RI TO PROPOSE ASEAN COOPERATION IN FIGHTING TRANSNATIONAL CRIME

Jakarta, Apr 5 (ANTARA) - Indonesia plans to raise the issue of cooperation in fighting trans-border crime at the 16th ASEAN Summit to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam, on April 8.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Monday, cooperation among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to fight various trans-national crimes was important.

He said neighboring countries also needed to play effective roles to help a given ASEAN member fight crimes like human and narcotic drug smuggling and terrorism.

"At the upcoming ASEAN Summit, Indonesia will put forward the need for member countries to cooperate in cross-border or trans-national crime fighting. Effective regional cooperation will be needed to deal with such crimes successfully," he said.

President Yudhoyono said cross-border crimes deserved more serious attention from countries in the ASEAN region.

"It must never happen that we have no mechanism or better cooperation framework to handle the problem," he said.

President Yudhoyono would attend the summit on April 8-9 which will also discuss the integration of regional economies.

The President is expected to leave for Vietnam on Wednesday and therefore the cabinet meeting which is usually done on Thursday was moved up to Monday.

The cabinet meeting discussed the government's work plan for 2011 as an integral part of its five-year plan until 2014.

The President said the theme for the 2011 work plan is economic development after the global financial crisis, after the focus in 2009 and 2010 was on economic recovery from the world crisis.

At the meeting the government formulated the 2011 work plan based on correct priorities and agendas and determine budget allocations and distribution.

The meeting also discussed synergy in inter-sectoral development and development plans drawn up by provincial, district/mayoralty administrations.