ASEAN presents new flag of peace
ASEAN presents new flag of peace
JAKARTA (JP): The new flag of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) was hoisted for the first time yesterday at
the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta during an official ceremony
marking the organization's 27th anniversary.
The flag consisted of the ASEAN symbol, six turret-like shapes
symbolizing the ASEAN member countries, but minus the
inscriptions, standing in bold yellow against a sky-blue
background.
"The flag symbolizes cohesion and the ASEAN identity. It is
also a symbol of ASEAN strength and cooperation," Secretary
General Dato' Ajit Singh told reporters following the ceremony.
The ceremony was attended by the ambassadors of Brunei, the
Philippines and Singapore, the Director General of ASEAN in
Indonesia and the Charges d'Affairs of Malaysia and Thailand, as
well as diplomatic staffers of the embassies of ASEAN countries
and their families.
Approved by the 27th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok last
month, Dato' Ajit explained that the flag's blue background was
chosen because it symbolizes peace.
Other organizations which adopted this color for the same
reason include the United Nations and the European Union, he
pointed out.
The flag was raised yesterday together with those of the ASEAN
member countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Brunei.
The ceremony was disrupted slightly when the flag of Brunei
was inadvertently hoisted upside-down. Military cadets, however,
quickly pulled down the flag and righted it before raising it
again.
Dato' Ajit acknowledged that over the years ASEAN has grown
strong enough politically to withstand pressure from other world
organizations.
He expressed doubt that other organizations seek to minimize
the political role of ASEAN, since it is in the interest of the
world community that ASEAN play a stronger role in regional
politics, security and economic cooperation .
"A stable ASEAN means a stable region in Southeast Asia, and
stability in the region is basically built for everybody," he
said. (pwn)