Joint Communique on the 32nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting
Joint Communique on the 32nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting
This is the second of two excerpts of the Joint Communique issued at the 32nd ASEAN Ministerial in Singapore.
External relations
34. We reaffirmed the importance of an outward-looking ASEAN, which can play a pivotal role in international forum. We appreciated the continuing support extended by the international community, particularly ASEAN's Dialog Partners, to ASEAN's activities. We hoped that our Dialog Partners, the international financial institutions, United Nations agencies, foundations and non-governmental organizations would collaborate with ASEAN in carrying out the co-operative measures in the HPA. We are encouraged by their participation in the ASEAN Development Cooperation Forum held in the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta in May 1999.
35. We reaffirmed adherence to the principle of non- discrimination in the pursuit of development co-operation in ASEAN. ASEAN's relationships with all its Dialogue Partners, as well as its co-operation with other countries and regional and international organizations are based on equality, non- interference, non-discrimination, mutual respect and mutual benefit. To ensure that ASEAN consolidates its relationships with the current Dialogue Partners, we agreed to consider new ASEAN Dialogue relationships only after July 2000.
36. We commended the work of the Special Directors-General Working Group on the Review of the Role and Functions of the ASEAN Secretariat. With the new challenges facing ASEAN over the last few years, new demands had been placed on the ASEAN Secretariat. The rationalization of the Secretariat's organizational structure would allow the Secretariat to be a more effective instrument in helping ASEAN prepare for the future. The completion of the Review was in line with the call in the HPA for a more responsive Secretariat.
37. In reviewing the regional and international political situation, we reiterated our conviction that a stable, strategic relationship among the major powers, particularly China, Japan, Russia and the United States was a vital contributing factor to the peace, security, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, especially Southeast Asia. A positive framework of relations among the major powers and their efforts in enhancing their mutual understanding and co-operation in their relations at bilateral and global levels are all the more vital, in order to ensure the continuation of the economic recovery in the region.
38. We expressed our concern over the tension that arose in the Taiwan Strait after July 9, 1999, which could seriously affect regional peace and stability and prospects for economic recovery. We hoped for a quick and peaceful return to normalcy. We reaffirmed our commitment to our "One China Policy".
39. In reviewing the situation in the South China Sea, we recognized that several issues remained a source of concern, including the overlapping and conflicting claims among the countries involved that remain unresolved. We emphasized the importance of resolving these issues in the interest of peace and stability in the region. We reiterated the need for the disputes to be settled peacefully, in accordance with the recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and to continue to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities in the South China Sea. We recalled the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' agreement in 1996 to the idea of a regional Code of Conduct which would lay the foundation for long-term stability in the area and foster understanding among claimant countries. At the 6th ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN Leaders agreed to promote efforts to establish a regional Code of Conduct in the South China Sea among the parties directly concerned. Pursuant to these agreements, we noted that as a follow-up to the ASEAN SOM recommendation in May 1999, the Philippines has submitted a draft Regional Code of Conduct for the immediate consideration of the ASEAN SOM Working Group on ZOPFAN and SEANWFZ at its next meeting. We recognized the positive contribution of the ongoing bilateral and multilateral consultations among the parties concerned at the intergovernmental level, the extensive consultations at the ASEAN-China Dialog and the regular exchange of views in the ARF, and the on-going Informal Workshops on Managing Potential Conflicts in the South China Sea and encouraged their continuance.
40. We are also concerned with developments in the Korean Peninsula and agreed that the parties involved should not adopt postures which could undermine peace and security. We reaffirmed the importance of maintaining the 1953 Armistice Agreement and the Agreed Framework and hoped that all the parties would continue dialogue with a view to establishing a permanent peace regime. We expressed support for the Four-Party Talks, the inter- Korean Dialog, the U.S.-DPRK negotiations and the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) in promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and as a peaceful means to advance global nuclear non-proliferation. In this regard, we noted the Republic of Korea's efforts to contribute to the stability of the Peninsula, including through the Sunshine Policy.
41. We noted with deep concern developments in Kosovo, including the humanitarian crisis, and its implications. We reaffirmed our support for the UN Charter and respect for the basic principles of international law. In this connection, we welcomed the comprehensive political settlement of the Kosovo crisis as endorsed by the United Nations Security Council Resolution S/RES/1244(1999) of June 10, 1999, and urged all parties involved to work closely with the UN in implementing the settlement.
42. We hope for a new momentum in the Middle East Peace Process and welcome the sentiments expressed by the leaders of Syria, Israel and the Palestinians to move on to a comprehensive peace in the region. We welcomed recent encouraging statements by the new Prime Minister of Israel to withdraw from Southern Lebanon within the year and to implement the Wye River Agreement in full, thus paving the way for the further return of territory to Palestine National Authority (PNA). We urged the parties concerned to implement all agreements signed and all pledges and commitments made following the Oslo Peace Accords and Madrid Conference, in particular the principle of land for peace, in due compliance with relevant United Nations Resolutions. We also called for an early resumption of negotiations between Israel, Syria, Lebanon and PNA in order to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East. We called on Israel to take steps for the immediate and full cessation of the construction of the settlement at Jabel Abu Ghaneim and similar activities in the West Bank.
43. We welcomed the agreement reached by India and Pakistan to end hostilities along the Line of Control and urged both sides to resolve the dispute through dialogue.
NAM
44. We reaffirmed our support for the goals and principles of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). We stressed the importance of the NAM as a unifying forum not only for discussions but also co- operation among developing countries, so that they may exert a more active influence on the direction and management of world affairs. We recognized the NAM's strength as a significant leverage in negotiations vis-a-vis the developed countries on crucial political and economic issues. We emphasized the need to continue the active and collective promotion of agreed positions of the NAM members in the UN and in the international arena.
45. We exchanged views on the need to reform the UN Security Council, particularly on the aspect of representation among the developing countries.
We agreed that the reform and expansion of the Security Council should be considered as a package. Any reform, however, must take into account the principle of sovereign equality of states and equitable geographical distribution. There is also the need for transparency, accountability and democratization in the working methods and procedures of the Security Council, particularly in its decision-making process.
46. We stressed the importance for all states that have not signed or ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to do so. We urged all states to refrain from undertaking weaponization or deploying missiles to deliver nuclear weapons, and to prevent any transfer of nuclear weapon-related materials, technology and equipment. To this end, we called for the immediate commencement and early conclusion of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons purposes as an essential measure of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. We also called on the nuclear weapon states to make further efforts towards achieving the ultimate objective of eliminating nuclear weapons.
47. We noted the progress that has been made on the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and called on all states which had not ratified or acceded to the CWC to do so. Progress has also been made in the work on the protocol dealing with compliance and verification of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). To this end, we commended the work of the Ad Hoc Group of State Parties to the BWC.
48. We supported the ongoing negotiations to draft an international convention against organized transnational crime, as well as its supplementary protocols on addressing trafficking in women and children, and illegal trafficking in firearms. We urged the international community to focus its attention on the problem of transnational crime, and called on the UN to play the lead role in coordinating the efforts of Member States to deal with this problem.
49. We noted the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. We agreed to support initiatives to enhance international co-operation on demining, including training, and in the removal of unexploded ordinance as well as the rehabilitation of mine victims.
50. We recalled the decision of the 26th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting held on July 23-24 1993 in Singapore to consider the establishment of an appropriate regional mechanism on human rights and noted the establishment of the informal non- governmental Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism. The Working Group and ASEAN officials have met regularly since the 29th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta, most recently on July 22, 1999 in Singapore. We recognized the importance of continuing these dialogues.
International Economic Issues
51. We welcomed the improved outlook for world output growth and noted that significant challenges remain. We called upon the major countries to address the downside risks to the world output growth and to implement appropriate macroeconomic and structural measures. We emphasized the importance of open and competitive markets to sustain growth and stability and urged further market access for ASEAN exports. We welcomed China's commitment and effort to reform the financial sector and state-owned enterprise for sustainable development, and its continued pledge not to devalue its currency. We noted the signs of imminent recovery in Japan and welcomed Japan's continued efforts in putting in place measures to stimulate domestic demand-led growth. We noted with appreciation Japan's US$30 billion assistance to Asia through the Miyazawa initiative. We hoped the United States would direct policies at ensuring sustainable non-inflationary growth. We welcomed the launch of the Euro and looked forward to the increased role of the Euro in facilitating greater stability in international financial markets and urged Europe to implement policies to support domestic demand.
52. In this regard, we reiterated our support for the ASEAN consensus forged by the ASEAN Finance Ministers on the reform of the international financial architecture. We called for expeditious implementation of the concrete measures that have already achieved a high degree of consensus.
WTO
53. We looked forward to the 3RD WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in Seattle, USA on Nov. 30 - Dec. 3, 1999. This meeting would provide an important opportunity to shape the future work program of the WTO. We urged our officials to contribute positively towards the preparations underway in Geneva by submitting specific work proposals regarding the WTO's future work program, with a view to the early finalization of a substantive and balanced agenda for the Ministerial Conference.
54. We emphasized the importance of the membership of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam in the WTO and reiterated our full support for their early admission. We urged the WTO to expedite the accession process.
APEC
55. We are heartened by the signs of recovery in a number of APEC Members' economies but agreed that much still needs to be done to put in place measures that would facilitate a sustainable recovery. In this respect, we welcomed the significant capacity- building initiatives announced at the APEC Leaders Meeting in Kuala Lumpur last year.
56. We noted the continuous efforts to liberalize trade and investment and APEC's key role in strengthening the multilateral trading system. APEC has an important opportunity to make significant contributions to the WTO this year in the run-up to the 3rd WTO Ministerial Conference in Seattle. We pledged our support to New Zealand during its Chairmanship of APEC and expressed confidence that important outcomes would be achieved under its leadership.
ASEM
57. We were pleased by the strong registration of continued commitment and support towards the ASEM process at the 2nd ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting of March 29, 1999. We reaffirmed our determination to keep the ASEM process open and evolutionary. We acknowledged that changes in the global and regional landscapes of Asia and Europe had made it more important for both regions to strengthen existing co-operation, which would constitute the basis for a stable Asia-Europe new comprehensive partnership.