Manila Hosts ASEAN Meet

Philippine leader Gloria Arroyo. Manila will host on Sunday July 29, 2007 the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. The meeting will be participated by foreign ministers from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. (Mindanao Examiner Photo Service)

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 28 Jul) – Filipino Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo on Saturday said the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is close to realizing its goal of achieving a single ASEAN community as Manila hosts the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting.

Speaking at the closing session of the 40th ASEAN Standing Committee (ASC) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Romulo lauded the inroads achieved in the collective efforts to build a stronger and more modern ASEAN through the solid groundwork done by the ASC for the ministerial conference.

“Through your support and cooperation, ASEAN is one step closer towards full integration and transforming ASEAN into a more rules-based organization,” Romulo said.

The Philippine News Agency also said that the High Level Task Force (HLTF) on the Drafting of the ASEAN Charter will present a first draft for the deliberation of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers during the AMM.

The landmark document will embody the ideals and shared values of the ASEAN and identify compliance mechanisms, according to Romulo.
Security is tight during the four-day ASEAN meet which will begin Sunday and some 6,500 soldiers and policemen will be deployed to secure the delegates.

Police patrols have been going on a 24-hour basis around the PICC where the meeting would be held. Sniffing dogs will also be used extensively all throughout the conference. Since last week, traffic has been rerouted within the vicinity of the PICC complex.

The meeting will be participated by foreign ministers from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

It will be followed by the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMCs) to be attended by the ASEAN dialogue partners - Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Korea and the United States.

Seven other countries, Bangladesh, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka and Timor, will join the ASEAN and dialogue partners in the 14th ASEAN Regional Forum.

ASEAN Summit Performers Rush To Hospital

CEBU (Mindanao Examiner / 14 Jan) – Some 120 mostly students were rushed to hospital in Cebu island in the central Philippines after they fell ill from eating meals served by a private caterer, reports said Sunday.

The victims were to perform a dance number Sunday on the gala dinner for the heads of states that attended the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu. Reports said the victims puked and complained of stomach ache after eating the packed meals.

No government officials or summit organizers were immediately available to make a statement. Reports said the victims were taken to the Perpetual Succor Hospital in Cebu for treatment.

The Philippines hosted the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit which opened Wednesday in Cebu under tight security and shadow of possible terror attacks from the regional Jemaah Islamiya militants and al-Qaeda-affiliate Abu Sayyaf group.

President Gloria Arroyo said great stakes were involved in the continuing integration of the entire East Asia, which is driven by strong centripetal forces to close ranks for a safer and more secure community, open and equitable trade and cooperation in all fronts of energy development, and the prosperity of its diverse peoples.

Last year, Malaysia hosted the 11th ASEAN Summit and discussed seven main issues -- the spread of bird flu, southern Thailand conflict, democracy in Myanmar, crude oil prices fluctuation and poverty, investment and trade and an ASEAN charter.

The 12th ASEAN Summit was supposed to be held last month, but had been postponed because of a typhoon. The ASEAN is composed of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (Mindanao Examiner)

12th ASEAN Summit Begins In Cebu

CEBU (Mindanao Examiner / 10 Jan) – The 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit formally opened Wednesday in the central Filipino province of Cebu under tight security and shadow of possible terror attacks from the regional Jemaah Islamiya militants and al-Qaeda-affiliate Abu Sayyaf group.

Philippine authorities assured member nations that security is tight during the weeklong summit. Australia and other Western countries issued travel warning after citing intelligence reports that terrorists may be plotting to disrupt the Summit.

The ministerial meetings have begun and leaders were discussing issues that will further enhance cooperation, peace and economic development in Southeast Asia.

The two-day meetings held at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) and the Mactan Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa were ahead of the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit on Jan. 13-15.

Simultaneous conferences by the ASEAN senior economic officials and the special ASEAN Standing Committee (ASC) and a meeting of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam senior officials and the special ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) were also held on Wednesday.

President Gloria Arroyo said great stakes are involved in the continuing integration of the entire East Asia, which is driven by strong centripetal forces to close ranks for a safer and more secure community, open and equitable trade and cooperation in all fronts of energy development, and the prosperity of its diverse peoples.

“We face a great future in East Asia as a caring and sharing community, and this meeting of leaders will be another golden opportunity to carve out new directions of development across borders, fighting poverty and building coalitions of technology.”

“We stand at the threshold of great challenges and opportunities, and timely decisions will enable ASEAN and East Asia to seize the moment and the momentum to achieve broader human security, peace and prosperity at the grassroots of every village and community,” she said.

Ambassador Victoriano Lecaros, spokesman for the 12th ASEAN summit, said that the ministerial meetings will focus on various international and regional issues, review and discuss proposals to transform the vision of an ASEAN Community into a reality.

Parallel meetings with the ASEAN senior officials and economic ministers will be held on Thursday at Shangri-La Hotel where they will also meet with their counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea and India.

The ASEAN leaders, on the other hand, will also hold separate summits -- ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the 2nd East Asia Summit.Aside from the main summit meeting, the ASEAN leaders will also hold other summits, including the annual ASEAN sub-regional grouping’s summits such as the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area, the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle and the Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Grouping.

National Organizing Committee (NOC) Secretary General Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr. earlier said some 50 meetings would be conducted from Jan. 10-15.

The ASEAN Economic Ministers will also finalize seven documents for signing during the Summit. The blueprint -- which will focus on how ASEAN could benefit from the elimination of tariff for the ASEAN-6 by 2010 and for the new ASEAN members by 2015 -- is one of the most important documents to be signed by the leaders.

Over the years, ASEAN has seen the growth of regional networks of non-governmental organizations.

One of the most active of these groups is the ASEAN Peoples’ Assembly, which is an important partner of ASEAN in moving forward its integration initiatives. Arroyo has chosen the theme for the 12th ASEAN Summit, entitled “One Caring and Sharing Community.”

The theme will reflect the initiatives to be taken by the Philippines in ASEAN community building and common people’s participation. Last year, Malaysia hosted the 11th ASEAN Summit and discussed seven main issues -- the spread of bird flu, southern Thailand conflict, democracy in Myanmar, crude oil prices fluctuation and poverty, investment and trade and an ASEAN charter.

The 12th ASEAN Summit was supposed to be held last month, but had been postponed because of a typoon. The ASEAN is composed of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (Mindanao Examiner, with government media reports)

Sulu Sultan Calls On Muslims To Support 12th ASEAN Summit

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The influential Sultan of Sulu, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun, on Thursday called on Filipino Muslims to support the Philippine hosting of the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu province.

The four-day summit, beginning Dec. 10, will bring together the Economic Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to the central Filipino island where they are to sign the Blueprint on the Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015, five years ahead of the original target of 2020.

The ASEAN Economic Ministers will also finalize seven documents for signing during the Summit.

The blueprint -- which will focus on how ASEAN could benefit from the elimination of tariff for the ASEAN-6 by 2010 and for the new ASEAN members by 2015 -- is one of the most important documents to be signed by the leaders when they meet in Cebu.

Sultan Pulalun said the holding of the ASEAN Summit in Cebu only proves the Philippines continues to enjoy the support of the international business community and other nations and is a safe place for every body to go.

"We hope this historic event would be most remembered by many Filipinos that the Philippines is still strong and that our leaders continue to work for the country and everybody's benefit."

"I call on all Muslims in the Philippines and around the world to continue supporting the government effort for this ASEAN Summit to be successful and bring peace to all nations of the world, particularly in Asia," Sultan Pulalun, a peace advocate and active in humanitarian works, said.

The 50-year old Sultan said the Summit would further strengthen the relationship and foster unity among ASEAN member countries.

Over the years, ASEAN has seen the growth of regional networks of non-governmental organizations. One of the most active of these groups is the ASEAN Peoples’ Assembly, which is an important partner of ASEAN in moving forward its integration initiatives.

At the 12th ASEAN Summit, the Philippines will support the holding of the 5th ASEAN People’s Assembly, which coincides with the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit.

President Arroyo has chosen the theme for the 12th ASEAN Summit, entitled “One Caring and Sharing Community.” The theme will reflect the initiatives to be taken by the Philippines in ASEAN community building and common people’s participation.

Last year, Malaysia hosted the 11th ASEAN Summit and discussed seven main issues -- the spread of bird flu, southern Thailand conflict, democracy in Myanmar, crude oil prices fluctuation and poverty, investment and trade and an ASEAN charter.

This year, the Summit will be hosted by the Cebu Metropolitan Area, composed of Cebu City, Mandaue City, Talisay City and Lapu-Lapu City.

The ASEAN is composed of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.(Sammy Tanjil)

For Reference: Sammy Tanjil, Spokesman for the Sultanate of Sulu
Contact Number: +63 62 9841974
Mobile: +63920 3503428