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Minister: ASEAN charter's implementation is one of Indonesia's priorities

JAKARTA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) Indonesia will put its efforts to prepare the basic arrangements and infrastructure of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) based on the grouping's recently adopted Charter as one of the priorities of the country's diplomacy in the region, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said.

"The arrangements cover among other things the finalization of the blueprints for the formation of an ASEAN Political and Security Community and an ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community with a clear specification of activities and timelines", Wirayuda was quoted by Antara news agency as saying Tuesday.

Minister Wirajuda said that the blueprints were needed to realize the establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015.

He said, it was also important to complete the terms of reference (TOR) of the ASEAN body in July 2009, and the strengthening of the structure and staff of the ASEAN Secretariat.

On December 15, ASEAN charter was formalized in Jakarta, which has changed the association into a legal entity.

At regional level, a major change has happened to ASEAN. It changed from an association into an ASEAN community based on the Charter which officially entered into effect at the end of last year, Wirayuda said.

The minister added Indonesia was expected to play an important role in the transformation process because the ASEAN integration process was also in relation with the integration process in the region, both in East Asia and Asia-Pacific.

Wirayuda said ASEAN's integration process in East Asia was an interesting phenomenon amidst various global crises, especially with the failure of the Doha Development Agenda.

At the global level, Wirayuda said, international security conditions would continue to be marred by armed conflicts.

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