Nusa Dua (Antara Bali) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here on Tuesday officially opened the 44th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting.
On his opening speech, Yudhoyono emphasized the need for ASEAN to work fast in strengthening its relation towards the goal of ASEAN Community by 2015.
"As we expected, the process from conception in 2003 to Community in 2015 was not going to be a linear one. We had to adjust some of our assumptions and calculations. New challenges came up including some events in the international environment beyond our control - forcing us to constantly adapt and improvise," he said.
The president expressed hope that the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meetings in Bali on Tuesday would be able to give shape and add content to the progress that has been achieved at the last ASEAN Summit in May.
The 44th AMM in Bali is expected to bring together ASEAN Foreign Ministers for a comprehensive deliberation of issues related to the three priorities of Indonesia's chairmanship of ASEAN this year, follow ups to the 18th ASEAN Summit which was held last May 2011 and other regional and international issues.
Several important issues are expected to be discussed during the meeting namely the implementation of free nuclear zone in South East Asia region, the establishment of ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, ASEAN Connectivity, implementation of the Declaration of Conduct (DoC) in the South China Sea, ASEAN community building and possibility to discuss about ASEAN joint visa.
The 44th AMM will also discuss the enhancement of ASEAN external relations within the framework of ASEAN+1, ASEAN Plus Three and also between ASEAN and other organizations.
The meeting will also discuss preparations for the Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting held annually in New York in September 2011 and the 19th ASEAN Summit and related summits in November 2011.(*)
