RP looking forward to talks on peacekeeping force

RP looking forward to talks on peacekeeping force

Agencies, Manila

The Philippines is "looking forward" to discussions on the creation of a regional peacekeeping force with fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members, AFP reported from Manila on Thursday

Indonesia this week pushed for the creation of the peace- keeping force, that it said could be a part of a larger ASEAN Security Community platform endorsed by ASEAN leaders during a summit in Bali last year.

"This is a very interesting proposal and I look forward to further discussions in the appropriate fora," Philippine Foreign Secretary Delia Albert said in a statement on Thursday.

"It is a fact that different and limited levels, we have deployed troops, whether bilaterally or through the United Nations to each others' territories to help address security issues," she said.

"Perhaps it is time to consider discussing the proposal of Indonesia. We will keep an open mind on the issue," she added.

The United Nations welcomed on Wednesday Indonesia's proposal to build a regional peacekeeping force and promised to provide assistance to make it a reality.

"From the UN's point of view, we welcome the initiative (ASEAN peacekeeping force) and we also welcome all such initiatives in various regions in the world," Danilo Tuerk, Assistant Secretary General of the UN, told Indonesian journalists in Jakarta after the end of the 4th UN-ASEAN Conference on Wednesday.

"We see tendency of growth of support for peacekeeping and not only in ASEAN but also in Africa, Europe and Latin America, so there is a tendency to strengthen the multilateral capacity for peacekeeping," Tuerk said.

Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman and director-general for ASEAN cooperation Marty M. Natalegawa said that the UN had promised to provide assistance to ASEAN to develop the ASC.

"During the conference (UN-ASEAN conference), the UN promised it would provide assistance, including training and the lessons learned from the conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict peace building to avoid mistakes in implementing the ASC," Marty said.

However, the Bangkok Post reported on Monday that the regional peacekeeping force proposal, according to Thailand Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, was not necessary.

Sathirathai said that no international conflicts were raging in the region and if such problems arose and help from members of ASEAN was needed, individual members could send their troops in to help.

The others ASEAN members are yet to endorse the peacekeeping proposal, which is expected to be discussed formally in June at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta.