TB Hasanuddin.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A member of the House of Representatives from Commission I, TB Hasanuddin, said Indonesia should play a greater role in solving international issues.
Hasanuddin made the statement here on Tuesday in response to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s annual state address earlier in the day in which he said Indonesia as Chairman of ASEAN this year had managed to contribute to the peace process between Thailand and Cambodia, and between China and four ASEAN countries in the South China Sea disputes.
"I see progress in terms of the creation of agreements initiated by Indonesia. But in terms of implementation, I think our efforts to bring peace, for example, between Thailand and Cambodia have not yet succeeded," he said.
Hasanuddin also criticized the Indonesian government`s approach to overcome the turmoil in some Middle East countries and in North Africa. "Our persuasion is still too soft. As a moslem-majority country, we should have used our position and persuade the conflicting parties to consolidate and make peace," he said.
Earlier in the day, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had said Indonesia, as the current ASEAN Chair, had played an active role in creating peace and stability in the region.
"Based on that responsibility, we have played an active role in facilitating meetings between Cambodia and Thailand to solve their border problem," the president said in his state address before a combined plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) at the Parliament Building here on Tuesday.
In order to maintain security in the Southeast Asian region, Indonesia was trying to reduce the tensions not only between ASEAN members but also between ASEAN and ASEAN`s partners.
Indonesia was committed to encouraging the creation of security stability in Southeast Asia.
"We must be able to give positive benefits for the ASEAN progress in particular, and for the creation of security stability in the Asian region," he said.
The head of state also mentioned about the achievement of ASEAN under the leadership of Indonesia, and China in reaching an agreement on guidelines for implementation of Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
"I believe that our ASEAN Chairmanship carries responsibilities and obligations which are not easy," he said.
China and the ASEAN nations reached a series of important consensuses on July 20, 2011 on implementing the 2002 Declaration of the Conduct in the South China Sea (DOC), laying a solid foundation for practical cooperation in the area.
The agreements were made at a meeting of senior officials from China and ASEAN nations aimed at promoting the implementation of the DOC.
The DOC was signed in November 2002 as a code of conduct for all parties involved in diplomatic issues in the South China Sea.
