Defense Ministry Secretary General Vice Marshal Eris Hariyanto officially opened the three-day meeting, participated in by all Southeast Asian countries.
"The meeting is conducted to step up defense cooperation because ASEAN`s role is increasing following complicated global security situation which it is difficult to make a prediction," Eris said in his opening address.
He said ASEAN as an entity in Asia Pacific, was required to remain existing and playing its greater role to creating peace at both regional and international levels.
The third meeting in Yogyakarta is the follow-up of a similar gathering in Surabaya, East Java, on February 22-24 and March 29, 2011 in Jakarta.
Besides being attended by the ten ASEAN member countries, the third meeting in Yogyakarta is also participated in by ASEAN dialog partners namely the United States, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and New Zealand, known as "Asdom Plus."
On the third day of the meeting, the participants will will finalize the concept of cooperation in defense, covering five sectors namely maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peace-keeping operations, counter terrorism, and military medicine.
The round of ASEAN top officials meeting in the field of defense will last in one year because of Indonesian position as ASEAN Chairman 2011.
The apex of the dialogue in the field of defense will be held in Jakarta in May this year when the defense ministers of ASEAN countries attend the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM)
to approve a joint declaration in defense field.
(Uu.O001/H-NG)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
