RI Leadership of Asean at Stake

Nusa Dua (Antara Bali) - As a founder, Indonesia puts its leadership of ASEAN at stake behind its border dispute with Malaysia which has sparked protests and reactions, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said.

"In the face of a dispute with an ASEAN member, we will surely try to ensure our sovereignty and solve the problem through the proper channel, namely diplomatic one. Because what we put at stake is not a matter of Indonesia and Malaysia only but also more of it, namely Indonesia's position in ASEAN. We are putting this (position) at stake. Indonesia must not become part of the problem but part of problem solver," the foreign minister said here on Thursday.

The foreign minister was here to lead the Indonesian delegation to the Seventh Indonesia-Thailand Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Thursday.

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya who lead his country's delegation became Marty's partner.

The ministerial meeting discussed various issues which are basically to continue, increase and expand the spectrum of the two countries bilateral cooperation.

Cooperation in the development of third countries in ASEAN and in other region also become attention of the two foreign ministers.

They also boost the participation of the private sector in the framework of their cooperation.

Marty said that since the establishment of ASEAN, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have recognized and always looked at Indonesia which was able to mediate members of ASEAN when they are facing a problem.

"So, if we have a problem with other ASEAN members we should solve it well, because the world would look at us whether we are just the same as others which elbow with each other, or as a country which is able to solve the problem in a good way," the foreign minister said.(*)