ID :
33925
Thu, 12/04/2008 - 18:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/33925
The shortlink copeid
ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS URGED TO PLAY ROLE AS THINK-TANK TO SOLVE WORLD CRISES
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- Academic institutions should play a
proactive role as think-tanks to find solutions to the current debacles
confronting the world, Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim said Thursday.
This role was important, especially when the world was in the throes of
global financial and economic crises, rising energy and food prices and the
imminence of infectious pandemics, he said.
He said due emphasis should be given to the political, economic, security
and social dynamics of the Asia-Pacific region with special focus on the
leadership provided by Asean and the A RF (Asean Regional Forum) in bringing
about stability and peace in the region.
"Academic institutions can also play a leading role in bringing together
the
best minds to ponder and offer solutions to the current debacles confronting the
world and the region.
"In addition to focusing on the current spate of crises, issues of long
standing concern such as the overlapping interests on major powers in the region
should also be given due scrutiny," he said at the International Conference on
International Studies 2008 themed The Asia Pacific Region: Contemporary Trends
and Challenges here.
His keynote address was delivered by his deputy, Abdul Rahim Bakri.
Rais also warned of the emergence of potential new conflicts, despite the
region being generally peaceful and ample evidence of widespread and sustained
economic developments.
This was because in a world of growing interdependence from the economic
and
social perspective, the internal security and stability of many nations would be
inevitably affected by the changes that were unforeseen and, at times, difficult
to anticipate.
"While war between states may, hopefully, be a thing of the past in the
realm of international relations, we cannot deny that there may be other areas
wherein instability may emerge.
"Within the Asia-Pacific region economics as well as strategic interests
may
well portend future conflict if vital resources such as oil and water, which for
the moment are readily available, are not shared and managed equitably between
nation states," he added.
-- BERNAMA
proactive role as think-tanks to find solutions to the current debacles
confronting the world, Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim said Thursday.
This role was important, especially when the world was in the throes of
global financial and economic crises, rising energy and food prices and the
imminence of infectious pandemics, he said.
He said due emphasis should be given to the political, economic, security
and social dynamics of the Asia-Pacific region with special focus on the
leadership provided by Asean and the A RF (Asean Regional Forum) in bringing
about stability and peace in the region.
"Academic institutions can also play a leading role in bringing together
the
best minds to ponder and offer solutions to the current debacles confronting the
world and the region.
"In addition to focusing on the current spate of crises, issues of long
standing concern such as the overlapping interests on major powers in the region
should also be given due scrutiny," he said at the International Conference on
International Studies 2008 themed The Asia Pacific Region: Contemporary Trends
and Challenges here.
His keynote address was delivered by his deputy, Abdul Rahim Bakri.
Rais also warned of the emergence of potential new conflicts, despite the
region being generally peaceful and ample evidence of widespread and sustained
economic developments.
This was because in a world of growing interdependence from the economic
and
social perspective, the internal security and stability of many nations would be
inevitably affected by the changes that were unforeseen and, at times, difficult
to anticipate.
"While war between states may, hopefully, be a thing of the past in the
realm of international relations, we cannot deny that there may be other areas
wherein instability may emerge.
"Within the Asia-Pacific region economics as well as strategic interests
may
well portend future conflict if vital resources such as oil and water, which for
the moment are readily available, are not shared and managed equitably between
nation states," he added.
-- BERNAMA
