ASEAN Foundation and journalists in Phnom Penh

The executive director of the ASEAN Foundation, Dr. Makarim Wibisono, organized a working breakfast with journalists in Cambodiana Hotel in Phnom Penh on February 21, 2012. The working breakfast was participated by Mr. Pen Samitthy, the Director of the PEN Media Group, Mr. Stuart Alan Becker, the editor of the Phnom Penh Post and Ms. Adek P. the charge d’affairs of the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh.

At the working breakfast, Dr. Makarim Wibisono explained that the ASEAN Foundation in its effort in helping ASEAN promote ASEAN awareness and identity, has put high on its agenda close cooperation and partnership with the media. The purpose of this is to help ASEAN in establishing the ASEAN Community by 2015. ASEAN Foundation believes that only with the help of the media, the peoples of ASEAN may be able to learn more about ASEAN, its Member states, activities and the issue of the region. In light of this, the ASEAN Foundation discussed the possibility of holding an ASEAN Editors’ Dialogue in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2012.

Mr. Pen Samitthy, the Director of the PEN Media Group pointed out that as the ASEAN Chair for 2012, Cambodia has now a bigger role in promoting and projecting ASEAN to the region as well as the international world. Therefore, it is timely for Cambodia to call for the close cooperation from the ASEAN media through this proposed media activity. Mr. Samitthy will approach the Ministry of Information as well as the Office of the Prime Minister of Cambodia to follow up the idea. He mentioned that the ASEAN Editors’ Dialogue is feasible to be organized in Phnom Penh on October 2012 preceding the ASEAN Summit that will take place on November 2012.

[back]