Three statements adopted on first day of summit

Dina Indrasafitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 05/07/2011

The first day of the 18th ASEAN summit heard the adoption of three statements: The joint statement on the Institute for Peace and Reconciliation; the statement on matters involving human trafficking; and the statement on issues concerning the role of ASEAN in the global community of nations.

“These statements are progress,” Indonesian Foreign Ministry Director General for ASEAN Djauhari Oratmangun said Saturday in Jakarta, where the summit is being held and attended by member countries.

The first day of the summit comprised several agendas: a plenary session, the ASEAN leaders’ meeting with ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly Representatives, the ASEAN leaders’ informal meeting with youth representatives and the ASEAN leaders’ informal meeting with Civil Society Organization Representatives.

Djauhari said that the leaders also underlined the importance of connectivity between bloc nations, as well as nations outside ASEAN, including Japan, China and Australia.

The second day will likely see the discussion topics, including the possible membership of Timor Leste and the prospect of Myanmar becoming the next chair.

Ade Padmo Sarwono, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry director for ASEAN political and security cooperation, said that the statements would likely be issued on the second day of the summit.