SUMMARY REPORT OF THE MEETINGS OF
THE ARF INTER-SESSIONAL SUPPORT GROUP
ON CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES
18 - 19 JANUARY 1996, TOKYO, JAPAN AND
15 - 16 APRIL 1996, JAKARTA, INDONESIA



INTRODUCTION

  1. Pursuant to the agreement at the Second Ministerial Meeting of the ARF in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, 1 August 1995, the Inter-Sessional Support Group (ISG) on Confidence Building Measures, co-chaired by Indonesia and Japan, held two meetings in Tokyo and Jakarta, on 18 - 19 January and 15 - 16 April 1996, respectively. The meetings were attended by all the ARF participants, and most participants had defence officials in their respective delegations.

  2. In these two meetings, which were conducted in a frank and cordial manner, the ISG had lively and productive discussions on various confidence building measures. Through these discussions, the momentum of the ARF process has been strengthened and the meetings marked another important milestone in the process.

  3. The participants reiterated the importance of the promotion and implementation of confidence-building measures with a view to improving the security environment of the Asia Pacific region. In this connection the group noted various proposals concerning the general approach toward CBM cooperation, including but not limited to respecting the sovereignty and security interests of the ARF participants, voluntary participation and agreement on consensus.

  4. The agenda of the ARF ISG on CBM is attached at Annex A. The programme of activities is attached at Annex B. The list of delegates who attended the meeting is at Annex C.

  5. The following is a summary of the key points discussed.


  6. The participants exchanged views on the current security situation in the Asia Pacific region. It was a widely held view that the overall security picture in the region was positive. There were also views expressed that existing bilateral security arrangements were conducive to this security environment and that the ARF process was a contributing factor. Dynamic economic developments in the region as a whole, which required peaceful security climate, were especially noted as a positive element. The meeting also noted the importance of utilizing dialogue and consultation in resolving differences among countries and encouraged continuing trend towards this direction. On the other hand, as earlier observed by the Ministers in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, it was pointed out that, in a period of transition, there are still sources of tensions such as the Korean Peninsula situation, territorial issues and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It was also pointed out that the region was faced with new challenges such as environmental issues, drug trafficking and crime.

  7. Given such an overall picture, the participants stressed the importance of security dialogue and cooperation at regional, sub-regional and bilateral levels. In reviewing the efforts that the countries in region are conducting, the ISG noted that some delegations submitted papers on their activities (as attached).


  8. The ISG was informed by those participants who had already published defence policy papers and/or defence white papers and/or relevant available information and welcomed this development. The ISG noted that some of the participants who have not published such papers had nevertheless briefed the group on their defence policies, and the ISG encouraged those participants to publish relevant papers in due course on voluntary basis.


  9. The participants reported on their defence contacts and exchanges programmes with other participants, and some participants submitted papers on their activities (as attached). It was agreed that defence contacts and exchanges should be maintained and further developed at various levels.


  10. The ISG reviewed the current UN framework from a regional perspective, and the participants had a very intensive discussion on a number of ideas to enhance transparency in the Asia-Pacific region. The ISG encouraged those participants that had not yet joined the Register to do so, and discussed the different views on including voluntary submission to the UN of background information on holdings and procurement through national production. The ISG also had an exchange of different views on the need to include the UN Standardized Reporting on Military Expenditures.

  11. Concerning the possibility of creating a supplementary regional framework for the arms register, different views were expressed by the participants. The ISG agreed that this issue should be further discussed.


  12. The participants had an intensive discussion on the kinds of additional measures, which may be promoted in the ARF process. Many of them need further discussion.


    CONCLUSION

  13. The meeting decided to convey the following recommendations to the ASEAN Regional Forum Senior Officials Meeting (ARF SOM) to be held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia:

    13.1 Dialogue on Security Perceptions


    13.2 Defence Policy Publications


    13.3 Enhancing High-Level Defence Contacts and Exchanges among Defence Staff Colleges and Training

    13.4 The UN Register of Conventional Arms (UNRCA)

    13.5 Additional Confidence Building Measures

    The ARF should endorse the following ideas:

    13.6. The ISG agreed to recommend that the ARF SOM endorse the idea that the ISG will continue its activities for another year in order to review the implementation of confidence-building measures to be agreed upon at the ARF SOM in May 1996 and approved by the Third ARF Ministerial Meeting in July 1996, and to further discuss measures to be promoted in the future, with particular emphasize on proposals identified in this Summary Report. The Chinese delegation informed the ISG that China is ready to co-chair the next ISG.