ASEAN festivities begin

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)

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