Southwest Pacific Forum<\/p>\n
In Singapore in 2000, then president Abdurrahman Wahid, caught
\npeople by surprise with the proposal to set up a Southwest
\nPacific Dialog (SwPD).<\/p>\n
A meeting in Yogyakarta on Oct. 5, attended by Australia, New
\nZealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, East Timor and
\nIndonesia and held after intensive studies and consultations as
\nwell a seminar involving high-ranking officials of the six
\ncountries, welcomed this initiative and approved the
\nestablishment of SwPD.<\/p>\n
Although the plan to establish SwPD does not entail fanfare at
\nthe regional or global level, it is considered a significant
\nbreakthrough to create peace, stability and welfare in the South-
\nWest Pacific subregion.<\/p>\n
The establishment of SwPD is not prompted by a crisis but a
\nforward-looking vision for a better future through dialog and
\ninteraction in the South-West Pacific subregion.<\/p>\n
SwPD will not overlap with ASEAN, APEC or other regional
\ncooperation forums; instead, it will complement and reinforce
\nthem.<\/p>\n
Member states of SwPD will work together to build their
\neconomy, marine sector and the environment and fight against
\ntrans-border crimes and terrorism.<\/p>\n
SwPD must strive to make itself something like the European
\nUnion, a regional organization successfully turning continental
\nEurope, frequently the arena for bitter wars, into a region of
\npeace and economic progress, or like ASEAN, which has brought
\npeace to South-East Asia and is now trying to integrate its
\neconomic activities through AFTA in 2003. -- Kompas, Jakarta<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/southwest-pacific-forum-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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