On 22 October 2009 at 1800 hrs., Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya gave a press briefing at Dusit Thani Hotel on the outcomes of the day’s ministerial meetings, namely the Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC), the Meeting of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers with the High Level Legal Experts Panel on Follow Up to the ASEAN Charter (HLEG), and the Meeting of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council (ASCC). Gist of the briefing is as follows:
ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC)
The Meeting prepared for the 15th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits and considered matters relating to the operations of the ASEAN Secretariat.
On the preparation for the Summits, the Meeting finalized the Programme, the Topics of Discussions as well as List of Outcome Documents. As of now, there are 43 documents to be signed, adopted or noted by Leaders, Foreign Ministers, Economic Ministers and Socio-Cultural Ministers.
Some of the key documents for Leaders include:
- The Declaration on the Inauguration of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights;
- The Declaration on Strengthening Education Cooperation;
- ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change;
- ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on ASEAN Connectivity;
- Statement on ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation on Food Security and Bio-energy Development;and
- East Asia Summit Statement on Disaster Management.
The Foreign Ministers will also sign the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of ASEAN as well as the MOU on Establishing an ASEAN-China Centre.
On the operations of the ASEAN Secretariat, the Meeting considered two Reports presented by the Secretary-General on the operations of the ASEAN Secretariat and on the progress made in the implementation of the Roadmap to an ASEAN Community.
The Meeting also approved the ASEAN Secretariat Budget for 2010 financial year and the proposed appointment of H.E. Mr. Bagas Hapsoro of Indonesia for the post of Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs.
In response to the recent natural disasters that struck many countries in the region, the Ministers underlined the need to strengthen cooperation in the area of disaster relief and humanitarian response, in order to enhance ASEAN’s capacity to respond to disasters in a more timely and effective manner. These include close cooperation with the military and the civil society.
The Meeting also reiterated ASEAN’s commitment to narrowing the development gap in ASEAN under the so-called ASEAN Initiative for ASEAN Integration with a task force chaired by Vietnam. The tri-partite mechanism in coordinating the humanitarian assistance for the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar will be used as the model to improve coordination of development projects in the region.
The Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN have been entrusted to consider further improvements on how to work together to face the challenges of disaster management, including the tri-partite mechanism.
Meeting with the High Level Legal Experts Panel on Follow Up to the ASEAN Charter (HLEG)
During the Meeting with the HLEG, the Ministers took note of the draft Protocol on ASEAN Dispute Settlement Mechanism (DSM) which will be further discussed during the Foreign Ministers Informal Working Dinner. This will be a useful mechanism to allow ASEAN to resolve disputes on a rules-based basis and with certain finality. It is expected that each Member State will have to proceed with its domestic process with a view to signing this Protocol next year. The HLEG has also been tasked to continue their work until December 2009 to finalise the rules and procedures on good offices for mediation and reconciliation.
The draft Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of ASEAN which has been agreed upon by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Phuket will also be signed on 25 October.
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council (ASCC)
The Meeting approved 3 documents to be signed or adopted by the ASEAN Leaders, namely the Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation on Education to Achieve an ASEAN Caring and Sharing Community; the ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change; and the Terms of Reference for the Establishment of the ASEAN Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children.
The Meeting also discussed further cultural cooperation to help build an ASEAN community and enhance connectivity between peoples of ASEAN.
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