Coordinator for the ASEAN - UNDP Dialogue

Following the 17th ASEAN Ministerial Meetings decision to rotate the coordinatorship of ASEAN member countries with the dialogue partners, the ASEAN Secretariat was assigned as the permanent coordinator for UNDP with effect from 15 July 1985. Since then, regular meetings and consultations were held with the UNDP Office in Jakarta.

Management of Trust Fund

The ASEAN Secretariat managed the following trust funds during the period under review:

a) ASEAN Cultural Fund Operational Account

The ASEAN Secretariat disbursed money for intra-ASEAN cultural activities from the fund which was established with a contribution of approximately US$ 20 million by the Japanese Government in 1982. The fund is invested in two banks - in Singapore and Malaysia.

b) Japan Scholarship Fund for ASEAN Youth

The Japanese Government has, since 1980 agreed to Contribute US$ I million annually to ASEAN for a period of 10 years. The latest contribution was received by the Secretary-General on behalf of ASEAN on 13 June 1986 for equal disbursement to each member country (excluding Brunei Darussalam) for scholarships to ASEAN Youth.

c) ASEAN - Regional Studies Promotion Programme (ARSPP)

The third research project under Phase III (1985 - 1986) entitled "Industrial Restructuring and Adjustments for Japan- ASEAN Investments and Trade Expansion" was implemented and due for completion by 15 August 1986. The collated data will be published by November 1986. The ASEAN Secretariat had during 1985 - 1986 period disbursed US$ 232,000 to implement the afore-mentioned project.

d) Japan - ASEAN Cooperation Promotion Programme (JACPP)

The objective of the fund, established in June 1 983, is to facilitate the effective implementation of Japanese economic co- operation for ASEAN member countries, promotion of transfer of technology and Japanese investment into ASEAN and promotion of trade and exchange of personnel.

The Fund is managed by a committee comprising the Secretary-General of the ASEAN Secretariat as Chairman, and representatives of ASEAN and Japanese Embassies in Jakarta and the ASEAN National Secretariat of Indonesia. During the review period, the ASEAN Secretariat utilized the fund to sponsor an ASEAN - CCI (Charnber of Commerce and Industry) Mission visit to Japan to explore business prospects, convened a meeting of the ASEAN Implementing Agencies for the ASEAN - Japan Friendship Programme for the 21st Century, and organized the participation of five persons from each ASEAN country at the First ASEAN Science and Technology Week in Kuala Lumpur in April 1986.

e) Canadian Technical Assistance (Library Fund)

The ASEAN Secretariat, on the authority of the ASEAN Standing Committee, received from Canada an amount of C$ 50,000 in March 1983 to strengthen the Library arid Documentation Centre. Fulfilment of this objective continued during the review period, a highlight of which was the establishment of a Reading Room, as an adjunct of the Library, for visitors to the ASEAN Secretariat.

Attendance at ASEAN Meetings

During the year, the Secretariat staff members attended a total of 73 meetings - 66 in ASEAN dialogue countries and 7 hosted by and held at the ASEAN Secretariat. These Meetings comprised Ministerial Meetings, meetings of the ASEAN Standing Committee, functional committees and sorne of the subsidiary bodies and dialogue meetings.

The ASEAN 'Secretariat prepared and presented 91 papers at these Meetings, and the staff attending them also acted as resource persons, drafted or assisted in the preparation of reports, and provided genet-a! assistance.

The ASEAN Secretariat also coordinated and consolidated all resource papers connected with the ASEAN - Pacific Human Resources Development exercise.

Narcotics Desk

The Narcotics Desk collated all data related to drug abuse activities in tie ASEAN countries and disseminated such :Information to member countries on a regular basis. The Narcotics Desk also coordinated all training programmes related to, narcotics control for implementation.

Visitors

The ASEAN Secretariat disseminated information through publications, correspondence and gave briefings to visitors which comprised individuals and groups, tie majority of the latter being university students.

The ASEAN Secretariat welcomed the visit of a senior official from the Preferential Trade Arrangements for Southern and Eastern African States who carne to study the ASEAN PTA's and ASEAN Economic cooperation. Another senior official from the Organization of African Unity Secretariat studied ASEAN in general. They paid courtesy calls on the Secretary-General, and conveyed their respective Secretaries-Generals' greetings to him. Secretariat Officials also, briefed them on ASEAN's Organizational Structure, its activities and those of the ASEAN Secretariat. The Secretariat extended assistance and Facilities during their stay in Jakarta, The, group visitors to the Secretariat included members of the South Korean National Defense College and the Thai National Defense College, Swedish Ambassadors accredited to ASEAN countries, Japanese diplomats in ASEAN countries and from their Foreign Ministry in Tokyo involved in ASEAN matters, a civil service group and another of trade unionists both from Singapore. Students and lecturers totalling 669 were briefed by Secretariat officers on six occasions.

During the review period, the ASEAN Secretariat published and disseminated the following :

a) The Annual Report of the ASEAN Standing Committee, 1985 - 1986

b) Statements of the 18th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and Post-Ministerial Conferences with the Dialogue Countries, Kuala Lumpur, 1985 ;

c) ASEAN Newsletter - six bimonthly issues ;

d) ASEAN Information Series (occasional publication) - two issues;

e) ASEAN Selected Statistics, 1967 - 1984;

f) ASEAN Docurnents Series, 1967 - 1986; ASEAN Day Celebration

g) Statements of AQEAN Heads of Government at ASEAN Ministerial Meetings, 1968 - 1985;

h) Statements of ASEAN Heads of Government at ASEAN Econornic Ministers Meetings, 1975 - 1985

i) Calendar of ASEAN Meetings - monthly

j) A monthly compilation of Selected Press Clippings from the regional media -. nine issues (These were -for selective distribution)

The publication which grew in demand were the Annual Report of the /SEAN Standing Committee, the ASEAN Newsletter and the ASEAN Information Series.

Library and Documentation Centre

Steps were taken to improve the library's collection of titles. As of May 1986, 620 book titles were added bringing the total to 3,195. 608 reports of ASEAN meetings were added to the Documents Centre which now has 1,934 reports.

A mini-graph was purchased to facilitate the mechanization of book and report cataloging. A Reading Room where periodicals on ASEAN and ASEAN Secretariat publications are displayed was established for visitors to the Secretariat.

ASEAN Day on 8 August 1985 was celebrated with the following activities:

a) A flag hoisting ceremony attended by the ASEAN diplomatic corps in Jakarta.

b) A Reception by the Secretary-General attended by the Diplomatic Corps in Jakarta and high Indonesian officials

c) A Television Programme organized by the ASEAN Secretariat featuring views on A.SE,AN cooperation by the ASEA.N Ambassadors in Jakarta, the Director- General of ASEAN - Indonesia and the Secretary-General of the ASEAN Secretariat.

d) An ASEAN Day Sports Tournament participated by the diplomatic missions of ASEAN and time dialogue partners in Jakarta, the Indonesia National Secretariat, and the ASEAN Secretariat.

The ASEAN Secretariat emerged as the overall champion and the Philippines Embassy the runner up.