- Biro Pers Istana Presiden/ Abror Rizki
VIVAnews - Indonesia this week began to assume its leadership in ASEAN by chairing the first official meeting of the year in Jakarta.
“People-centred ASEAN is key to making the Association relevant to the public and to the attainment of the objectives of ASEAN Community,” said Indonesia’s Permanent Representative to ASEAN, Ambassador I Gede Ngurah Swajaya, following the meeting on Thursday.
According to the ASEAN Secretariat, Indonesia officially took over the Chairmanship from Viet Nam on 1 January 2011. Although the ASEAN Charter prescribes that the Chairmanship shall rotate based on the alphabetical order of the English names of the Member States, this year Indonesia succeeds Viet Nam instead of Brunei Darussalam.
Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, at a recent briefing by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, at Istana Merdeka Jakarta also said in concert that, as ASEAN is a people-centred Association, he would like the public to be more involved in ASEAN events. He also said that Indonesia is prepared to work together with the youth, students, business communities and civil society organisations in all stages, from preparation to implementation.
Although strengthening ASEAN’s internal consolidation is key, ASEAN should also maintain an upward trajectory, Ambassador Ngurah reminded. “Deepening economic linkages and connectivity as stipulated in the ASEAN Community Blueprints are also essential,” he added.
Ambassador Ngurah also praised ASEAN for bringing about great contribution not only to the regional order, but also international cooperation, adding that, “development of an inclusive regional architecture with ASEAN as the driving force is essential to promote regional dynamic equilibrium.”
Ambassador Ngurah went on to say that the efforts of promoting a united ASEAN in a community with evolving regional architecture will require ASEAN's collective voice, assets, diplomatic networks and constructive solution-oriented mindset.
Meanwhile, Indonesia made the request for the swap at the 16th ASEAN Summit in April 2009, and the request was unanimously agreed upon by the rest of the Member States.
Such swap, as has been assured by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, will not set a precedent. “This is a one-off swop and will not affect the rotation prescribed by the ASEAN Charter,” said Dr Surin back in April. “It was done with real necessity,” he added.
Indonesia’s theme for its Chairmanship, “ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations”, had also garnered praise from Dr Surin, as it reflects Indonesia’s preparedness to be “engaged, proactive and using the ASEAN platform to enhance ASEAN profile in the global arena."
"Indonesia has a weight, an international legitimacy and a global appeal to draw tremendous support and attention from around the world to the ASEAN community building efforts that we are all engaging in now," Dr Surin added.
Cambodia will Chair next year, succeeded by Brunei Darussalam in 2013.
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