"All issues have security elements and can be securitized."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Terrorism, natural disasters, human trafficking, energy and food security and cross-border crime are among the issues that have become the concerns of ASEAN member states, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said.
"The issues have been discussed not only at ASEAN forum but also at larger forums such as ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3 ARF and EAS," Marty was quoted as saying by the information and media director of the foreign ministry, Priatna at a meeting of international relations students at Paramadina University here on Monday.
At the meeting themed "Dealing with Non Traditional Security Issues in ASEAN: Challenges and Prospects", Marty said ASEAN was also paying attention to a number of non-traditional issues.
ASEAN had encouraged the issues, through the existing mechanism, to become the focus of attention from the general public, he said.
Judging by the challenges faced and opportunities owned by ASEAN, Marty underscored the need to have three ways of thinking.
The first thing was that domestic issues were closely related to international issues, he said.
As academics, students must be aware of the existing linkage, he said.
The second thing was that political, economic and socio-cultural issues were closely related to one another, he said. "All issues have security elements and can be securitized," he said.
Therefore, students must be smart in looking at the linkage of the issues, he added.
The third thing was the need to keep a constant watch for traditional security issue. "It is undeniable that traditional issues are still alive and well," he said.
(Tz.M016/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
