Indonesia joins UN peacekeeping expert meeting in Cambodia

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is participating in the Third UN Peacekeeping Expert Meeting in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on June 24-26, 2009.

Some 27 countries were discussing coordination and cooperation in the UN peacekeeping mission, Fikry Cassidy, head of the Indonesian delegation to the meeting said in e-mail message on Thursday.

The participating countries included the ten member countries of ASEAN, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, he said.

The countries which have contributed troops to the UN peace missions, would exchange experiences in the meeting, he said.

"By sharing experiences, we will improve the regional capacity in participating in the UN peacekeeping troops," he said.

The meeting which themed "Enhancing the regional Capacity to Participate in UN Peacekeeping Operations", is also expected to discuss a working networking of every center of the peacekeeping troops in respective countries in Asia and the Pacific.

Indonesia is scheduled to talk on "Capstone Training Event as a part of the Global Peace Operations Initiatives (GPOI) held in Indonesia," in the meeting.

Since 1957, Indonesia has been involved in 25 peacekeeping missions throughout the world, especially in the Middle East and Asia.

The Indonesian military (TNI) is scheduled to hold a joint exercise of United Nations peace keeping forces dubbed Garuda Shield 2009 along with 24 countries to promote cooperation between their armed forces, especially in the UN peacekeeping mission.

TNI spokesman Rear Marshal Sagom Tamboen said in Jakarta recently that the joint exercise was being held at the Infantry Training Center in Cipatat, Padalarang, West Java, from June 16 to 29, 2009.

"The joint exercise is held in two stages, a command post rehearsal to be joined by 14 countries, and 10 countries in a field rehearsal joined by 338 personnel," he said.