"In the context of the region`s dynamics involving Myanmar, Indonesia and other ASEAN member countries must ensure that Myanmar will implement ASEAN`s political principles in 2014. This doesn`t mean we don`t trust Myanmar but we have to ensure that all security foundations that have been built up together by ASEAN member countries over the years will be maintained properly," Mahfud Siddiq, a member of the House of Representatives` Commission I on foreign and security affairs, said here on Wednesday.
Mahfud who was interviewed after attending Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa`s annual press conference earlier in the day said Indonesian parliamentarians would soon hold a meeting with their Myanmar counterparts to discuss the democratization process in Myanmar and the country`s readiness to become chairman of ASEAN in 2014.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa had said there had been significant progress in Myanmar`s democratization efforts in 2011 compared to previous years.
"Indonesia has continuously contributed to efforts to create conditions conducive to the continued political and democratic transformation in Myanmar, including ensuring that Myanmar`s bid to become ASEAN Chair in 2014 served as a positive momentum to prevent the democratization process in Myanmar to stall, or, worse, to be reversed," he said.
The minister also said Indonesia would in 2012 continue to be greatly interested in the further development of democracy and reconciliation in Myanmar.
ASEAN leaders at their 19th ASEAN Summit last November 2011 in Bali approved Myanmar`s proposal to be chairman of ASEAN in 2014.
It was reported that ASEAN leaders had expressed positive views on developments that had taken place in Myanmar during the past few months such as the release of political prisoners and improvements in the democratization process.
However, ASEAN leaders also emphasized the need for Myanmar to maintain the momentum and asked the Myanmar government to ensure the continuity of the democratization process.
(T.A051/HAJM/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
