S'pore supports peacekeeping idea

S'pore supports peacekeeping idea

SINGAPORE (Reuter): Singapore agreed in principle with a Malaysian proposal that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should aim to field a peacekeeping force under UN auspices, Singapore Minister for Defense Lee Boon Yang said yesterday.

"We agree in principle with the concept," he said at a news conference here following a meeting with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Tun Razak.

Lee added it would have to be discussed with the rest of ASEAN before agreement was reached. ASEAN groups Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines.

He had received a "quite positive reaction" to the idea from Indonesia, Najib told the news conference.

The two ministers had just signed a memo of understanding (MOU) on defense industrial cooperation. The agreement might lead to joint procurement, "co-development and co-production" of products in the defense area, Najib said.