Indonesia seeks new Asia treaty to curb conflict

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa on May 16 called for a new treaty spanning Asia-Pacific to help build trust.
Indonesia's Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa on May 16 called for a new treaty spanning Asia-Pacific to help build trust.

Addressing the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) during his Washington visit, Natalegawa warned of the potential for conflict in the fast-changing region if tensions continue to escalate.

He suggested establishing an "Indo-Pacific-Wide Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation" that could help end regional tensions and encourage confidence by bringing countries together in their goals.

The suggested treaty would be along the model of the ASEAN bloc's 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, which bans the use of force in settling disputes in Southeast Asia, he said.-VNA

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