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.