Indonesia, as ASEAN Chair, has been invited to attend the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Thai-Cambodian border dispute in New York on Feb. 14.

This reflects the global community’s trust in ASEAN as a viable regional instrument to facilitate peaceful means for dispute settlement, said a press release of the Secretariat of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Feb. 10.

“ASEAN Chair’s attendance at the UNSC meeting represents an evolution of ASEAN’s effort to resolve bilateral disputes amongst its member states as provided for by the ASEAN Charter,” said ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan.

“This is particularly important as it will set precedence for future ASEAN dispute settlement mechanisms,” he stressed.

He also added that both sides welcome Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa to help in their search for an amicable and peaceful solution to their differences, as ASEAN continues to strengthen its dispute settlement mechanism, in line with the ASEAN Charter./.