Marty representing Indonesia as the ASEAN Chair made the statement here on Tuesday after an informal meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and representatives which was held in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.
"ASEAN members welcome and support Cambodia`s and Thailand`s strong commitment to the principles contained in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the ASEAN Charter about the settlement of dispute by peaceful means and renunciation of the threat or use of force," Marty said.
He said ASEAN members also positively welcome the invitation from Cambodia and Thailand for observers from Indonesia as current chair of ASEAN to be dispatched to the conflict area with the task to observe the commitment made by the conflicting parties to avoid armed clashes there.
"Basically, Indonesia will play role as an observer who assist both Cambodia and Thailand in conducting ceasefire in the disputed area," Marty said adding that a group of observers consisting of military and civilian from Indonesia would be dispatched to the conflicting area within days to weeks ahead.
ASEAN Foreign Ministers gathered in Jakarta on Tuesday for an Indonesia-facilitated urgent meeting to discuss about possible solutions to the recent border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand over the disputed area surrounding the ancient temple of Preah Vihear.
ASEAN Secretariat, in a written statement received by ANTARA last Monday evening, said the meeting in Jakarta will be held to respond to the call on ASEAN by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), for the first time, to ensure an effective dialogue in search of a lasting solution to the border dispute between two member states.
"UNSC`s open and official support for conciliation efforts to the ASEAN Chair is a sign that the United Nations has faith in ASEAN to help its Member States find amicable regional solutions to bilateral problems such as this," said ASEAN Secretary-General, Dr Surin Pitsuwan.
Before, some ASEAN member states had helped in the restoration of law and order in the region namely in the case of Timor-Leste in 1999 and helped Myanmar to open up for international assistance after the devastation of Cyclone Nargis in May 2008.
These successes were made possible by a proactive chair at that time using a concept that was called "an enhanced role of the chair."
Minister Natalegawa`s visits to Bangkok and Phnom Penh during the latest fighting before leaving for New York was also unprecedented and is a sign of proactive engagement by a chair. The minister pointed out that he anticipated the UNSC`s support for ASEAN`s efforts would be in synergy with regional and bilateral efforts already in full swing.
He further reiterated that "there is a strong desire to settle differences through peaceful means as agreed by all ASEAN Member States under the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC)."
The UNSC`s decision to entrust this important task to ASEAN is a positive evolution of ASEAN as a regional organization to shoulder its responsibilities. The ASEAN Charter clearly stipulates that ASEAN must strive "to maintain and enhance peace, security and stability in the region," the ASEAN Secretariat said.(*)
A051/HAJM/S012
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
