Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has agreed to fight against all forms of armed piracy or hijacking at sea.

"We underline the importance of strengthening our capacity toward maritime security issues, particularly in the fight against piracy and hijacking in the sea," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in his capacity as chairman of ASEAN 2011 said in a statement when he closed the 18the ASEAN Summit here on Sunday.

Yudhoyono said that ASEAN leaders felt the need for cooperation to enable them reach a common perception on the fight against maritime crimes.

For that purpose, they agreed to reinforce the ASEAN Maritime Forum (AMF). They believed the forum would serve as a discussion forum to ensure maritime security for the sake of the prosperity of the ASEAN people.

The president said that all ASEAN members expressed commitment to comprehensively pay attention to maritime issues, including security, peace, free and legal navigation, maritime protection and SAR cooperation.

Yudhoyono closed the 18th ASEAN Summit on Sunday evening. All ASEAN leaders agreed to adopt three joint statements, namely ASEAN community in a Global Community of Nations, on the Establishment of an ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, and on Enhancing Cooperation Against People Trafficking in South East Asia.(*)
(A014/H-NG /A014 )

Editor: Ruslan Burhani
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