Indonesia to Host ASEAN Preliminary Meeting
VIVAnews - The Thai government and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) supported Indonesia's proposal to hold ASEAN's Foreign Ministers Meeting in Jakarta.
Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Teuku Faizasyah, said that it is hoped that this may assist Thailand who is supposed to host the ASEAN Summit in mid-December 2008, but is forced to postpone it until early 2009 due to Thailand's domestic upheaval.
According to Faizasyah, the Foreign Ministers Meeting will be a crucial element for the ASEAN Summit because it will prepare issues for the leaders of 10 member countries to discuss in the summit.
Prior to the current turmoil in Thailand, the leaders had hoped that the summit may carry out a significant agenda by the end of this year, which is the launching of the ASEAN Charter. Since its establishment in 1967, this will be the first time for ASEAN having a legal principle approved by member governments and parliamentaries.
"Therefore, with Indonesia volunteering to host the Foreign Ministers Meeting, the ceremony of ASEAN Charter's implementation can be carried out," said Faizasyah, Dec. 3. The proposal was conveyed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to ASEAN in light of the current conflict in Thailand.
As a host, Thailand on Tuesday decided to postpone the ASEAN Summit, scheduled to take place in Bangkok, 13-18 December 2008.
Faizasyah said that Thailand, as this year's Head of ASEAN, as well as Secretary General of ASEAN, Surin Pitsuwan, supported Indonesia's proposal to hold a Foreign Ministers Meeting in Jakarta.
"The meeting is scheduled to take place from 15 to 16 December 2008," said Faizasyah.
Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono, Ramona Sofianne Dewi.
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