THE ASEAN MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR INFORMATION, namely: the Special Adviser to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Home Affairs, the Minister of Information of the Republic of Indonesia, the Minister of Information of Malaysia, the Press Undersecretary of the Republic of the Philippines, the Minister for Communications and Information of the Republic of Singapore, and the Minister attached to - the Prime Minister's Office in charge of Information of the Kingdom of Thailand;
AFFIRMING their commitment to the decisions on information taken by the ASEAN Heads of Government in Manila in December 1987 embodied in the Manila Declaration of 1987;
RECOGNIZING the importance of the role of the press and television, radio, film and video in the national development of the respective ASEAN member countries and in enhancing ASEAN regional cooperation;
MOVED by an abiding faith in the capabilities of the peoples of ASEAN and the potentials for growth of their nations and with a great hope in the future of ASEAN;
DO HEREBY DECLARE THAT:
-
The ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information shall strengthen ASEAN cooperation and their role in the promotion and development of the press, television, radio, film and video areas.
-
ASEAN cooperation in the field of information shall promote increasing greater awareness of ASEAN through wider involvement and increasing participation in ASEAN activities and cooperation among the peoples of ASEAN and the development of their human resources.
-
An effective exchange of news and information among member countries shall be promoted in order to achieve a free and balanced flow of information among ASEAN member countries.
-
Considering the importance of the role of the press and television, radio, film and video in strengthening ASEAN regional cooperation and cohesion, the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information adopted Principles of ASEAN Media Cooperation.
AND DO HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
-
The press and the electronic media are encouraged to promote the paramount goals of ASEAN, including the preservation of political stability, rapid economic growth, social justice, greater regional cohesion and the development of human resources to their full potential.
-
The principle of press freedom with social responsibility is the basis of the press in ASEAN countries.
-
The press and the electronic media in ASEAN have a role and responsibility to continue promoting greater awareness and understanding among the peoples of ASEAN of their history, traditions, ideals and values, and continue to enhance positive relationships among ASEAN member countries.
-
The press is important in enhancing ASEAN solidarity and urge it to continue to exercise sensitivity in handling issues that might affect ASEAN solidarity.
-
That the presence of the foreign media and agencies in ASEAN member countries has been welcomed by the Governments of ASEAN countries in accordance with their respective national policies. However, they also agreed to promote awareness among the foreign media and agencies of the unique circumstances prevailing in each ASEAN member country, to avoid future difficulties with the foreign media.
-
To share their experiences on the matter in the interest of each ASEAN country with a view to developing mutually beneficial relations with the foreign media.
-
To seek ways to ensure that press reports on ASEAN countries in the foreign media are more balanced and objective.
-
That the foreign media take into consideration the values and sensitivities of ASEAN peoples;
AND DO HEREBY ADOPT:
The programmes for the Enhancement of Press Cooperation among ASEAN Countries and The Enhancement of ASEAN Cooperation in the Television, Radio, Film and Video Areas.
DONE in Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia, on the twenty-fifth day of May One Thousand Nine Hundred and Eighty-Nine.
For the Government of Brunei Darussalam:
signed
PEHIN DATO HAJI ISA BIN IBRAHIM
Special Adviser to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Home Affairs
For the Government of the Republic of Indonesia:
signed
HARMOKO
Minister of Information
For the Government of Malaysia:
signed
DATO' MOHAMED RAHMAT
Minister of Information
For the Government of the Republic of the Philippines:
signed
G. NOEL TOLENTINO
Press Undersecretary
For the Government of the Republic of Singapore:
signed
DR. YEO NING HONG
Minister for Communications and Information
For the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand:
signed
KHUNYING SUPATRA MASDIT
Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office in Charge of Information
