During the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, Post Ministerial Conferences and 16th ASEAN Regional Forum, over twenty documents (see overleaf) are scheduled to be signed or adopted. Among these, the main documents are as follows:
1.Joint Communique of the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (to be adopted by ASEAN Foreign Ministers on 20 July 2009) — the Joint Communique will emphasize the implementation of the ASEAN Charter and establishment of the ASEAN Community by 2015, the promotion of regional cooperation in solving current regional and global problems i.e. the global economic and financial crisis, enhancing food and energy security, the environment and disaster management; and prevention and control of pandemic diseases. Also, the Joint Communique will reflect the enhancement of relations with Dialogue Partners.
2.Terms of Reference (ToR) of an ASEAN Human Rights Body (to be adopted by ASEAN Foreign Ministers at the 42nd AMM on 20 July 2009). The ToR has been drafted as part of the implementation of Article 14 of the ASEAN Charter which came into effect in December 2008. Once the ToR is approved by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers, the ASEAN human rights body is then expected to be formally announced at the 15th ASEAN Summit in October 2009.
3. ARF Vision Statement (to be adopted by ARF Foreign Ministers at the 16th ARF on 23 July 2009). Initiated by Thailand as the Chairman of the ARF, the Statement includes measures to enhance cooperation and promote a more effective and efficient security partnership among ARF members.
4. Instruments of Accession and Extension to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) of the United States of America. The instruments are legal documents that would enable the US to accede to the TAC, the purpose of which is to promote perpetual peace and everlasting amity and cooperation among ASEAN Member States and the countries acceding to the Treaty.
5. ARF Work Plan on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (to be adopted by ARF Foreign Ministers at the 16th ARF on 23 July 2009). The Work Plan is considered a long-term strategy of ARF to deal with terrorism and transnational crime in all dimensions and in cooperation with other international forums. Particular emphasis is placed on drugs, biological terrorism and biological security as well as computer security and computer terrorism.
6. ARF Work Plan on Disaster Relief (to be adopted by ARF Foreign Ministers at the 16th ARF on 23 July 2009). The Work Plan is aimed at preparing and strengthening ARF countries in effective and fast disaster relief before, during and after all incidents, through enhanced coordinated efforts, technical assistance and exchange of information and best practices.
7. Rules of Procedure for the ASEAN Political-Security Community Council (APSC). APSC is one of the three pillars of the ASEAN Community. The Rules of Procedure are intended to facilitate the APSC in functioning more efficiently and effectively.
8. Guidelines for Accession to the 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia and Annex (to be adopted by ASEAN Foreign Ministers on 20 July 2009). Given the increasing number of countries desiring to accede to the TAC, the guidelines aim to serve as standard operating procedures and criteria for ASEAN in considering a country outside the region to accede to the Treaty and implement all the stipulations contained therein.
9. ASEAN Work Plan on Maintaining and Enhancing ASEAN Centrality. The Work Plan would seek to maintain ASEAN’s centrality and role in regional affairs.
(For further details and full versions of some documents listed above can be found at www.42ammpmc.org)
(as of 16 July 2009)
List of Outcome Documents
to be Signed/Adopted/Noted
during the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting/Post Ministerial Conferences/
16th ASEAN Regional Forum
1. Documents to be Adopted by ASEAN Foreign Ministers
1.1 Joint Communique of the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting
1.2 ASEAN Work Plan on Maintaining and Enhancing ASEAN Centrality
1.3 Guidelines for Accession to the 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and Annex
1.4 Terms of Reference of [an ASEAN Human Rights Body]
1.5 Rules of Procedure for the ASEAN Political-Security Community Council
1.6 Rules of Procedure of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN
1.7 Guidelines for Accreditation of Ambassadors to ASEAN from Non-ASEAN Member States and Relevant Inter-Governmental Organizations
2. Documents to be Adopted/Noted by the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum
2.1 ARF Vision Statement
2.2 Improving ARF Working Methods
2.3 ARF Work Plan on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime
2.4 ARF Work Plan on Disaster Relief
2.5 ARF Annual Security Outlook
2.6 ARF SOM Report
3. Documents to be Signed by Foreign Ministers
3.1 Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on the Second Phase of the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program (AADCP II)
4. PMC Document to be Adopted by Foreign Ministers
4.1 Joint Declaration on ASEAN-Canada Enhanced Partnership
4.2 Priorities for Cooperation under the ASEAN-US Enhanced Partnership
5. Documents to be Issued by the Chairman
5.1 ASEAN Chairman’s Statement on the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC) +1 Sessions
5.2 Chairman’s Statement on the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum
5.3 Chairman’s Statement on the 10th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
5.4 Chairman’s Statement on the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Informal Consultations
6. TAC Documents to be Signed by Foreign Ministers
6.1 Instruments of Accession and Extension to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia of the United States of America
7. Document to be signed by the Secretary-General of ASEAN
7.1 Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishing of the ASEAN Centre in Moscow
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th