JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that ASEAN needs to strengthen the protection of citizens and maintain regional peace to face the current global dynamics.
"The protection of our citizens must remain the top priority," said President Prabowo in the plenary session of the 48th ASEAN Summit which took place at the Mactan Expo, Cebu, Philippines, reported ANTARA, Friday, May 8.
The President explained that many ASEAN member countries have thousands of citizens who are abroad. Therefore, it is necessary to coordinate and cooperate closely between countries in the region through a common approach to strengthen the handling of citizens, especially in emergency situations.
Indonesia expressed its readiness to work closely with all ASEAN member countries in realizing this.
In addition to the issue of protecting citizens, the President also highlighted the importance of respecting the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping forces (UN). He emphasized that the safety of peacekeeping personnel must be respected by all parties involved in the conflict.
"We have lost Indonesian soldiers who served with the United Nations, and we demand that the accountability of peacekeeping duties must be respected by all parties," said the President.
Prabowo also appreciated the solidarity of ASEAN countries in helping the evacuation process of citizens. The President gave an example of a cooperation offer from Singapore which was willing to support the evacuation process in case of an emergency.
The President emphasized the importance of respect for international law and the protection of civilians. According to him, ASEAN must have a strong collective political voice in responding to any violations of international law.
"In protecting our civilians, ASEAN must speak with one voice," he said.
The President assessed that dialogue and collaboration remained ASEAN's main strength in facing global challenges, considering that peace is the main foundation for the prosperity of the people in the region.
"There will be no prosperity without peace. There will be no peace without dialogue and cooperation," said President Prabowo.
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