Day: August 8, 2023

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Deputy Speaker for Politics and Security of the House of Representatives (DPR)Lodewijk F. Pauluson Monday made some suggestions for achieving stability and prosperity for ASEAN communities.Speaking at the 44th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in Jakarta, he urged the parliaments of AIPA countries to lend full support to their respective governments and encourage them to affirm their commitment to strengthening democracy. “We should be able to run a good governance, ensure the supremacy of law, as well as promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, in accordance with the mandate laid down in the ASEAN Charter,” he stressed during the general assembly’s first plenary session. He then urged AIPA members to make all-out efforts to carry out their responsibilities of protecting their people and providing those residing in the Southeast Asian region with a peaceful and prosperous life. “In addition, we are also responsible for guaranteeing freedom and (the protection of) human rights for ASEAN communities,” he added. Paulus pushed member countries to make AIPA a leading institution that can expand cooperation by involving all related stakeholders in the region in efforts to realize the ASEAN 2045 vision. “In order to reach this end, we should opt for a more adaptive and future-oriented approach, rather than keep following the same routine or merely sticking to business as usual,” he said. Lastly, he added, AIPA parliaments should act in a more responsive and adaptive manner during national law formulation processes in the hope of producing laws that are more relevant for overcoming regional and global challenges. Paulus stressed that such laws are essential to help ASEAN overcome existing challenges in the region, such as the condition of democracy in Myanmar, disputes in the South China Sea, the impacts of the Ukraine crisis, the Quad Initiative, and the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) alliance. “ASEAN has been criticized for its measures to handle the crisis in Myanmar. Our measures are deemed disappointing and led to an increased violence,” he noted. He then emphasized the importance of investing even greater efforts to promote the implementation of the principles of human rights, democracy, peace, security, and prosperity enshrined in the ASEAN Charter. “AIPA must be able to take swift, accurate, and sustainable measures in order to ensure security and progress for our peoples, so they can keep living with hopes,” he said. President Joko Widodo officially inaugurated the 44th AIPA General Assembly at Fairmont Hotel in Jakarta on Monday. Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo, DPR Speaker Puan Maharani, and Chairperson of the DPR Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP)Fadli Zon, and Paulus joined the opening ceremony. The 44th AIPA General Assembly, which is taking place in Jakarta from Monday to Wednesday (August 9, 2023), has drawn participation from 568 delegates, including speakers of the parliaments of 9 ASEAN countries: Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Representatives from 18 observer and guest countries as well as 9 international organizations have also joined the event. The theme of the 44th edition of the general assembly is “Responsive Parliaments for a Stable and Prosperous ASEAN.” This year’s AIPA General Assembly also marks DPR’s seventh participation in the general assembly in the capacity of host and chair of AIPA, following Indonesia’s chairmanship of ASEAN this year.

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Head of regional cooperation at the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP) of the House of Representatives (DPR), Putu Supadma Rudana, has voiced support for fostering cooperation between Indonesia and Norway, especially on energy transition.”Norway utilizes hydropower. Indonesia is also committed to achieving the 2030 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) agenda,” he said on Tuesday. Rudana said that Norway has an advantage in terms of energy transition, specifically in the development of new and renewable energy. He noted that the parliament can serve as a bridge to connect Indonesia and Norway and realize the new and renewable energy transition. He also said that the solution to air pollution and climate change has become a topic of discussion between the parliaments of Indonesia and Norway, an observer country, at the 44th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly. Cooperation between Indonesia and Norway needs to be improved, for instance, in education and culture, Rudana added. “The final commitment is how we support each other in international forums, where Norway supports Indonesia, and Indonesia has the same commitment to support Norway,” he continued. He added that in the tourism sector, Indonesia is very open to international tourists as there are excellent tourist destinations spread across the country. IPA’s 44th General Assembly is taking place in Jakarta from August 79, 2023, with parliamentary chairpersons of nine ASEAN countries — Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam — in attendance. In addition, 18 observer countries, including Norway, are attending the general assembly. President Joko Widodo officially opened the 44th AIPA General Assembly in Jakarta on Monday (August 7).

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), Puan Maharani, and Chair of the National Parliament of Timor-Leste, Maria Fernanda Lay, discussed Timor-Leste’s ASEAN membership during a bilateral meeting on Tuesday.t the meeting, which was held on the sidelines of the 44th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly in Jakarta, Maharani expressed hopes that Timor-Leste would meet the criteria for full membership ahead of the ASEAN Summit in September 2023. Indonesia has continued to encourage ASEAN countries to support Timor-Leste’s full membership of the organization, she emphasized. She said that she is looking forward to more intensive cooperation once Timor-Leste becomes an official ASEAN member. She also highlighted the importance of Indonesia and Timor-Leste realizing the Bilateral Investment Treaty, following the increase in cooperation in various fields such as the economy, trade, and investment. Maharani said that the implementation of the treaty would create a more favorable investment climate, encouraging more investment from Indonesia to Timor-Leste. She also expressed hope that the parliaments of the two countries would encourage their respective governments to immediately hold discussions on the Indonesia-Timor-Leste border negotiation. It is hoped that cooperation in the development of the Border Economic Zone, which will benefit the two countries, could be improved if the border issue is resolved, she said. She also called for the opening of cooperation opportunities with the parliament of Timor-Leste through inter-parliamentary visits or other forums, as part of the diplomatic role of parliament. On the same occasion, deputy head of Commission IX of the DPR, Charles Honoris, said that the Timor-Leste delegation sought the DPR’s support regarding the country’s ASEAN membership. He informed that Timor-Leste currently has become the 11th member of ASEAN, but its membership is not yet full, so the country still cannot vote in ASEAN forums, including in AIPA, in which it only plays the role of an observer country. Therefore, it is hoped that Timor-Leste will officially be declared as a full member at the upcoming ASEAN Summit, allowing its parliament to participate in AIPA, he added.

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), Puan Maharani, has emphasized that the youth, constituting nearly 34 percent of the ASEAN population, possess significant potential to be agents of positive change in solving challenges.”Your fresh perspectives, innovative approaches for decision-making, and unwavering commitment to solving regional challenges are important assets for collective progress,” she remarked while opening the Young Parliaments of AIPA (YPA) Meeting here on Tuesday. The meeting was held as part of the 44th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly. ccording to Maharani, the issues raised at the YPA meeting were relevant and matched the theme of the 44th AIPA General Assembly, namely a “Responsive Parliament for a Stable and Prosperous ASEAN”. She praised the dedication of ASEAN’s young parliament members in shaping a better future for the region, including by discussing solutions to diverse global challenges, as was done at the meeting. “This meeting highlighted several crucial issues that need our attention. First, we must increase the role of parliament in encouraging the initiatives of youth empowerment in digital entrepreneurship and leadership,” she said. She noted that the empowerment of youth in entrepreneurship and digital leadership includes providing support through policies and regulations. Maharani underlined that ASEAN’s digital economy hold significant potential, projected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030. Harnessing the power of technology and innovation can be open new avenues of opportunity for youngsters in Southeast Asia, she added. The second issue highlighted at the meeting, she said, was related to the economic problems faced by the youth. Maharani noted that while economic growth in most parts of Southeast Asia has been robust during the post-pandemic recovery phase, the unemployment rate among young adults has remains elevated. In addition, many youngsters are engaged in vulnerable jobs with low salaries, she added. She then invited young members of parliament under AIPA to jointly seek solutions to those problems, such as by enhancing education, vocational training, and skill development programs. She said that AIPA must play an important role in advocating those steps and fostering collaboration between members of the parliament in ASEAN to formulate policies that bolster youth employment. Maharani also shared that the topics planned for discussion in the meeting encompass ensuring youth participation in promoting and safeguarding democracy. She said that youngsters must be encouraged to uphold the values of democracy, the supremacy of law, and respect for human rights. The YPA meeting was chaired by deputy chairperson of the DPR’s Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP), Gilang Dhielafararez, and was co-chaired by DPR member Dyah Roro Esti.

Source: Antara News Agency