ASEAN TO TAKE MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN ADDRESSING THE SITUATION ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA

Press Release No. 031-03
27 January 2003

ASEAN TO TAKE MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN ADDRESSING THE SITUATION ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA - OPLE

Brussels, 27 January 2003 - The Foreign Ministers of ASEAN, who are currently in Brussels for the 14th ASEAN-European Union Ministerial Meeting, met this morning to discuss two issues of serious international concern: The situation on the Korean peninsula and Iraq.

During their meeting, Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople supported a proposal for the ASEAN to take on a more active role in hoping to address the situation on the Korean peninsula.

“There was a clear understanding during our meeting this morning that ASEAN must take a more active role in dealing with the Korean peninsula issue. We recognized that the situation is serious and must be addressed. We agreed on specific diplomatic initiatives that ASEAN will be taking. These are initiatives that the Philippines will fully support,” Secretary Ople said.

However, Secretary Ople declined to reveal the details of the specific diplomatic initiatives to be taken, saying that “while it is desirable to continue to inform the public of our common actions on this important issue, I believe that the chances of success of ASEAN’s diplomatic initiatives will be greatly enhanced if we proceed on the basis of quiet diplomacy, even though the issue is potentially explosive.”

Aside from the Korean peninsula issue, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers also took up the issue of Iraq. “There was a common understanding that ASEAN strongly prefers a peaceful solution to this problem and that it is our hope that this issue be viewed by all in a calm and objective manner. We also recognized that some of our members have large numbers of workers in the Middle East and that every precaution must be taken to ensure their safety. However, there was also recognition that Iraq should comply with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” Secretary Ople said.

After a rather involved discussion on Iraq, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers reiterated their decision to hold, on short notice, an extraordinary meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers in case of any military action against Iraq. “We will meet to discuss what actions ASEAN can take in case of a war in Iraq. All of us do not want to see a war in Iraq, but we agreed that we should meet and discuss our options in case of such a development,” Secretary Ople said.

This afternoon, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers will meet with their EU counterparts. Secretary Ople is also scheduled to have bilateral meetings with a number of EU Foreign Ministers. END.