Commanders of ASEAN Armies said here on Wednesday that it was the ASEAN military who understand the security conditions of their respective regions, not others.

The commanders of the 10 ASEAN armies made the statement in connection with allegation that the ASEAN region is less favorable in regard to its regional security.

"We are becoming increasingly mature and built-up with wide horizons. We are the one who understand most the situation of our own regions," said Malaysian Army Field Commander, Lt. Gen. Abdul Aziz Zainal, at the headquarters of the Indonesian Army's Reserve Command (Kostrad) s Infantry Division, in Cilodong, West Java.

Speaking toANTARAon the sidelines of the opening of the 14th ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet (AARM) held in Cilodong, Abdul Aziz Zainal said that the 10 ASEAN member countries have many similarities they could mutually develop and if there is common regional security problem it is the people of ASEAN who would bear it.

The 10 ASEAN member nations have great deals of similarities that the respective governments and people are now developing jointly, he said.

"You can witness yourself that in the current 14th AARM, we no longer feel any difference among us armies. All are united like brothers with a friendly, harmonious and full of understanding sphere," he said.

It is the ASEAN nations who understand the dignity, passion and spirit of their peoples with the security aspect becoming an inherent dimension in their lives. It is the ASEAN people who understand most what they should do in the region.

AARF is a shooting tournament among ASEAN armies, which was first held in Malasyia in 1991. Last year, Malaysia hosted the event again. One of the objectives of this event is to increase cooperation and foster solidarity and professionalims among ASEAN armies.
Through AARM which at this time carries a theme of solidarity and professionalism, also aims to improve security quality through building the professionalism of the 10 ASEAN armies.

In the meantime, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Philippines Army, Major General Cabuay, said that individual skills built during the event would have positive impact on each armies' units in efforts to crack down on terrorism in the ASEAN region.

He said it is undeniable that terrorists do exist in this region and this is not a problem belonging to ASEAN alone but to the world as well.

"But what I want to say is that individual skill can provide contribution to the efforts to fight against and crack down on terrorism," he added.

By stepping up relations in all sectors of the 10 ASEAN armies, he said, it is hoped that common vision on fighting terrorism could be built, which will eventually dispel the image that the security condition of ASEAN region is less favourable.

Indonesian Army's Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Djoko Santoso, said meanwhile that the various forms of interactions among ASEAN armies would benefit the bigger interest of ASEAN armies, namely creating cooperation and solidarity among nations.