Friday 18 November 2011

PIA News Dispatch - Friday, November 18, 2011

ASEAN leaders sign 'Bali Concord III'

BALI, Indonesia (via PLDT-Smart)
– President Benigno S. Aquino III joined his fellow leaders in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in signing the “Bali Concord III” containing their commitment in playing a very important role in efforts to deal with the increasing challenges globally.

The signing ceremonies took place at the Nusa Dua Room 5 of the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, here, Thursday on day two of the ongoing 19th Asean Summit and Related Summits.

Joining President Aquino in signing the Bali Concord 3 also known as the Bali Declaration on Asean Community in a Global Community of Nations were Prime Minister Samdeck Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen of Cambodia, Sultan Hajji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong of Laos, President U Thein Sein of Myanmar, Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung of Vietnam and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia.

The Bali Concord III focuses to the three pillars of the Asean namely politics and security, economy and socio-culture.

For politics and security cooperation, the declaration deals with conflict resolution, transnational crime and piracy eradication, corruption eradication and nuclear disarmament, among others.

In the field of economy it calls for ASEAN's participation in the global economy, the strengthening of the ASEAN economy, adoption of production standards and economic commodity distribution, access improvement and technology application, agricultural investment increase and energy diversification.

The socio-cultural pillar covers the issues of natural disaster mitigation and management, climate change, health, education and culture.

The declaration also reaffirms the regional bloc’s commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international laws which they subscribed to.

Also, their commitment to the purposes and principles enshrined in the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok, 1967); the Declaration on the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (Kuala Lumpur, 1971); the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the ASEAN Concord (Bali, 1976), the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (Bangkok, 1995), the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II (Bali, 2003), and the ASEAN Charter ASEAN LEADERS SIGNS ‘BALI CONCORD III'

BALI, Indonesia (via PLDT-Smart) – President Benigno S. Aquino III joined his fellow leaders in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in signing the “Bali Concord III” containing their commitment in playing a very important role in efforts to deal with the increasing challenges globally.

The signing ceremonies took place at the Nusa Dua Room 5 of the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, here, Thursday on day two of the ongoing 19th Asean Summit and Related Summits.

Joining President Aquino in signing the Bali Concord 3 also known as the Bali Declaration on Asean Community in a global community of Nations were Prime Minister Samdeck Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen of Cambodia, Sultan Hajji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong of Laos, President U Thein Sein of Myanmar, Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung of Vietnam and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia.

The Bali Concord III focuses to the three pillars of the Asean namely politics and security, economy and socio-culture.

For politics and security cooperation, the declaration deals with conflict resolution, transnational crime and piracy eradication, corruption eradication and nuclear disarmament, among others.

In the field of economy it calls for ASEAN's participation in the global economy, the strengthening of the ASEAN economy, adoption of production standards and economic commodity distribution, access improvement and technology application, agricultural investment increase and energy diversification.

The socio-cultural pillar covers the issues of natural disaster mitigation and management, climate change, health, education and culture.


The declaration also reaffirms the regional bloc’s commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and International laws which they subscribed to.

Also, their commitment to the purposes and principles enshrined in the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok, 1967); the Declaration on Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (Kuala Lumpur, 1971); the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the ASEAN Concord (Bali, 1976); the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (Bangkok, 1995); the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II (Bali, 2003) and the ASEAN Charter (Singapore, 2007).

Prior to the signing of the Bali Concord III, the leaders of the ten ASEAN-member nations also witnessed the signing of two documents by their respective ministers, which include the agreement of the ASEAN Foreign Minister for the establishment of an ASEAN Coordination Center for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management and the Declaration on ASEAN Unity In Cultural Diversity. (PCOO)

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ASEAN leaders approve Myanmar as chair in 2014

BALI, Indonesia (via PLDT-Smart)
– President Benigno S. Aquino III and his fellow leaders in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), participating in the 19th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits here, has reached a consensus approving Myanmar’s chairmanship of the regional bloc in the year 2014.

This was relayed to the members of the international media covering the ASEAN event by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa during a press conference, Thursday at the second day of the summit, here.

''I can confirm that the leaders of ASEAN, having received the recommendations by ASEAN foreign ministers, have formally expressed the view and reached their consensus that designates Myanmar as chair of ASEAN in 2014,'' Natalegawa said.

The decision was reached in consideration of the “significant changes” in Myanmar that serves as encouraging points for its fellow ASEAN-member nations.

''Those changes have made it more conducive for Myanmar to carry this responsibility,'' Natalegawa said.

The Indonesian foreign affairs official said that the confirmation of Myanmar’s ASEAN chairmanship ensures that the process of change in the country continues.

''What the leaders are doing now by confirming Myanmar's designation as chair of ASEAN in 2014, we are trying to ensure that the process of change continues, the momentum is maintained," Natalegawa noted.

From a military form of government, Myanmar is now being ruled by a democratic government.

Myanmar agreed to forego its ASEAN chairmanship in 2006 because some ASEAN members during that time feared that the then junta-led government's chairmanship would affect ASEAN's international standing.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has expressed support to the bid of Timor Leste to be included in the ASEAN. An ASEAN working group will be looking into the readiness of Timor Leste in joining the regional grouping.

Prior to the formal opening of the summit, Timor Leste had already submitted its revised proposal of formal application for full membership to 2011’s ASEAN Chair, Indonesia. (PCOO)

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Aquino, Obama hold bilateral talk in Bali

BALI, Indonesia (via PLDT-Smart)
– President Benigno S. Aquino III was commended by United States President Barack Obama for his leadership and “reforms” in government at the start of their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 19th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits, here.

In his opening statement that took place at the grand ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Bali hotel, Friday morning, Obama cited the long-standing relationship between the two countries and the alliance showing that “their looking out for each other”.

“I just want to commend President Aquino for his leadership and his reform efforts. I think our relationship that is already very strong can only become stronger,” Obama said.

“More importantly, we have incredible person-to-person relationship between our two counties,” he added.

The US President said that, apart from further deepening the relationship between the two countries, the meeting also serves as an opportunity to discuss matters in the summits’ agenda that include maritime security and non-proliferation, among others.

President Aquino, for his part, thanked President Obama for the opportunity to tackle and share their thoughts on a wide range of topics as he expressed hopes of strengthening relations amid serious global concerns.

“Thank you, Mr. President, for granting this opportunity to share our viewpoints and talk on a wide range of issues. It’s true we’ve had one of the longest relationships based on shared values and history and in these turbulent times we look forward to strengthening it,” President Aquino said.

Present during the event for the Philippine side were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Philippine Ambassasdor to the US Jose Cuisia Jr. Also present were US officials led by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The two leaders are co-hosting the Asean-US Leaders’ Summit slated on Friday afternoon. (PCOO)