One outstanding fact attesting to the regional organization`s greater conflict-solving capability is the peace and stability that has prevailed in the region. In addition, security conditions in each of the ASEAN member countries also showed positive progress, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said on the sidelines of the 19th ASEAN Summit here on Friday.
"However, we want to give more substance to the peace and stability in the region and thereby show ASEAN`s capability to help solve the world`s problems," he said.
Relations among ASEAN member countries were also marked by greater peace and stability. Anong the achievements ASEAN had made in ensuring regional peace and stability was the setting up of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR), and the adoption of a Declaration of Conduct (DOC) with regard to the handling of the South China Sea disputes.
ASEAN meetings this year also resulted in a better organized ASEAN Summit and the adoption of the Bali Concord III at the high-level meeting on Thursday.
Furthermore, Marty said ASEAN would never allow itself to be an arena for competition among the big powers. ASEAN also had adopted regional regulations and commitments jointly agreed on by their members.
"ASEAN now at least already has a clear-cut scenario," he said, referring to the resolution issued by ASEAN on the settlement of the South China Sea disputes, including a code of ethics to be observed by the countries concerned.
In short, Marty denied that ASEAN was reluctant to endorse ae Philippine proposal that ASEAN should face China as one man in the South China Sea disputes.
"We want to be neutral, avoid misunderstandings and not lose confidence," he stressed.
In fact, ASEAN was giving priority to dialogue and diplomacy. This did not mean ASEAN was weak, he said, adding that China had come up as a target of criticism by western media so far and was perceived as a rising power which had become a balanced dialogue partner to ASEAN.
"We want everything to run as expected," he said, stressing that ASEAN was currently in the middle of a new momentum and heading in the right direction.
To make ASEAN run in the right direction as expected by all members countries, ASEAN on Thursday adopted the Bali Concord III at its 19th Summit indicating ASEAN`s commitment and contribution toward creating a more peaceful, just, democratic and prosperous world.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in his remarks on the occasion on Thursday said the Bali Concord III was aimed at increasing ASEAN`s active role in addressing global issues.
The Bali Concord III helped map out the road for ASEAN`s interaction with the global community. "This is indeed in line with the tradition of cooperation in ASEAN which is always open to and prepared to communicate with the outside world through its dialogue mechanism and strategic Asian Regional Forum (ARF)," the president said.
However, the Bali Concord III constituted a manifestation and reflection of ASEAN member countries` commitment to giving substance to the problems faced by many countries in the world, Marty further said.
The concrete manifestation had to do with the ASEAN`s efforts to maintain political and security, economic and socio-cultural pillars which directly help the world.
The Bali Declaration on ASEAN Community within the Global Community of Nations would become a blueprint and a common foundation for the ten member countries for ASEAN to increase the regional grouping`s contribution to the solution of various global issues, Jauhari Oratmangun, Director General of ASEAN Cooperation of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, said.
ASEAN must not merely become a passive spectator who can easily become a victim of problems arising in other parts of the world, he said, adding that this is also a part of ASEAN`s contribution toward helping the world.
The world was now relying on Asia amid the world`s economic uncertainties and a number of serious challenges waiting to be dealt with such as food security, energy, water, climate change, natural disasters, and the impacts of a technological revolution on people`s lives, he said.
"Having passed the tests of history, ASEAN has become a mature association capable of creating regional stability and security, and able to increase its economic strength," he said.
The ASEAN grouping Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia is now becoming a regional organization needed by many countries, as it can give a meaningful contribution to the creation of peace, stability and prosperity without Southeast region and other surrounding regions of ASEAN.
By its efforts and achievements so far, ASEAN had shown that it is part of the solution to the world`s problems.(*)
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Reporter: Eliswan
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
