|
SINGAPORE (via PLDT)—Heads of state of the Asean and the
European Union Thursday marked the thirtieth year of
their ties with a commitment to further enhance their
partnership through a five-year master plan, consolidate
support for the UN-proposed solution to the Myanmar
problem, and expand cooperation in environmental
protection.
In the
Joint Declaration of the Asean-EU Commemorative Summit
in Singapore, Asean and the EU committed to the
“Asean-EU Plan of Action to Implement the Nuremberg
Declaration on an EU-Asean Enhanced Partnership.”
The plan
of action, to be implemented from 2007-2012, is expected
to support Asean integration by helping in the
establishment of an Asean Community by 2015.
A good
part of the declaration was devoted to environmental
concerns and the Myanmar problem, reflecting the
regional blocs’ pressing concerns.
“In
light of the recent events in Myanmar, the Asean and the
EU actively support the good offices mission of the UN
secretary-general and the efforts of the
secretary-general’s Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari to
bring about an inclusive and comprehensive process of
genuine national reconciliation and peaceful transition
to democracy,” the declaration said.
They
welcomed the decision of the Myanmar government “to step
up its engagement with the UN and to enter into a
dialogue” with Suu Kyi “but, at the same time, called
for the release of political detainees in Myanmar and
the early lifting of restrictions placed on political
parties.”
They
also affirmed their willingness to help respond to the
humanitarian needs of the Myanmar people “and to respond
constructively to political transformation and reform,
including Myanmar’s long-term development needs.”
The
Asean and the EU committed to address climate change in
accordance with the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change, reduce air pollution, and promote the
use of renewable and alternative energy sources while
contributing to sustainable development and improved
energy security.
This
will be done through an Asean-EU policy dialogue on
energy as well as through other regional fora such as
the Asean Regional Forum.
The
Asean and EU also committed to speedy negotiations on
the Asean-EU free-trade Agreement “based on a
region-to-region approach, mindful of the different
levels of development and capacity of individual Asean
countries”; and agreed to “work closely to ensure an
ambitious, balanced and comprehensive conclusion of the
Doha Development Agenda as priority for both Asean and
the EU.”
They
also expressed support for the implementation of the UN
Global Counter Terrorism Strategy, an early conclusion
of a UN Comprehensive Convention on International
Terrorism, the Asean Convention on Counter Terrorism,
and the implementation of the Asean-EU Joint Declaration
on Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism.
They
will also “explore cooperation to promote disarmament
and nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and
their means of delivery”, and agreed to look for
measures to protect migrant workers’ rights.
President Arroyo skipped the Asean-EU commemorative
summit to attend to typhoon victims in Surigao del
Norte.
She was
represented by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo.
|
