GLOBAL COOPERATION VITAL TO FIGHTING TRANSNATIONAL THREATS

No national boundary can withstand the transnational threats of terrorism, avian flu and natural disasters; and a single country cannot handle these challenges alone.

Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean said this at the opening of the Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO) on 6 Aug at The Sentosa Resort & Spa.

Organised by the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies - a research centre within the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at the Nanyang Technological University - this week-long forum aims to facilitate interaction, discussion and understanding among senior military officers in the Asia-Pacific region.

Some 61 representatives from 26 countries are attending this year's APPSMO, with delegates from Botswana and Sri Lanka taking part for the first time.

In his speech, Mr Teo noted that international cooperation is "essential to address today's transnational security challenges".

"Countries need to come together, establish common ground, discuss sensitive issues and manage their differences in order to advance cooperation," he said.

"This will ensure a more secure environment in the Asia-Pacific for the benefit of all."

Mr Teo added that "today's military officers have to familiarise themselves with situations which call for both civil and military forces to work side by side".

He cited the Multinational Planning Augmentation Team Tempest Express Staff-Planning Workshop, which the Singapore Armed Forces co-hosted this February, as an example of "avenues which strengthen the capacity for civil-military cooperation".

This year marks the ninth edition of APPSMO, an annual programme that began in 1999.

Besides attending a range of talks, seminars and networking events, participants will also be invited to watch the National Day Parade and visit Changi Naval Base.