ASEAN festivities begin
JAKARTA (JP): Kicking-off the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), President Soeharto urged members yesterday to reinforce national resilience to overcome lurking regional security problems.
"We should continue to effectively overcome various security problems that are not only threatening regional stability, but also the prosperity and economic dynamism we've been enjoying to date," Soeharto said at the ASEAN reception here yesterday evening.
"Each ASEAN member-state should continue to reinforce its national resilience, which will in turn strengthen regional resilience," the President said, adding that "ASEAN has been greatly beneficial to us all. Let us preserve and develop it together."
Yesterday's lavish reception at the Jakarta Convention Center officially kicked-off the year-long celebrations for the grouping's 30th anniversary.
The importance Indonesia attaches to ASEAN was evident in the fact that both President Soeharto and Vice President Try Sutrisno attended the reception, along with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas.
A select group of 2,000 people were present at the reception, which included an impressive laser and cultural show.
The other eight ASEAN heads of state sent video messages which were screened on a giant video display.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in his message said one of the greatest hallmarks of ASEAN was its consensus decision-making mechanism while Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said the strength of ASEAN now lies in its unity and market force as a grouping of nearly half a billion people.
Formed in 1967, the grouping originally comprised of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. As the founding fathers of the grouping envisioned a membership of all 10 states in the region, the membership has now grown to nine.
Brunei was admitted in 1984, Vietnam became the seventh member in 1995, while Laos and Myanmar were accepted as full members last month.
Cambodia was originally scheduled to join the latter two, but political turmoil in Phnom Penh forced ASEAN to postpone the entry.
Among the greatest achievements of ASEAN was the forging of trust and mutual understanding for greater cooperation among countries in Southeast Asia.
With greater cooperation, ASEAN has been able to grow into one of the most respected regional groupings in the world and expects to form a free trade area starting in 2003.
ASEAN has also been successful in suppressing conflict in a region still prone to territorial disputes.
Soeharto highlighted these accomplishments yesterday while underlining the challenges ahead.
"Each ASEAN member-state should also continue to play its role in integrating the economies of ASEAN members," Soeharto said.
Alatas also hailed ASEAN's role in developing the region from an "area of political turmoil and underdevelopment" to one of leading economic growth and stability.
As the guests were treated to culinary delights from ASEAN countries along with French wine, artists representing the nine members entertained with a colorful performance.
Earlier yesterday morning the traditional flag-raising ceremony was held at the ASEAN Secretariat.
Attending were ambassadors and staff of ASEAN embassies in Jakarta.
Except for a slight knot holding up one of the flags, the flag-raising ceremony was quite festive with a marching band entertaining the guests with a medley of ASEAN songs.
ASEAN Secretary-General Dato' Ajit Singh in his morning address said the vision of an ASEAN of 10 states is almost a reality.
He added that people of ASEAN can proudly claim a generation of uninterrupted peace as a part of their heritage.
Myanmar's ambassador to Indonesia U Nyi Nyi Than said Myanmar was very happy to be a member of ASEAN. Myanmar shared the same optimism with other member countries in the "ASEAN way".
Laos Ambassador to Indonesia Ly Southhavilay added that Laos would do its best to contribute and strengthen peace and stability in the region. (10)
YLBHI -- Page 2
Hail -- Page 6