Towards greater solidarity among Asean countries

Malaysia will add another feather in the cap of its chairmanship of ASEAN when the agreement to establish the ASEAN community is ratified at the 27th ASEAN summit. Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman shares his thoughts on this and other 'buzz' topics which will be discussed at the upcoming event, including the haze and the movement of refugees among the member nations.Q: HOW many non-ASEAN leaders have confirmed their attendance for the 27th ASEAN Summit besides US President Barack Obama?

A: Leaders from eight ASEAN Dialogue Partners plus the United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon have confirmed their attendance to the 27th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, namely;

i. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

ii. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang

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iii. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

iv. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe

v. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key

vi. Republic Of Korea President Park Geun-Hye

vii. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry A. Medvedev

viii. President Of The United States Of America Barack Obama

ix. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon

Q: What will be the highlights and focus of the ASEAN Community (AC) 2015 during the summit since the AC will be established at year end?

A: A significant milestone of ASEAN will be the launching of the establishment of the ASEAN Community on 31 December 2015 during the 27th ASEAN Leaders and Related Summits. The launching of the establishment of the ASEAN Community will be a very historic occasion for ASEAN.

To continue the community building and integration process beyond 2015, ASEAN has developed the ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together, a set of documents that chart the path for the ASEAN Community building over the next 10 years. These documents will be endorsed by the ASEAN Leaders during the Summit.

To commemorate the formal establishment of the ASEAN Community by 31 December 2015, the ASEAN Leaders will be signing the "2015 Kuala Lumpur Declarations on the Establishment of the ASEAN Community".

They will also be signing the "Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together" in a signing ceremony that will be held during the Summit.

Q: Other than the formation of ASEAN Community 2015, what is Malaysia's significant achievements throughout its chairmanship?

A: Malaysia has delivered the priorities that were outlined at beginning of its Chairmanship this year. Apart from the establishment of the ASEAN Community, ASEAN has developed the "ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together" that will chart ASEAN's focus in the next 10 years.

Malaysia has also steered ASEAN closer to its peoples by focussing on 'People-Centred ASEAN'.

Some of the initiatives, among others, are Leaders Interface with different sectors of society including the youth, CSOs, business community and parliamentarians. Malaysia has also emphasised its Chairmanship on the concept of moderation by demonstrating its leadership through this concept when dealing with regional and international issues.

Q: Will Malaysia still play a prominent and leading role after the formation of the AC?

A: ASEAN is the cornerstone of Malaysia's foreign policy. As one of the founding fathers of ASEAN, Malaysia continues to emphasise the relevance and importance of ASEAN as a catalyst for regional dialogue.

Malaysia will also continue to promote ASEAN to be closed to its peoples. Malaysia believes that the success of the ASEAN Community will require greater and deeper involvement of all sectors of society in ASEAN. Malaysia also firmly believes that moderation is vital in addressing conflict and finding solutions to issues concerning regional peace and security.

Malaysia would not dither from the priorities and outlines set during our Chairmanship. We would continue pursuing our aims and objective that would go hand in hand with ASEAN community building processes.

Malaysia will extend its unwavering support towards Lao PDR as the Chairman of ASEAN next year.

Q: What will be the focus of ASEAN 2015-2025 vision?

A: The ASEAN Community Vision 2025 is a broad, strategic and forward-looking document that reflects the aspirations of the ASEAN peoples in the next 10 years.

The Vision aims to sustain the momentum of regional integration and contribute towards strengthening further the ASEAN community building efforts.

The Vision articulates the aspirations of ASEAN towards realising a politically cohesive, economically integrated, socially responsible and a truly rules-based, people-oriented, people-centred ASEAN.

The focus of the Vision over the next 10 years would be as follows:

i. Enhance awareness of ASEAN and its Vision of a politically cohesive, economically integrated and socially responsible Community;

ii. Promote people-oriented, people-centred ASEAN with a view to ensuring that the impacts/benefits of ASEAN Integration are equally enjoyed by all segments of the society;

iii. Engage all nationals of ASEAN Member States through effective and innovative platforms to promote commitment and identification with ASEAN policies and regional interests;

iv. Committed to fundamental freedoms, human rights and better lives for all ASEAN peoples;

v. Strengthened capacity to deal with existing and emerging challenges while maintaining ASEAN Centrality;

vi. Promote ASEAN as an outward-looking region and a global player;

vii. Implement the ASEAN agenda while pursuing national aspirations which contribute to ASEAN Community building; and

viii. Strengthening ASEAN Organs and the ASEAN Secretariat.

The Vision also highlights specific goals for each pillar, which could be summarised as follows:

i. The ASEAN Political Security Community sees ASEAN as:

a. A united, inclusive and resilient community, with people living in safe, harmonious and secure environment, embracing values of tolerance and moderation and upholding ASEAN fundamental principles, shared values and norms;

b. A dynamic, resilient and harmonious community that can respond effectively to challenges affecting ASEAN from within and beyond the region; and

c. A Community that steadfastly maintains its centrality in regional mechanisms while deepening engagement with external partners.

ii. The ASEAN Economic Security Community sees ASEAN as:

a. An integrated and highly cohesive, competitive, innovative and dynamic community, with enhanced connectivity and sectoral cooperation; and

b. A more resilient, inclusive and people-oriented, people-centred community integrated with global economy.

iii. The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community sees ASEAN as:

a. An inclusive Community that is people-oriented, people-centred and promotes a high quality of life and equitable access to opportunities for all and engages relevant stakeholders in ASEAN processes;

b. A sustainable community that promotes social development and environmental protection; and

c. A dynamic, open, creative and adaptive Community with an ASEAN identity reflecting the region's collective personality, norms, values and beliefs as well as aspirations as one ASEAN Community.

The ASEAN Community Vision 2025 is one the key documents incorporated in the document ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together which will be adopted by the Leaders at the 27th ASEAN Summit in November.

In realising ASEAN Community Vision 2025, three Community Blueprints 2025 had been designed to translate the Vision into action lines/strategic measures within specific target and timeframe.

These action lines/strategic measures seek to build on the experience and lessons learned in the implementation of the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community (2009-2015), with a view to ensure that ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together is relevant, contemporary and responsive to new challenges.

Q: It has been reported that the haze issue may be brought up as an agenda during the summit. Could you confirm this?

A: Malaysia will raise the issue of haze within ASEAN in a collective and consultative manner to uphold ASEAN solidarity.

Q: If yes, will countries badly affected by the haze like Malaysia and Singapore put up a strong stance to once and for all resolve the issue with Indonesia within the context of ASEAN?

A: We appreciate the collaborative efforts undertaken by Indonesia, the neighbouring ASEAN countries and the international community in addressing the forest fires and the associated smoke haze.

The recently concluded 11th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution in Hanoi, Vietnam on 29 October 2015 has agreed to enhance cooperation to effectively implement the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution including enhancing information sharing to tackle the forest fires which caused the transboundary haze pollution.

Q: If the issue is brought up will other ASEAN countries also take part?

A: It is up to ASEAN Member States to discuss and Malaysia will always consult with all affected and neighbouring countries to solve the issue in a collective and consultative manner.

Q: Will the summit discuss on cooperation to control further influx and irregular movement of people in Southeast Asia or give a message to the source country to tighten their security and border.

A: The issue of irregular movement of persons in Southeast Asia has become a great concern not just to ASEAN Member States but also to the international community. Given the growing concern from the international community on this issue, the Leaders are expected to raise this issue in their discussion during the exchange of views on regional and international issues.

Malaysia will continue to work closely with the affected countries and members of the international community in resolving the issue of irregular movement of persons in Southeast Asia including on the issue of human trafficking and people smuggling in the region.

Q: Will there be any discussion on the maritime security in ASEAN especially in Straits of Malacca and South China Sea. There were several pirates attack in the area this year.

A: As in the past Summits, there is no specific agenda on maritime security in ASEAN. However, the Leaders are free to raise about this or any other issue of common interest and concern in the discussion during the exchange of views on regional and international issues.

Given that this has become an issue of concern to some countries, the Leaders are expected to raise it.

Malaysia is confident that we will able to resolve the issue of maritime security peacefully without resorting to the threat or use of force with all parties concerned, in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

Q: Will there be any announcement on the progress of the South China Sea Code of Conduct implementation and the emergency hotline announced in August? It has been reported that an arbitration court in the Netherlands has ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear some territorial claims the Philippines has filed against China over the disputed areas in the South China Sea. Vietnam is also seeking a UN arbitration to find a solution on the dispute based on international law.

A: As in past Summits, there is no specific agenda on the South China Sea. However, important regional and international issues are discussed. At this point of time, there is no plan for ASEAN to make an announcement on this matter.

Malaysia take note that the Arbitral Tribunal has rendered its award on the jurisdiction and admissibility and that oral hearing on merits would be held in due course.

Malaysia also take note that Vietnam is seeking a UN arbitration to find a solution on the dispute based on international law.

Malaysia's position has been consistent that disputes should be resolved by the countries concerned through peaceful means in accordance with the relevant principles of international law including UNCLOS.

Q: What is ASEAN's stand on these two individual countries seeking arbitration on the dispute over the areas, which are also claimed by Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan?

A: ASEAN through the 48th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting held on August 2015 had stated that parties involve in disputes should exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and for the parties concerned to resolve their differences and disputes through peaceful means, in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Q: Amid the latest escalating tension and violence between Palestine and Israel, will the summit discuss the issue and show support to the Palestinian cause?

A: As in the past Summits, the Leaders are free to raise any issue of common interest and concern in the discussion during the exchange of views on regional and international issues, including on the issue of the situation in Palestine.

Malaysia believes that the way forward in this issue is a peace dialogue to resolve the Palestine-Israeli conflict and both sides should demonstrate restraint and take urgent action to stop any further escalation of violence.

Q: As ASEAN has adopted Malaysia's concept of moderation, will the Islamic State militant group's violent activities be discussed and cooperation enhanced among ASEAN member countries to curb extremism?

A: The Leaders are expected to have an open discussion on issue of common interest and concern during the exchange of views on regional and international issues. The issue of Islamic State militant group's violent activities will most likely be raised by them.

In addressing the growing threat of radicalisation and violent extremism and the real and present danger they pose to the ASEAN region, ASEAN convened a Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Rise of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism in Kuala Lumpur on 2 October 2015.

The Meeting issued a Chairman Statement in which, among others, called for ASEAN Member States to speak up against and reject extremism and support moderation in line with the Langkawi Declaration on the Global Movement of Moderates adopted on 27 April 2015; and to counter radicalisation and violent extremism in all forms and manifestations that lead to terrorism, including preventing radicalisation, financing, recruitment and mobilisation of individuals into terrorist groups.

Q: What is your hope and expectations of the 27th ASEAN Summit?

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A: As this will be the final meeting of the ASEAN and Dialogue Partners' Leaders for this year, it is hoped that the Summit will serve as platform for the Leaders to further deepen the cooperation within ASEAN and with ASEAN external partners.

Further, with the formal establishment of the ASEAN Community by end of this year, it is also hoped that ASEAN would receive the support and cooperation from regional and international community in our endeavour to realise an ASEAN that is politically cohesive, economically integrated, socially responsible, and a truly rules-based, people-oriented and people-centred.

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