Retno Marsudi to Address Threat of Terrorism at ASEAN Forum

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

Jakarta, MINA – Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi will convey the message that terrorism is a common security threat to the Southeast Asian region at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) next week in Manila.

“We will emphasize the real threat of terrorism to the ASEAN countries. It is no longer in sight but it has infiltrated the Southeast Asian region,” Antara News quoted Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha Nasir as saying during a press briefing here on Friday.

Marsudi will also deliver the result of the Sub-regional Meeting on Fighting Terrorist Fighter and Cross Border Terrorism held in Manado, Indonesias North Sulawesi Province, on Saturday to the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting during the ARF.

The meeting in Manado will be attended by representatives from several countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and Brunei Darussalam.

It will produce a joint statement and strengthen intergovernmental cooperation to ensure stability and security in the region.

The current security crisis in Marawi City of the Philippines has driven Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines to have agreed to enhance cooperation to effectively address the threat of terrorism and extremism last month.

ARF Meeting

Meanwhile, the ASEAN Regional Forum, which will kick off in Manila from Aug 4 to 8 is also expected to deliver the framework of the Code of Conduct of the South China Sea.

Indonesia will continue promote the discussion to finalize the Code of Conduct.

“It has been the mandate from the president to finalize the framework in the middle of 2017,” Director of Political and Security Cooperation of ASEAN of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs M. Chandra W. Yudha stated.

Moreover, North Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Yong Ho was scheduled to attend the ARF in Manila.

“The participation of the North Korean minister in the ASEAN Regional Forum will be a good momentum for us to discuss what has become a mutual concern,” Yudha noted. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)