NEWS RELEASE

15 OCTOBER 2002

ASEAN SEC-GEN CALLS FOR STRONGER COOPERATION AGAINST TERRORISM AND GREATER COMMITMENT TO REGIONALISM

JAKARTA, Oct 15 – The ASEAN Secretary-General, Rodolfo Severino, has called for closer international cooperation to face the global threat of terrorism, following the bombings in Bali last Saturday.

“International cooperation must be strengthened to deal with transnational crime including terrorism, which we know has extensive international dimension,” said Mr Severino at the opening today of the ASEAN Young Speakers’ Forum.

“The whole world was horrified and outraged by the evil act in Bali which caused the loss of innocent lives and damage to property and to the economy of Bali and Indonesia,” Mr. Severino pointed out.

“Southeast Asia is not new to terrorism. Individual countries have been dealing with terrorism in the past.”

Mr. Severino said the events of September 11 last year in the United States, have brought about a greater consciousness of the gravity of the threat posed by terrorism and the vulnerability of all countries due to the extent of its reach across the globe.

Aside from curbing terrorism, the Secretary-General said the task ahead for ASEAN is to strengthen the process of economic integration to meet the challenges of globalization.

“There is a broader challenge in the longer term arising from globalization, with freer movement of goods, services, money, people and information around the world and fiercer competition for markets and investments,” said Mr. Severino.

The Secretary-General said competition will arise from emerging economies on a continental scale and from other regional economic groups that are becoming more competitive in comparison to ASEAN countries.

He said ASEAN economies must facilitate efforts towards integration by bringing down impediments to trade like tariffs and non-tariff barriers, making regional trade a smoother process through better transportation, communication, coordination of Customs procedures and the harmonization of product standards. Mr. Severino said a large, integrated market is more efficient and attractive to investors. As such, he said ASEAN must keep up with its competitors or be left behind in the race for Foreign Direct Investments (FDI).

Mr. Severino said the process of economic integration in ASEAN will move ahead faster through a stronger political and economic push.

“There has to be political pressure and moves to press governments to facilitate swifter integration,” Mr. Severino stressed. “A strong commitment to regionalism is essentially imperative not only for the progress and prosperity of the region, but also for peace and stability.”

Mr. Severino said it was important for the young people of this region to be knowledgeable about the issue of regional integration in ASEAN, for they will ensure that the benefits of regionalism will be carried on into the future.

Mr. Severino expressed hope that the ASEAN Young Speakers’ Forum would provide an opportunity for the 20 university undergraduates from the ten member countries to examine the challenges faced by the regional grouping and think of creative solutions to problems and ways to capitalize on the prospects and opportunities ahead.

The Secretary-General said the forum also presents an avenue for ASEAN youths to establish contacts with one another and to exchange views on how to move forward the process of regionalism and economic cooperation in Southeast Asia.

Released by:

GERALDINE GOH
Senior Officer
Public Information
ASEAN SECRETARIAT
Jakarta
INDONESIA
Tel: (6221) 724-3372, 726-2991 ext 245
Fax: (6221) 739-8234, 724-3504
Email: [email protected]