MANADO TO HOST ASEAN SENIOR OFFICIALS MEETING

Manado, March 17 (ANTARA) - Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi is to host the ASEAN Senior Officers Meeting (SOM) from May 6 to 8, 2009.

In view of the preparedness and supporting infrastructure for the implementation of this international event, Manado was eligible to host this Asean Senior Officers Meeting , ASEAN Director General Djauhari Oratmangun said on the sidelines of a meeting with North Sulawesi Governor Sarundajang here on Monday.
Especially that Manado will also host the World Ocean Conference (WOC) and the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Summit on May 11-15, 2009, so that the city is prepared to host these international events.
There are many central issues to be discussed during the ASEAN SOM which will be participated in by foreign ministers of ASEAN member countries, he said adding the next ASEAN Summit will take place in Thailand.
The discussions of the ASEAN SOM will center more on political, economic, social and cultural issues in the runup to the Asean Free Trade Area in 2015.
The issues cover the settlement of conflicts in South Philippines, and other countries within ASEAN, illegal logging, trans-national crime, terrorism, illegal fishing and protection of intellectual rights.
In addition to the ministers, at least 50 up to 60 officials of representative offices of ASEAN member countries will attend the ASEAN SOM, he said.