The IORA Concord focuses on regionalism, which means the Indian Ocean region should not only rely on the balance of power in the region.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will propose an IORA Concord document for the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) countries to be adopted as a code of conduct and good governance to face new challenges in the Indian Ocean region.
The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministrys Director of Asia Pacific and Africa Inter-Regional Cooperation, Benyamin Carnadi, said during a press briefing here on Thursday that Indonesia would endorse the IORA Concord to be adopted during the IORA summit, which is expected to be held in 2017.
"The IORA Concord focuses on regionalism, which means the Indian Ocean region should not only rely on the balance of power in the region but also on the new commitments as we face new challenges in the Indian Ocean region," he noted.
Carnadi explained that until now, regionalism in the Indian Ocean region has not developed at par with that in Pacific or other regions, and so, the IORA countries should create a code of conduct to strengthen cooperation, peace, and stability in order to face new challenges in the region.
"The growth of countries, such as China and India in the Indian Ocean region at the global level coupled with regional problems, such as irregular movement of people, piracy, and drug trafficking necessitate the IORA to engage in good governance and a code of conduct to address issues in the region," he emphasized.
Moreover, Carnadi added that a leadership summit had not been held since the establishment of the IORA in 1997, hence Indonesia aims to endorse it during a two-year term of its chairmanship for the 2015-2017 period.
In order to achieve the goal of the IORA Concord, Indonesia will also endorse a document of the decision on the commitment to establish an IORA Ad Hoc Committee for the IORA Concord during the IORA Ministerial Meeting in Padang, West Sumatra, on October 21-23.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
