Alatas highlights threats to regional stability

Alatas highlights threats to regional stability

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali
Alatas warned again yesterday about possible armed conflicts in
the Asia-Pacific region, saying instability could undermine its
economic achievements.

Speaking at the opening of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum, Alatas noted that unresolved
territorial disputes and overlapping claims to sovereignty pose
potential security challenges.

"If not properly managed and settled through peaceful means,
these could well intensify and possibly erupt into armed
conflicts," Alatas warned.

Alatas did not pinpoint any specific cases. However, it is
said that the Spratly and Paracel Islands in the South China Sea
are potential flashpoints.

The overlapping claims in the South China Sea by China,
Taiwan, and ASEAN countries such as Brunei, Malaysia, the
Philippines and Vietnam are unresolved. ASEAN also groups
Indonesia and Thailand.

Alatas suggested that such security problems be tackled with
"wisdom, patience and a willingness to take into consideration
one another's security concerns and interests."

He noted that the region has enjoyed relative stability over
the last few years. Although the world recorded 31 major armed
conflicts in 27 locations around the world last year, none of
them were fought in the Asia-Pacific region, he noted.

Such stability has helped countries in the region to focus
their attention and resources on the pursuit of national
development without the distraction of violent conflict with
other countries or critical security threats.

"To a large extent, therefore, the economic dynamism and
progress that the region is enjoying today are the fruits of
peace. Conversely, the buoyancy of these economies has also
contributed to peace in the region," Alatas said.

The forum is a multilateral political and security
consultative forum, involving ASEAN countries and observers and
their dialogue partners.

Alatas said that considering the limits of the three-year-old
forum, "it would be unrealistic to expect a young and fragile
process such as this forum to be able to tackle at once all
security challenges in the region."

To help tackle these, Alatas suggested that the forum adopt an
evolutionary approach in three stages: namely the promotion of
confidence-building measures, the development of preventive
diplomacy and of approaches to conflict resolution.

"The idea is that the forum should not move too fast for those
who want to go slow and nor too slow for those who want to go
fast," Alatas said.

He said that the forum, which groups all major powers in the
region, can facilitate the establishment of a regional order in
which all countries in the region can live in peace and harmony
and where their relationships will be guided by a common code of
conduct.

"If such a regional order is achieved and I am optimistic that
it can be achieved, it will not only ensure the stability and
prosperity of the region but will also be a major contribution to
a world of greater peace, justice and shared prosperity," he
said. (rid)