PRESS RELEASE
Department
of Foreign Affairs
2330 Roxas
Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines
*
Tel. No. 834-4000
* www.dfa.gov.ph
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No. 301
18 June 2003,
Phnom Penh, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
STATES SHOULD
INSTITUTIONALISE COOPERATION AGAINST TERRORISM – OPLE;
RP SELECTED TO CO-CHAIR ARF MEETING ON TERRORISM
Addressing
the 22 other foreign ministers of the countries participating in
the ASEAN Regional Forum, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas
F. Ople said that the countries of the world should continue to
strengthen the legal framework of their cooperation against terrorism.
This
was the main theme of Secretary Ople’s intervention when the gathered
foreign ministers and heads of delegation attending the ARF discussed
the Agenda Item on Terrorism.
While
acknowledging that international cooperation in fighting terrorism
has been unprecedented, Secretary Ople told the ARF that much remains
to be done. He said that “We
must continue to strengthen the legal framework of our cooperation. We must try to institutionalise our work,
not only to symbolize our resolve, but also to help ensure greater
continuity. We must pool our resources
and efforts through unparalleled acts of solidarity and cooperation.”
Almost
all of the foreign ministers present spoke on this agenda item,
emphasizing their own actions to fight terrorism.
Secretary Ople said that the Philippines welcomes “the many
bilateral and subregional agreements to combat terrorism.” Pointing to the Philippine’s own regional
initiative, the Secretary said “Our own counter-terrorism agreement
with Indonesia and Malaysia have been joined by Thailand and Cambodia,
while others have expressed great interest in acceding to the agreement.”
Secretary
Ople ended his intervention by calling on all states not to amplify
the damage done by terrorists by avoiding demonizing any faith or
religion. He said that one way to do
this is to foster interfaith dialogue.
“We believe that an interfaith council in the United Nations
could help bridge the gap that terrorist exploit and hope to widen,”
the Secretary added.
As
a result of the discussions, the ARF participants reaffirmed their
resolve to strengthen their cooperation in the fight against
international terrorism. They also acknowledged that international
terrorism continued to menace the security of nations and peoples
around the world. The ARF participants adopted two statements on
counter-terrorism cooperation, one on border security, the other
one on piracy and other threats to maritime security.
Based
on the leadership that the Philippines has shown in promoting
international cooperation in combating terrorism, the ARF participants
have selected the country to co-chair the second ARF Intersessional
Support Meeting on Counter-terrorism and Transnational Crime (ISM
on CT-TC). Russia will co-chair this meeting.
The ISM on CT-TC is scheduled to be held next year and the
Philippines has offered to host this meeting.
The
ARF is the sole regional platform for security and political
discussions. This forum groups the
ten ASEAN member countries with Australia, Canada, China, the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea, the European Union, India, Japan, Mongolia,
New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and
the United States.
The
ARF met in Phom Penh, following the annual meeting yesterday of the
ASEAN Foreign Ministers. END.