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Bali, Indonesia: ASEAN's efforts have resulted in an increasingly more stable, peaceful and united Southeast Asian region, Indonesian Foreign Minister and ASEAN Chair, Dr Marty Natalegawa said.
Speaking to the media at the end of a series of meetings by the foreign ministers in Bali (ahead of their leaders summit), Dr Natalegawa said there's an increasing capacity by ASEAN to address potential conflict situations amongst member states and those involving other non-ASEAN countries.
This was a clear reference to the Thai-Cambodian border dispute and claims by several states to the South China Sea.
Dr Natalegawa said: "The region is increasingly peaceful because we have been able to address challenges and problems such as the one afflicting the South China Sea.
"There is an unmistakable momentum towards greater solution through peaceful means rather than the use of force.
"We have noted, for example last July, when we finalised after eight years of negotiations, the guidelines for the Declaration of Conduct on the South China Sea. I had promised you then that was not the end of the issue.
"On the contrary, it will be the beginning of a renewed and strengthened attempt on all our parts to begin a new chapter. And this is what has happened here in Bali.
"We have now begun the conversation on the Code of Conduct amongst ASEAN but there will be a time when we begin to engage China so that we have the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea - hopefully ready sooner, rather than later."
On Myanmar, Dr Marty said ASEAN has been following developments there closely and the country is now seeing the dividends of the kinds of approach ASEAN had deliberately pursued that of constructive engagement and encouragement.
ASEAN had also been very frank and candid in expressing its views with respect to Myanmar.
Many of the recommendations by the foreign ministers will be submitted to their leaders for endorsement and adoption.
- CNA/ck
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