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July
VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has emphasized that the five-point consensus (5PC) must continue to be the reference for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in handling the Myanmar crisis.
"The 5PC is the main reference, and the implementation of the 5PC should remain the focus of ASEAN," she noted in her opening remarks at the retreat session of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The consensus calls for an immediate end to violence, the holding of dialogue among all parties concerned, the appointment of ASEAN's special envoy to facilitate mediation, the provision of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, and the ASEAN special envoy's visit to Myanmar to meet with the parties concerned.
Marsudi noted that ASEAN leaders in Phnom Penh have stated that any other effort must support the implementation of the 5PC.
ASEAN was divided when the Thai government last month held a meeting inviting representatives of Myanmar's junta, which has been excluded from ASEAN meetings since the February 2021 coup.
Several ASEAN member countries refused to attend the meeting.
According to Thailand, dialogue with the junta is necessary to protect its country, which shares a long border with Myanmar.
Indonesia, as the ASEAN chair this year, has conducted more than 110 intensive engagements with stakeholders in Myanmar so far.
"This is a very complex exercise, and it is not easy at all," Marsudi underlined.
She stressed that dialogue should be encouraged in engagements with parties in Myanmar, as it will pave the way to a political solution.
Only a political solution would lead to lasting peace, she affirmed.
At Wednesday's event, Marsudi also expressed concern over the continuing and increasing violence in Myanmar, adding that Indonesia strongly condemns the use of force and violence in the country.
To this end, Indonesia is urging all stakeholders to denounce violence, which is deemed to be the key to building trust, delivering humanitarian assistance, and conducting dialogue.
Furthermore, she drew attention to the progress achieved regarding humanitarian assistance.
Marsudi expressed hope that the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre)'s access to reach people in need would be further granted, including in Magway and Sagaing. (Antaranews)
July
VOINews, Jakarta - Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to unite in order to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.
He affirmed that ASEAN should demonstrate its strong commitment to resolving maritime disputes that are plaguing the waters.
“We should reaffirm our commitment. We should bring everyone together to show that we are united,” Kadir told journalists after a meeting on the occasion of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He noted that the issue was discussed at the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Baku, Azerbaijan, on July 5, 2023.
The minister stated that Malaysia aimed to persuade the movement to participate in the efforts to maintain stability at sea.
However, NAM rejected ASEAN’s proposals concerning the South China Sea in the final meeting document, following objections conveyed by several countries that consider themselves unrelated to the South China Sea, he added.
“It seems that ASEAN’s efforts have not been considered by NAM. I believe that ASEAN has lost its relevance in NAM, and vice versa,” Kadir stated.
Several countries have been involved in the struggle for territorial sovereignty over the South China Sea, which is believed to have abundant energy resources.
China claims sovereignty over the majority of the waters based on a nine-dash line that stretches over 1,500 kilometers from its land.
However, in 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated the claim, stating that it lacked a legal basis.
Claims of sovereignty over parts of the sea have also been made by Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. (Antaranews)
July
VOINews, Jakarta - Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to unite in order to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.
He affirmed that ASEAN should demonstrate its strong commitment to resolving maritime disputes that are plaguing the waters.
“We should reaffirm our commitment. We should bring everyone together to show that we are united,” Kadir told journalists after a meeting on the occasion of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He noted that the issue was discussed at the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Baku, Azerbaijan, on July 5, 2023.
The minister stated that Malaysia aimed to persuade the movement to participate in the efforts to maintain stability at sea.
However, NAM rejected ASEAN’s proposals concerning the South China Sea in the final meeting document, following objections conveyed by several countries that consider themselves unrelated to the South China Sea, he added.
“It seems that ASEAN’s efforts have not been considered by NAM. I believe that ASEAN has lost its relevance in NAM, and vice versa,” Kadir stated.
Several countries have been involved in the struggle for territorial sovereignty over the South China Sea, which is believed to have abundant energy resources.
China claims sovereignty over the majority of the waters based on a nine-dash line that stretches over 1,500 kilometers from its land.
However, in 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated the claim, stating that it lacked a legal basis.
Claims of sovereignty over parts of the sea have also been made by Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. (Antaranews)
July
VOINews, Jakarta - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must preserve credibility if it wants to continue to maintain its unity and centrality, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi stressed on Tuesday.
"This means consistent implementation of the ASEAN Charter, including on decision-making processes in emergency situations," she said while delivering her opening remarks at the plenary session of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) here.
According to her, only with unity will ASEAN be able to answer and anticipate the challenges in the future.
She further emphasized the importance of ASEAN navigating regional dynamics.
"We need to send a clear message that ASEAN will never be a proxy in great powers' rivalry," she said, adding that all ASEAN dialogue partners must abide by the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).
ASEAN must be at the forefront of building an inclusive regional architecture that is based on peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, she emphasized.
To this end, ASEAN needs to expand inclusive engagement with other regions, including with the Pacific Islands Forum and the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
"Further, we need to move beyond confidence-building measures and take bold step to deter any potential conflicts and aggressively waging for peace through preventive diplomacy," the minister said.
"Only through this can ASEAN continue to matter and become the epicentrum of growth," she added.
The series of the 56th AMM is been attended by almost all ASEAN member countries and Timor Leste.
There are no representatives from Myanmar, which has not resolved its political crisis, joining the ASEAN meeting as the country has not sent its non-political representatives. (Antaranews)