"President Prabowo Subianto has stated that Indonesia aims to be a good neighbor, and this starts with the ASEAN region," Sugiono remarked during the Foreign Ministry's Annual Press Statement here on Friday.
The minister highlighted that this commitment has been exemplified by President Prabowo's visits to several ASEAN countries, both before and following his inauguration.
"This highlights the importance of ASEAN to Indonesia," Minister Sugiono affirmed.
Indonesia's dedication to ASEAN's centrality is also reflected in its respect for ASEAN norms, such as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC).
"Therefore, Indonesia will continue to promote broader support for and respect for the TAC," he remarked.
According to Sugiono, this approach aligns with the diplomacy goals in Asta Cita, which outlines Indonesia's vision to enhance its influence and leadership at the global level.
Earlier, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry affirmed that ASEAN will continue to encourage all stakeholders involved in the Myanmar issue to engage in dialogue to end the conflict and implement the Five-Point Consensus (5PC).
"Sanctions are not in the DNA of ASEAN countries. Moreover, ASEAN itself does not recognize the mechanism of sanctions against its member countries," the ministry's spokesperson, Rolliansyah Soemirat, stated on December 16.
Indonesia believes that the only sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council should be recognized and implemented against a country, as it is a multilateral entity with that authority.
"For Indonesia, Myanmar is part of ASEAN and will always remain so. It is a member of ASEAN, and we must help," he stated.
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Translator: Katriana, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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