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Joint Statement The Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting Commemorating The First Bali Summit Meeting
Manila, 24 February 1977 |
- The Special Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers was held in Manila on 24 February 1977 to commemorate the first anniversary of the Meeting of ASEAN Heads of Government held in Bali on 23 - 24 February 1976. The Meeting was attended by His Excellency Mr. Adam Malik, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, His Excellency Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malaysia; His Excellency Mr. S. Rajaratnam, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore; His Excellency Dr. Upadit Pachariyangkun, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and His Excellency General Carlos P. Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. His Excellency Mr. Hartono Rekso Dharsono, Secretary-General of the ASEAN Secretariat, was also present.
- His Excellency, President Ferdinand Marcos of the Republic of the Philippines addressed the Meeting.
- President Marcos expressed satisfaction ,over the progress made in the implementation of various ASEAN projects including the Agreement on ASEAN Preferential Trading Arrangements. The Agreement, he said, provided the needed impetus in strengthening the economic foundation of ASEAN and hoped that it could be effected immediately. He commended the Foreign Ministers and the Economic Ministers for their excellent performance.
- The President urged ASEAN to expand its external relations and in particular, in holding meetings at Summit level with interested countries as soon as possible.
- He exhorted the ASEAN to strive for the greater realization of its objectives and goals to bring about the transformation of Southeast Asia into a region of peace and progress.
- The ASEAN Foreign Ministers reaffirmed the commitments of their governments to the aims and purposes of ASEAN and in particular to the decisions of the Meeting of the ASEAN Heads of Government in Bali. They noted that much progress had been achieved towards the fulfillment of programmes of action in the Declaration of ASEAN Concord particularly in the field Of economic cooperation. They expressed satisfaction over the agreement on the mutual extension of assistance, especially during times of emergency on the supply and purchase of basic commodities particularly food and energy, and the progress towards the establishment of the first five ASEAN. industrial projects. They reaffirmed the determination of the Association to accelerate the implementation of the programme of action of the ASEAN Concord.
- The Foreign Ministers signed the Agreement on the Establishment of ASEAN Preferential Trading Arrangements together with the Rules of Origin which have been negotiated by the ASEAN Economic Ministers.
- The Foreign Ministers welcomed the inauguration of the formal dialogue between ASEAN and Canada which, together with those being con ducted between ASEAN and the EEC, Australia and New Zealand are aimed at developing mutually beneficial relationships between ASEAN and these countries.
- They welcomed the forthcoming dialogues with Japan and the United States of America. They reaffirmed that ASEAN is ready to conduct similar dialogue with all other countries , groups of countries, and international organizations.
- The Foreign Ministers agreed on a joint approach to the US on the limitation of US tax deferral for foreign income of US companies overseas.
- In keeping with recent developments in ASEAN, the Foreign Ministers agreed on the need to review the existing framework of the Association. They instructed their Senior Officials to urgently study and make appropriate recommendations, on a new constitutional framework for ASEAN.
- The Foreign Ministers reviewed developments on the proposed Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality. They reaffirmed their determination to pursue its realization and directed the Senior officials to continue their work in this regard.
- The Foreign Ministers agreed to recommend the convening of A Second Meeting of their Heads of Government in Kuala Lumpur in August to coincide with the Tenth Anniversary of the founding of ASEAN.
- The Foreign Ministers expressed their appreciation to the people and Government of the Philippines for the excellent arrangements made for the Meeting.
- The Meeting was, held in the traditional spirit of ASEAN cordiality.
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