ASEAN's Role
13.
Here in Southeast Asia, we should do all we can to stabilize our own environment regardless of what we are able or not able to achieve globally. After 40 years, ASEAN has done remarkably well preserving the peace and in creating a common economic space despite the diversity of cultures, political systems and per capita incomes. We are improving regional governance through the adoption of the ASEAN Charter which will begin its implementation next week when the Foreign Ministers meet in Jakarta. Although there is still no agreement on details, we have agreed that ASEAN should establish a human rights body. Procedures for dispute settlement are being progressed, with those for trade disputes already in place. We are systematically enlarging our circle of friends to include countries around both the Pacific and Indian Oceans. We work with them to create a larger architecture of peace in the Asia-Pacific. Whether the agenda is UN reform, international finance, WTO or climate change, we in ASEAN will play our part.
14.
Indonesia's leadership is indispensable in ASEAN. By respecting the equality of nations in Southeast Asia, President Soeharto greatly enhanced our regional resilience. At critical moments, Indonesia's leadership has proved decisive in advancing the ASEAN agenda. When I visited Pak Ali Alatas in hospital last week, we recalled how President Soeharto's decision made possible the launch of APEC in 1989. It was under his leadership that APEC established the Bogor Goals in 1994. In October 2003, the goal of an ASEAN Community was agreed to under Indonesia's chairmanship here in Bali. It is right and fitting that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has convened this international forum on democracy in Bali which is a subject of abiding interest to all of us in ASEAN. Ten years ago, no objective observer of Indonesia could reasonably expect the country to make so much progress in establishing democratic constitutional rule with a high degree of devolution, giving independence to Timor Leste and negotiating a peace agreement with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Aceh.
15.
We are realistic enough in ASEAN to know that we cannot do much to change the world. But we can play a positive role in improving global governance by improving governance in our own region. To do this, we have to draw on the democratic idea, always putting human beings at the centre of our concerns.
16. Thank you.
13.
Here in Southeast Asia, we should do all we can to stabilize our own environment regardless of what we are able or not able to achieve globally. After 40 years, ASEAN has done remarkably well preserving the peace and in creating a common economic space despite the diversity of cultures, political systems and per capita incomes. We are improving regional governance through the adoption of the ASEAN Charter which will begin its implementation next week when the Foreign Ministers meet in Jakarta. Although there is still no agreement on details, we have agreed that ASEAN should establish a human rights body. Procedures for dispute settlement are being progressed, with those for trade disputes already in place. We are systematically enlarging our circle of friends to include countries around both the Pacific and Indian Oceans. We work with them to create a larger architecture of peace in the Asia-Pacific. Whether the agenda is UN reform, international finance, WTO or climate change, we in ASEAN will play our part.
14.
Indonesia's leadership is indispensable in ASEAN. By respecting the equality of nations in Southeast Asia, President Soeharto greatly enhanced our regional resilience. At critical moments, Indonesia's leadership has proved decisive in advancing the ASEAN agenda. When I visited Pak Ali Alatas in hospital last week, we recalled how President Soeharto's decision made possible the launch of APEC in 1989. It was under his leadership that APEC established the Bogor Goals in 1994. In October 2003, the goal of an ASEAN Community was agreed to under Indonesia's chairmanship here in Bali. It is right and fitting that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has convened this international forum on democracy in Bali which is a subject of abiding interest to all of us in ASEAN. Ten years ago, no objective observer of Indonesia could reasonably expect the country to make so much progress in establishing democratic constitutional rule with a high degree of devolution, giving independence to Timor Leste and negotiating a peace agreement with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Aceh.
15.
We are realistic enough in ASEAN to know that we cannot do much to change the world. But we can play a positive role in improving global governance by improving governance in our own region. To do this, we have to draw on the democratic idea, always putting human beings at the centre of our concerns.
16. Thank you.
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