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Statement by the Chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee on the Kampuchean Problem
Manila, 24 February 1986 |
- The Foreign Ministers of ASEAN countries had an informal meeting in Kuala Lumpur on 16th August, 1979 to review developments in Southeast Asia and the situation on the Indochina refugee problem as a. follow-up to the 12th Ministerial Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Bali (28th - 30th June, 1979) and the United Nations Meeting on Refugees and Displaced Persons in Southeast Asia in Geneva (20th - 21st July, 1979).
- The Foreign Ministers noted that the Geneva Meeting on refugees and displaced persons in Southeast Asia produced encouraging results which, however fell short of providing an overall and lasting solution of the refugee problem, in particular the question of the land cases which was inadequately treated. They welcomed the response of the government of Vietnam at the meeting to cooperate in tackling the problem at source and its decision to impose a moratorium on illegal departures. The Foreign Ministers strongly urged Vietnam to continue to prevent such departures, thereby discharging its responsibility to solve the problems at source.
- The Fore' n Ministers recalled the joint Communique of the Twelfth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, Bali, Indonesia 30th June 1979, in which they reaffirmed their previous Joint Statement, Bangkok, 12th January 1979, strongly deploring the armed intervention against the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kampuchea.
They reiterated their support for the right of the Kampuchea. people to determine their future by themselves, free from interference or influence from outside powers in the exercise of their right of self-determination and called for the immediate and total ,withdrawal of the foreign forces from Kampuchean territory.
- The Foreign Ministers stressed their deep concern that the conflict in Kampuchea would further worsen at the end of the current monsoon season and that, coupled with the prospect of large-scale famine in that country, it would further exacerbate the situation in the region and cause a further illegal exodus from Kampuchea. This would aggravate the problems faced by neighboring countries and the threat to regional peace and stability.
- The Foreign Ministers expressed their conviction that a political solution of the Kampuchean conflict which will ensure the sovereignty and independence of Kampuchean is essential for durable peace and stability of the region.
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