ARF discusses disaster issues

BANDUNG: Representatives from 23 member countries of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) began a two-day meeting here on Thursday to discuss civil-military cooperation in the handling of natural disasters.

The fifth Intersessional Meeting on Disaster Relief is expected to produce a document focusing on cooperation in dealing with disasters that will be adopted by the 13rd ministerial meeting of ARF nations next year.

"During the forum, there will be an exchange of ideas and experiences in handling disasters and on the need for the transfer of knowledge among ARF members," said Herijanto Soeprapto, the director general of Asia-Pacific and Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Harijanto, who opened the meeting at Bandung's Preanger Hotel, said two ARF members -- Vietnam and the Philippines -- had not send delegates for "technical reasons". --JP