Thursday, May 19, 2011

Defense Minister Opens Asean Meeting

May 19, 2011
Ismira Lutfia
The Jakarta Globe

Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro opened the 5th Asean Defense Ministers Meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, aimed at boosting defense cooperation between the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"Non-traditional security issues — such as terrorism, piracy, illegal migrants, maritime securities, climate change, food, water and energy security as well as scarcity of natural resources — could lead to an intensified involvement of the defense industry in the future," Purnomo said in his opening remarks.


He said that apart from the non-traditional security issues, conflicts occurring in other regions in the world had also become challenges for a stable, secure and peaceful world.

"The Asean defense ministers meeting, as the highest authority for regional defense, is challenged to strengthen defense cooperation for the formation of solid Asean political security in responding to these global challenges that may have implications for regional interests in [maintaining] stability," he said.

During the meeting, the Asean defense ministers are scheduled to discuss their work program for 2011-2013, the establishment of the Asean peacekeeping centers network, and defense industry collaboration.

The ministers were scheduled to issue a joint declaration on Thursday afternoon on the working papers discussed in the forum.

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