marty said they had not offered detailed answers as yet,
\nalthough they had found it a bold and far-fetched idea.<\/p>\n
He said that he expected that the members needed time for
\ninternal consultation.<\/p>\n
The bottom-line, he said, was that the proposal was an
\nalternative for problem solving on a regional level.<\/p>\n
\"There has been no regional option so far, only national or
\nglobal. We must create a choice between those two levels,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He added that an ASEAN peacekeeping force would not make the
\nregional grouping into an exclusive club. ASEAN would be as open
\nto the international community as it has always been, and it
\nwould always respect the United Nations peacekeeping forces, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"We would take advantage of the UN's expertise in setting up
\nour peacekeeping forces,\" he added, referring to possible
\ntraining by the UN Peacekeeping Forces.<\/p>\n
The setting up of such forces cannot wait until it is needed,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"We have to anticipate all possibilities and lay down the
\ngroundwork and be ready when it is needed,\" he said referring to
\nconflict resolution measures incorporated in the ASC concept.<\/p>\n
He said he hoped the proposed peacekeeping forces would
\nsomeday have a headquarters in the region. -- JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-suggests-peacekeeping-force-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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