1. The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Meeting of Heads of Defense Colleges and Institutions was held in Manila on 7-8 October 1997. It was organized and chaired by the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP). The ARF Inter- sessional Support Group on Confidence Building Measures during the meeting in Beijing in March 1997 and the 4th ARF meeting in Subang Jaya in July also of this year welcomed the invitation of the NDCP to host the meeting in conjunction with their 34th Anniversary Celebration. The program of activities which already includes the agenda for the meeting are attached as Annex A. The meeting was chaired by NDCP President Brigadier General Eduardo T. Cabanlig. Attached as Annex B is the Chairman's opening statement.

2. Defense Secretary Fortunato U. Abat delivered the keynote address at the opening of the conference. In his address, Secretary Abat welcomed the participants and stressed the important role of defense colleges, universities and similar institutions in shaping the security perceptions of policy makers and in developing habits of cooperation in the region. He considered the conference a constructive effort in strengthening the ARF process and in broadening the range of confidence building measures being undertaken by the ARF.

3. Participants from 18 of the 21 ARF member countries and dialogue partners attended the conference.

4. The meeting affirmed the importance of cooperation on security education and research in enhancing confidence building in the region and recognized the meeting as an opportunity for the heads of defense colleges or similar institutions to network and build people-to-people contact. The participants agreed that the conference contributed to the growing awareness and recognition of the vital role of defense officials in the ARF process.

5. The participants gave a brief description of the institutional profiles and orientation of their respective defense learning institutions and shared their experiences on security education and research, particularly in the area of regional security. A number of participants cited such areas as structuring of curricula, development of bibliography, student and faculty exchanges and training programs,and agreements with counterpart institutions as examples of existing joint activities that the participants can work on and expand further. The exchange elicited general support for the need to strengthen the regional dimension of security education and research.

6. The participants agreed to enhance regional cooperation on security education and welcomed specific proposals on this initiative. Among the activities identified in which cooperation could be considered were faculty and student exchanges, training seminars and academic conferences on mutually-agreed topics, country visits, faculty development programs, exchange of publications and greater interaction among heads and senior members of the institutions involved. It was also agreed upon to maximize the use of Internet and E-Mail as a means of facilitating communications. Meetings of this nature may be held periodically with the host country providing secretariat services to assure conference success.

7. The participants exchanged views on regional security arrangements and the emerging Asia-Pacific security environment. Australia presented a paper on "Some Aspects of the Developing Regional Security Architecture". Japan presented a paper on "Japan's Defense Policy". The Philippines presented a paper on "The Emerging Asia-Pacific Security Environment and Regional Security Arrangements, A Philippine Perspective". The United States presented a paper on "Post-Cold War Security Arrangements in The Asia-Pacific Region.. a U.S. Perspective". South Korea presented a paper "Security Situation on the Korean Peninsula". The meeting agreed that security education programs need to continuously relate existing regional security arrangements with the emerging Asia-Pacific security environment from the academic perspective.

8. The meeting agreed to forward the Chairman's Report and the proposals to the Co-chairs of the Inter-sessional Support Group on Confidence Building Measures (Brunei and Australia) as well as to the ARF Senior Officials Meeting for their consideration.

9. The participants agreed to continue cooperation on security education and research among defense colleges. They considered that further meetings of heads of defense colleges and similar institutions would be valuable and that a follow-up meeting in the near future is most welcome. Several participants suggested that South Korea may host the next meeting, a suggestion that the South Korean delegation accepted. With the acceptance of South Korea to host the next meeting, the Chairman announced that all suggestions pertaining to the conduct and formatting of future meetings of heads of defense colleges and the selection and wording of agenda items would be collated and transmitted to South Korea as inputs to their preparations. Attached as Annex C is the Chairman's Closing Statement.

10. The meeting was held in a warm and cordial manner. The participants expressed their appreciation to the NDCP for the generous hospitality accorded to them. The participants also expressed their commendation of the host for the manner with which the meeting was conducted.

EDUARDO T CABANLIG, MNSA
Brig General AFP(Ret)
President, National Defense College of the Philippines