ABSTRACT
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) subscribes to the principles and objectives of the United Nations' Culture of Peace program. At an ASEAN Summit, the Leaders of ASEAN have declared that, "Cooperative peace and shared prosperity shall be the fundamental goals of ASEAN". True to its commitment to promote peace and stability through regional cooperation, all ASEAN Member Countries actively participate in the four broad areas of political and security dialogue, economic cooperation and integration, functional cooperation and the promotion of external relations. Established since 1994, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) aims to develop confidence building measures, preventive diplomacy and, eventually, conflict resolution in the Asia Pacific. The ARF now consists of 24 participants. The recently adopted ASEAN Security Community (ASC) provides an overarching framework and direction to ASEAN's commitment to building a zone of peace in Southeast Asia. The ASC indicates a beginning of a shift in the mindset from intergovernmental collaboration into a community of nation's framework.
