"The protection of our nationals must remain a top priority," he stressed during the plenary session of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines, on Friday, as quoted from a press release.
He noted that many ASEAN member states have thousands of citizens living abroad. Thus, close coordination and cooperation among countries in the region are essential, using a collective approach to strengthen citizen protection, particularly in emergencies.
Indonesia, he added, stands ready to work closely with all ASEAN member states to make this a reality.
In addition to citizen protection, the president highlighted the importance of respecting the mandate of United Nations (UN) peacekeeping forces.
Prabowo underscored that the safety of peacekeeping personnel must be respected by all parties.
"We have lost Indonesian soldiers serving with the United Nations, and we demand accountability that the duties of peacekeeping must be respected by all parties," he said.
President Prabowo also expressed appreciation for the solidarity of ASEAN member states in assisting with citizen evacuations. He cited Singapore’s offer to support evacuation efforts in the event of an emergency as an example.
Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of upholding international law and protecting civilians. He asserted that ASEAN must maintain a strong, collective political voice in addressing any violations of international law.
"In safeguarding our civilians, ASEAN must speak with one voice," he emphasized.
The president assessed that dialogue and cooperation remain ASEAN's main strength in addressing global challenges, given that peace serves as the main foundation for regional prosperity.
"There can be no prosperity without peace. There can be no peace without dialogue and cooperation," he remarked.
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Translator: Aditya Ramadhan, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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