Defense ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) met Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur to exchange views on the
current international and regional security situation.
ASEAN ministers agreed to promote regional peace and stability
through dialogue and cooperation in defense and security, Malaysian
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak told reporters.
The ministers also agreed to give guidance to existing senior
defence and military officials dialogue and cooperation in the
field of defense and security within ASEAN and between ASEAN and
its dialogue partners, Najib said while reading a joint statement
of the one-day meeting.
Representatives at the meeting pledged to contribute to the
establishment of an ASEAN Security Committee (ASC) as stipulated in
the Bali Concord II and to promote the implementation of the
Vientiane Action Program on ASC, said Najib, who is also Defense
Minister.
According to the reports of the Bernama news agency, Najib also
said the next ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting will be held in
Singapore next year.
When asked why Myanmar was not represented at the meeting, Najib
said an invitation had been sent but Myanmar replied in a letter
that it could not send representatives because of some pressing
domestic concern or engagement.
Najib refused to elaborate on this matter but added that Myanmar
will be also invited to attend the second meeting in Singapore.
(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2006)
