Minister asks media to help publicize ASEAN Summit

Jakarta - Communication and Informatics Minister Tifatul Sembiring has urged the mass media to help publicize the ASEAN Summit, Indonesia as the ASEAN Chair 2011 in particular.

"We ask the mass media to help the government disseminate all relevant information regarding the implementation of the ASEAN Summit to make it a success and have positive impacts on all ASEAN member countries," Tifatul Sembiring said after delivering his remarks on "The promotion of Indonesia`s ASEAN Chairmanship 2011" at his office here Friday.

The event was attended by media mass chiefs among other things from TVRI, RRI, ANTARA, MetroTV, SCTV, TVOne, RCTI, as well as CEOs of telecommunication operators like PT Telkom Tbk., PT Telkomsel, PT Bakrie Telecom Tbk, and PT XL Aviata Tbk.

The ASEAN Summit will be organized in Indonesia, on May 7-8, 2011. Indonesia`s Chairmanship of ASEAN has started since January 1, 2011 until December 2011.

Indonesia is determined to give concrete and useful contribution through the thinking of ASEAN Beyond 2015, and to guard the establishment of ASEAN Community by 2015.

During the implementation of the ASEAN Summit, Indonesia will organize around 200 activities in around 16 provinces. The activities will include ASEAN ministerial meetings and peak with the Summit of the 10 leaders of the ASEAN member nations.

The ASEAN Summit will be supported by various stakeholders such as hotels, restaurants, aviation industry, transportation service providers and handicraft industry.

"All parties must be involved, including the public. Therefore, the media are playing a very important role to inform the public about the existence of ASEAN Community," the minister said.

The minister hoped that with the assistance of the media, the Indonesian public will be aware of the country`s chairmanship of ASEAN this year and the implementation of the upcoming ASEAN Summit.

The ministry`s Informatics and Public Communication Director General Freddy H. Tulung said activities to be organized will include an ASEAN Jazz Festival, ASEAN Culinary Festival and ASEAN Journalist Meeting.

source : antaranews.com