"It is expected that after being a single community in 2015, ASEAN will play a role as one entity in solving global issues that have become a common concern among the organization;s member states," Ngurah Swajaya, Indonesia`s Representative to ASEAN, said.
Post-disaster management and climate change issues would likely be things of the global concern catching ASEAN`s attention, he said.
He said as the ASEAN chair for 2011, Indonesia had already begun thinking about the organization`s future role after becoming a single community in 2015.
Asked about the exact points to be made in the Bali Declaration, Ngurah said he could not yet reveal them to the public as senior officials from ASEAN member states were still negotiating some of the points.
"But 90 percent of the declaration draft has been finalized," he said.
The senior officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) began discussing draft documents including the Bali Declaration to be issued by the 19th Asean Summit at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC).
The Asean senior officials meeting (SOM) had taken place on November 13-14 and it was held ahead of the Asean Ministers` Meeting (MM) which will be held on November 15, 2011, the 6th meeting of the Asean Council for Political-Security Community on November 16, and the Asean summit and its related summits on November 17-19.
During the two-day meeting, the Asean senior officials were scheduled to discuss four draft documents which will be produced in the 19th Asean Summit and its related meetings.
The draft documents to be discussed are firstly, the Bali Declaration on the Asean Community in a Global Community of Nations.
Secondly is the Declaration of EAS on the Principles for Mutually Beneficial Relations.
Thirdly the Declaration of EAS on ASEAN Connectivity and the fourth the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership between ASEAN and the United Nations (UN).
In addition, the Asean senior officials will also talk about the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, the Asean Common Visa issue and the annual target of the Asean Community Development. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
