NAY PYI TAW, MYANMAR, Monday 28 April 2014 – The ASEAN Defence Senior Officials' Meeting (ADSOM) commenced its two days meeting today at the Hotel Royal Ace, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The Meeting was chaired by Colonel Nyein Chan, Director General, Department of International and Internal Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Myanmar / Myanmar's ADSOM Leader.
The Meeting received and discussed the progress of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) cooperation, namely The Use of ASEAN Military Assets and Capacities in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief; ASEAN Defence Establishments and Civil Society Organizations Cooperation on Non-Traditional Security; ASEAN Peacekeeping Centres Network; ASEAN Defence Industry Collaboration; ASEAN Defence Interaction Programmes; and Establishment of Logistics Support Framework.
Malaysia has volunteered to host the 2nd ASEAN Defence Interaction Programmes in 2015. The Meeting also discussed and considered thoroughly the draft ADMM Three-Year-Work. Program 2014 - 2016 and the draft Joint Declaration of the 8th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting.
In discussing and considering new ADMM proposals, the ADSOM Leaders endorsed the draft Concept Paper on Establishing A Direct Communications Link in the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Process. This concept paper will be adopted at the 8th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting next month in Myanmar.
The Meeting also agreed on matters relating to the preparations of this year's ADMM and ADMM Retreat.
Brunei Darussalam was led by its ADSOM Leader, Colonel (Rtd) Pengiran Dato Haji Azmansham Haji Mohamad, Permanent Secretary (Defence Policy and Development), and accompanied by Brunei Darussalam's ADSOM Working Group Leader, Haji Adi Ihram Dato Paduka Haji Mahmud, Acting Director of Defence Policy.
At the sidelines of the Meeting, Brunei Darussalam's ADSOM Leader held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Myanmar and Singapore.
The ADSOM Leaders will meet their counterparts from the Plus countries this Wednesday at the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials' Meeting Plus (ADSOM-Plus).