2ND ASEAN DEFENCE MINISTERS’ MEETING-PLUS CONCLUDES SUCCESSFULLY
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Thursday 29 Aug 2013 – The Second (2nd) ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus concluded today at the Indera Samudra Grand Hall, Empire Hotel and Country Club, Brunei Darussalam.
The Ministers reaffirmed the strategic importance of the ADMM-Plus and the need to cooperate closer together. The Ministers agreed for relations to be guided by the fundamental principles enshrined in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, especially the renunciation of the threat or use of force and exercise of self-restraint.
The Ministers re-emphasised their commitment to strengthen defence cooperation in promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region based on the enduring principles of equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit and respect for international law.
In doing so, the Ministers agreed to promote capacity-building through greater engagements and interactions, enhance interoperability through training and joint exercises, and establish mechanisms for effective response. The Ministers also agreed to establish practical measures that reduce vulnerability to miscalculations, and avoid misunderstanding and undesirable incidents at sea.
The Ministers reviewed and expressed satisfaction on the substantial achievements of the five Experts’ Working Groups, which have successfully forged practical cooperation among the defence forces of the ADMM-Plus countries. This is evident with the inaugural ADMM-Plus Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and Military Medicine Exercise held in Brunei Darussalam on 17-20 June 2013.
The Ministers also agreed on the establishment of the Experts’ Working Group on Humanitarian Mine Action and Transition Process of the EWGs’ Co-Chairmanship.
After the meeting, the Ministers signed the Bandar Seri Begawan Joint Declaration of the 2nd ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus. A handing over ceremony of the ADMM Chairmanship from Brunei Darussalam to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar was also held today.
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SIGNING CEREMONY OF THE BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN DECLARATION OF THE 2ND ADMM PLUS
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Thursday 29 August 2013 – The Second (2nd) ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) concluded with a signing ceremony of the Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration of the 2nd ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus. The event took place this afternoon at the Indera Samudra Grand Hall, The Empire Hotel and Country Club, Brunei Darussalam.
Through the Joint Declaration, the Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to enhance peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region. In this regard, the Ministers agreed to strengthen defence cooperation between their countries in the advancement of the cause of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, while adhering to the principles of equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit and respect for international law.
The Ministers believe that their relations must be guided by the fundamental principles enshrined in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation especially the renunciation of threat or use of force, and the exercise of self-restraint.
Ministers also agreed to promote better understanding and confidence-building measures among the defence establishments, in hopes of fostering the spirit of collective responsibility through the development of shared understanding on defence and security challenges.
Given the complex nature of these challenges, Ministers agreed to work towards enhancing regional capacity and joint capabilities through greater engagements and interactions. This could take the form of trainings and joint exercises, which will also enhance interoperability. Ministers also agreed to work towards effective response to challenges. In reducing vulnerability to miscalculations, and avoid misunderstanding and undesirable incidents at sea, the Ministers shared the view to establish practical measures within the ADMM-Plus defence and military cooperation.
The Ministers also reaffirm their commitment to remain actively engaged in the ADMM-Plus to respond to current and future challenges and opportunities based on the principles of non-interference, consensus-based decision-making, national and regional resilience, while respecting each countries’ sovereignty.
Presiding over the signing ceremony was the Chairman of the 2nd ADMM-Plus, The Honourable Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Retd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office, who was joined by the Defence Ministers and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN.
The ceremony was later followed by a Press Conference where the 2nd ADMM-Plus Chairman presented the Press Statement.