VIVAnews - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opens ASEAN Foreign Ministerial Summit on Monday, Dec 15, in Jakarta. The summit is part of a series of the 14h ASEAN Summit.
"This morning, the President attends the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting at the ASEAN Secretariate, Jakarta. However, the Thai delegate will lead the meeting," presidential spokesperson Dino Patti Djalal told VIVAnews on Monday, Dec 15. Thailand is the host of ASEAN Summit, which has been delayed due to the recent political crisis in the country.
Djalal also said that during the meeting the Indonesian government will also remember the late Ali Alatas in his role in improving ASEAN, including his role in preparing the basic framework of the ASEAN Charter.
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting is monumental because it will put into effect the ASEAN Charter, after being ratified by ASEAN countries. The meeting should have been held in Thailand, acting as ASEAN Chair as well as host of this year's ASEAN summit. However, political and security conditions in Thailand caused the ministerial meeting to change place.
The Thai government on Tuesday, Dec 2, had officially postponed the 14th ASEAN Summit. Responding to Thailand's decision, ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan stated on Dec 2, "This was not an easy decision to make and I thank Thailand for weighing carefully all the factors before deciding to postpone the Summit. I appreciate very much the consideration Thailand has given to the ASEAN Member States’ concerns.”
Pitsuwan went on to say that, "The postponement of the Summit should not distract us or detract from what we in ASEAN are doing for the well-being, livelihood and welfare of the peoples in this region."
After officially postponing the ASEAN Summit, the Thai government said it wil hold the Summit in March of 2009. However, efforts are being made to hold the Summit will be held in January of February 2009.
Therefore, according to spokesperson of the Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs Teuku Faizasyah earlier this month, the Jakarta meeting will also discuss about the exact time to hold the delayed Summit.
Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono
• VIVAnews
