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Joint Statement on Political Issues
Kuala Lumpur, 8 March 1980 |
- On the occasion of the Second ASEAN - EEC Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on 7 - 8 March, 1980, the Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN member states and the Foreign Ministers of the member-states of the European Community held informal meetings during which they conducted an intensive exchange of views on regional and international problems and developments since their meeting in Brussels in November, 1978. They reaffirmed their commitment to world peace, international cooperation and understanding, economic development, social justice and human rights. They further emphasized the need for all states to observe strictly the following principles; respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of states; non-resort to force or threat of the use of force and non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. They agreed that these principles are of vital importance to inter-state relations. The discussions took place in a spirit of great cordiality and mutual friendship.
- The Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN member-states and the Foreign Ministers of the member-states of the European Community, having analyzed current international developments, expressed deep concern over the emergence of new and dangerous sources of tension, at a time when no solutions have been found for other serious difficulties already posing formidable problems. They noted that the tension and the difficulties are focused mainly in regions of the Third World here a climate of peace and international cooperation is indispensable to the achievements of progress in the economic and social fields. They urged the international community, especially the United Nations and its Secretary-General to work actively for the resolution of problems in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter.
- The Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN member-states and the Foreign Ministers of the member-states of the European Community expressed great concern over open armed interventions by foreign powers against two non-aligned countries in Asia, namely the continuing Vietnamese intervention in Kampuchea and the Soviet military intervention in Afghan. They strongly deplored the armed interventions against these two countries, which have as a common denominator the imposition of will on small independent states by foreign powers through the use of force in open violation of international law, thereby threatening international peace and security. They called for an early implementation of United Nations General Assembly Resolutions No. 34/22 of 14 November 1979 and No. ES-6/2 of 14 January, 1980 including total withdrawal of foreign forces from Kampuchea and Afghanistan.
- The Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN member-states and the Foreign Ministers of the member-states of the European Community deplored the denial of self-determination to the peoples of Kampuchea and of Afghanistan who should be allowed to decide their political future without foreign interference, coercion or intimidation. They further expressed their deep concern for the suffering of the Kampuchean and Afghan peoples, who have been forced to leave their countries on account of external aggression and for whom material assistance is now essential for their survival.
- The Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN member-states and the Foreign Ministers of the member-states of the European Community, taking into consideration the results of the Meeting of the Nine in Rome on 19 February, 1980 and the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad on 27 - 29 January 1980, appealed to all states to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and non-aligned character of Afghanistan. in this context, they took the that the crisis could be overcome constructively through the emergence of a neutral, non-aligned Afghanistan, outside competition among the powers.
- The Foreign Minister, of the ASEAN member-states and the Foreign Ministers of the member--states of the European Community noted with deep concern that the peoples in the Indo- Chinese peninsula, after many years of war and suffering, have yet to find peace and that this dangerous situation may be aggravated and spread to neighbouring countries. They agreed that peace and stability in Southeast- Asia are essential. However this and the establishment of friendly and cooperative relations among all the states of the region depend upon a political solution to the Kampuchean question on the basis of the withdrawal of foreign forces from Kampuchea, and self-determination for the Kampuchean people. They called for the early establishment of an independent and neutral Kampuchea with a genuinely representative government, free of all foreign military presence and maintaining friendly and peaceful relations with all countries in the region. They also emphasized the necessity of strict observance of non-interference in all forms in the internal affairs of states in Southeast Asia, They strongly urged the parties involved, and all countries in a position to bring influence to bear on them, to exert utmost efforts in order to avert the possible spillover of hostilities into neighbouring ASEAN countries and widening the area of conflict.
- To solve on a political basis the Kampuchean problem, the Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN member-states and the Foreign Ministers of the member-states of the European Community appealed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations to explore all possibilities contained in the Resolution on Kampuchea adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 14 November 1979. These possibilities include the convening of an international conference on Kampuchea and the Foreign Ministers strongly urged all parties concerned to work for it. The Foreign Ministers of the member-states of the European Community expressed firm support for the ASEAN proposal for a greater international presence on the Thai- Kampuchean border in order to defuse the explosive situation, pending on overall political solution, to the Kampuchean problem. Together with the Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN member- states, they appealed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and other parties concerned to give strong support to increase the number of personnel of the United Nations and of relief agencies along the critical border areas and to consider the stationing of United Nations observers on the Thai side of the border.
- The Foreign Ministers of the member-states of the European Community expressed their appreciation that in calling for a political solution to the Kampuchean problem, the ASEAN member-countries were motivated by the desire to ensure that all countries of the region can enjoy peace and stability, based on the respect for the principles of the peaceful settlement of disputes, non-interference in the internal affairs of other states and freedom from subversion or coercion by outside powers, and the desire to secure Southeast Asia as a region free from interference by outside powers.
- The Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN member-states further urged the international community to mobilize additional resources for increased quotas and speedier resettlement of Indo- Chinese "land" and "boat" cases in order to relieve the political, economic and social pressure being created by these refugees on ASEAN countries. Noting the generous international response at the UN Meeting on Refugees and Displaced Persons in Southeast Asia, held in Geneva in July 1979, and the United Nations Pledging Conference for Emergency Relief of the People of Kampuchea in November 1979, the Foreign Ministers of the European Community reaffirmed the intention of the European Community and of its member-states which have contributed to the international efforts to solve the problem - to pursue further their action towards this goal and appealed to other states and organizations to continue their efforts in that direction. They expressed their appreciation that the ASEAN countries and other territories of first refuge in the region have admitted refugees/displaced persons from the Indo-Chinese peninsular on humanitarian grounds. They noted that the ASEAN countries deemed the extension of first refuge depends on commitment of resettlement in third countries and the avoidance of residual problems in the area. The Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN member-states welcomed the cooperation of the European Community and of its member-states in the solution of such a grave and tragic problem. The Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN member-states and the Foreign Ministers of the European Community noted that at the UN Meeting on Refugees and Displaced Persons in Southeast Asia, held in Geneva in July 1979, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam made pledges relating to the departure of refugees. They expressed the hope that Vietnam will adhere to these pledges. The Foreign Ministers of both sides ,greed that a durable solution must be urgently found to resolve this refugee problem of both "land" and "boat" cases.
- The Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN member-states and the Foreign Ministers of the member-states of the European Community stressed the urgent need to ensure that the international efforts being made to bring humanitarian assistance to the stricken people of Kampuchea are successful. in this context, the Foreign Ministers appealed once again to all parties in that country to do everything in their power to ensure that the relief supplied urgently needed to in fact rapidly reach those suffering hardship, without discrimination of any kind. They urged them, in this connection, to give full support to the humanitarian work being carried out in this area by the United Nations and by other international, national and private relief organizations.
- The Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN member-states and the Foreign Ministers of the member-states of the European Community viewed with great concern the situation of the refugees along the Thai-Kampuchean border, They appealed to the parties in conflict in Kampuchea to refrain from any action which might endanger the refugees.
- The Foreign Ministers of the member-states of the European Community reaffirmed their support for the vigorous endeavours of the ASEAN member-states and of ASEAN as a whole towards greater self-reliance through their internal efforts and through their increased cooperation with other countries. They recognised that ASEAN has achieved increased political cohesion in addition to its goal of economic and social development cultural cooperation. Accordingly, they reiterated their belief that the unity of ASEAN, especially the present difficult circumstances, is and continues to be an important element in the maintenance of peace and stability in the Southeast Asian region. They expressed their keen appreciation of the efforts of the ASEAN member- states to establish a Zone of Peace Freedom and Neutrality in Southeast Asia, as a positive contribution to regional peace and stability.
- The Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN member-states appreciated the role played by Europe of the Nine as a factor of economic and political stability and as an element of balance in international relations. They especially noted the intensification of the Community's constructive relations with the Third World in general and with the ASEAN countries in particular. They expressed their appreciation of the Community's positive contributions to the solution of critical problems between developed and developing countries. They also expressed their keen appreciation of the unfailing efforts which the Nine have made to promote detente which by its very nature should be global and indivisible, and stability in international relations.
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