"Many people have said that ASEAN is not a society-based organization but an organization which is elite and elegant. I would stress here once again that ASEAN is not an elite and elegant organization but a society-based organization," Marty said during the 14th anniversary of the ASEAN Foundation here on Friday.
Therefore, he said, ASEAN should involve the peoples of its member countries in its activities to create an ASEAN community.
"An ASEAN community cannot come into being only by putting signatures on documents and the participation of senior officials but must also involve the ASEAN peoples," he said.
He said technological developments such as the social networks had also been helping the peoples of ASEAN to interact with each other. The social networks would also be able to assist ASEAN in carrying out its activities.
"Ahead, society-based activities need to be increased," he said.
He said that social media played an important role in connecting people in ASEAN.
"Social media makes it possible for ASEAN nationals to establish connections and interact. It`s a game changer in the way ASEAN people, especially youngsters, interact with each other," he said.
He said ASEAN leaders had made a commitment to make the organization more people-centered and people-driven.
"Cultivating a feeling of ownership among ASEAN people cannot be realized simply by adopting declarations or signing documents. The approach to that must be people-driven and the social media is one of the effective tools to do that," Marty said.
The ASEAN Foundation, on the occasion, also acknowledged its various project donors which include the governments of Japan, the People`s Republic of China, the Republic of the Philippines, Royal Philips Electronics, Inter-American Development Bank, Microsoft, and Hewlett-Packard. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
