Cebu Philippines (19 January) -- Aside from displaying anew their concerted efforts to crush all forms of terrorism, Southeast Asian leaders have welcomed ASEAN`s steady progress in the implementation of the Vientiane Action Program (VAP) to hasten the region's quest for a zone of peace and security.
In her report as chairperson of the 12th ASEAN Summit, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo outlined the agreements reached by the leaders of the 10 ASESN member countries during their summit Saturday at the Shangri-La's Mactan Island Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.
Under the VAP signed in Vientiane, Laos on Nov. 29, 2004 during the 10th Summit, ASEAN has agreed to work towards shared prosperity and destiny in an integrated. peaceful and caring ASEAN community.
According to the President, the leaders also agreed to pursue the comprehensive integration of ASEAN towards the realization of an open, dynamic and resilient ASEAN community by 2020.
The leaders, the President said, made an unequivocal stand against all forms of terrorism and called on law enforcement authorities of the member countries to strengthen cooperation in this regard.
We welcome the steady progress made in implementing ASEAN Security Community (ASC) and related activities through the VAP and the ASC Plan of Action, including the convening of the First ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting as advances in the work of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEAN-China joint Working Group on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South Chine Sea.
The ASEAN, a fast emerging regional economic bloc with over 560 million people is composed of Brunei Darrusalam, Cambodia, Indonesia Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The adoption of counter measures would enable ASEAN countries to combat terror groups particularly the Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf both with links to the dreaded Al Qaeda Group of Bin Laden.
ASEAN counter terrorism strategy would make it easier for member countries to prosecute and extradite terror suspects. (PIA XI)
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