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CONTINUING threats of terrorism, increased
radicalization in the region and potential use of
weapons of mass destruction by terrorists dominated the
discussions of the foreign ministers of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and their dialogue
partners at the Asean Post-Ministerial Meeting on
Wednesday.
Foreign
Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo called for greater
cooperation with the dialogue partners of the Asean to
fight terrorism during the luncheon meeting of the Asean
Post-Ministerial Conference.
Asean
foreign ministers held bilateral meetings with their
dialogue partners that include the
US,
European Union, Canada, Australia, Russia and New
Zealand.
Romulo
said that “global terrorism poses a serious threat to
all of us,” prompting the regional bloc to make
significant progress in building a common regional
defense against terrorism.
Romulo
said the Asean Convention on Counterterrorism adopted
during the Asean Summit in Cebu in December last year
was the first legally binding counterterrorism
cooperation in the region.
“This
milestone agreement combines Asean effort in effective
border control, control in the issuance of identity
papers and travel documents and other measures to
prevent the use of fake travel papers, capacity building
and intelligence exchange,” he said.
Romulo
stressed that the “Asean will also move forward with
other regional initiatives, including the Asean mutual
assistance treaty.
“We
will negotiate an Asean extradition treaty as well,”
said Romulo.
He said
that the Asean Conference on Counterterrorism held in
Jakarta two months ago was very helpful in crafting
future rules to address threats of terrorism.
“We
discussed the need to address emerging terrorism
challenges. The most pressing are increasing
radicalization denying terrorist access to weapons of
mass destruction and the cooperation on potentially
large- scale attacks.
Meanwhile, Japan expressed concern on the Philippine
government’s plan to intensify military operations in
Basilan, in the face of the beheading of 10 Marines in
that province.
Mitso
Sakaba, press secretary of the Japanese foreign
ministry, called for “moderation” on the part of the
government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“We feel
that while understanding the particular circumstances in
which the Philippine government suggests strong
measures, at the same time, we want to ask the
Philippine side and the other party, for more
moderation, not to make a recourse to strong actions.”
Sakaba
stressed that his government will not withdraw financial
assistance to Mindanao but stressed: “We don’t want to
see some extreme measures on any side of the parties
concerned and we will continue to extend our assistance
in the development of the region.”
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, meanwhile,
urged the Senate to ratify the Status of Forces
Agreement between Australia and the Philippines to
enable his country to assist Philippine military forces
in combating terrorists in Mindanao.
“I hope
that the status forces agreement would be concluded and
would be approved by the Senate,” said Downer at the
doorstep interview on Wednesday at the PICC. He said the
agreement allows Australia to provide military training
assistance to the members of the Armed Forces.
New
Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said his
government intends to increase financial assistance to
the Asean amid concerns of the leaders of the regional
bloc on border and other security issues.
“We look
at all aspects of security, will it be efforts to
curbing illegal trafficking, [implementing] border
control, aviation measures...intelligence-sharing,” said
Peters. |
