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.