Three TAC Accession Countries, Indonesian Foreign Minister: Together We Become Positive Strengths For Peace, Stability And Prosperity Of Indo-Pacific

Foreign Minister Retno while chairing an AMM meeting in Jakarta. (Source: Indonesian/Abi Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi warmly welcomes the joining of Serbia, Panama and Kuwait, which have accessed the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty (TAC), saying positive enthusiasm continues to grow.

The signing of Serbian accession (52nd countries), Panama (53) and Kuwait (54) was carried out on the sidelines of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta, Monday.

"For years, TAC has played an important role as a norm and collective principle to promote good relations, dialogue habits, and peaceful coexistence in the region," said Foreign Minister Retno in a written statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Minister Retno further said that in the midst of geopolitical dynamics that is full of rivalry and crisis of trust, it is very important to strengthen the values in the TAC to build trust.

The increasing number of countries accessing TAC shows positive enthusiasm that continues to grow. This must be used to strengthen stability in the region and the world.

It is said, TAC must unite ASEAN and Mitra Wicara to encourage concrete cooperation in overcoming common challenges, ranging from climate change, food and energy security, to the proliferation of transnational crimes.

"Together, we can become a positive force for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Only by applying the values and principles in the TAC can we ensure that ASEAN remains important and becomes the center of economic growth," said Foreign Minister Retno.

It is known that the signing of the TAC this time was carried out by Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Damengi Badminton, Panamanian Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Franco and Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad al Sabah. Prior to accessing the three countries, Saudi Arabia signed the TAC on the sidelines of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) in Jakarta last July. In total, so far there have been four countries that have accessed the TAC so far this year.

It is known that all member countries of the UN Security Council (P5) have signed the TAC, namely RRC (2003), Russia (2004), France (2007), the US (2009) and the UK (2012). Meanwhile, from the G20 Group, only two countries have not accessed the TAC, namely Italy and Mexico.