PRESIDENT : ASEAN COMMUNITY'S THREE PILLARS MUST RUN PARALLEL

Hanoi, Apr 8 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Thursday the three pillars of the ASEAN community -- ASEAN Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community -- must run parallel.

"Indonesia opines the three must run parallel," the president said when opening a meeting to discuss Indonesia's preparations for the 16th ASEAN Summit here.

Also present at the meeting were Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Industry Minister MS Hidayat, and Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi.

The President said when ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) was founded in 1967 it was among others aimed at creating a stable and secure region.

But in ASEAN's further development, economic issues had become one of its main agendas, he said.

"The adoption of the ASEAN community concept has really reminded us that none of the three pillars must be crippled. They must run parallel," he said.

"But once again, Indonesia must always remind (other ASEAN member states) that in pursuit of economic integration, economic cooperation is merely one of the pillars although it is the (most) important among the three pillars we are trying to make parallel and achieve together," he said.