GMA opens Asean ministerial meet, calls for united front

President Arroyo urged Southeast Asian countries yesterday to create a stronger “united front” to achieve social justice and prosperity in the region.

“Our collective desire to bring social justice, economic opportunity and integrated security to the region is our common ground,” Mrs. Arroyo said in her keynote speech at the opening of the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center yesterday.

Mrs. Arroyo also stressed the need for ASEAN to strengthen its relations with key partners, particularly Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.

“Building the ASEAN community and voice is a long term endeavor. There are no short cuts or quick fixes. But we are determined and will persevere to build a community that will provide a more secure, stable and prosperous life for all people,” Mrs. Arroyo said.

She noted that bilateral and multilateral relations among ASEAN members have never been stronger “in our never-ending saga of cooperation, solidarity, fighting poverty and winning collective security.”

She said a stronger ASEAN would greatly help its members “maximize the benefits of globalization.”

Mrs. Arroyo said ASEAN, and the envisioned East Asian community, will prove to be a stabilizing force at a time “when there are strains on alliances from Iraq to WTO.”

“There is general consensus that the idea of an East Asian community has a more political, rather than geographic, definition. In the process of establishing the East Asia community, we look to the engagement of all the parties that have a stake in East Asia,” Mrs. Arroyo said.

She pointed out that it took the European Union 50 years to get fully integrated. “Too much has been made of our diversity as a barrier. Our diversity is a strength and not a barrier to an East Asian union.”

She also cited the role of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in ensuring “preventive diplomacy to be able to nip in the bud in any potential conflicts arising from and causing disputes among its members.”

She said the ARF was able to defuse global crises including the North Korea nuclear impasse.

Nuclear standoff over

President Arroyo welcomed North Korea’s decision to shut down its Yongbyuon nuclear reactor and allow the return of United Nations inspectors.

“These developments are historic milestones in the Six-Party talks process,” Mrs. Arroyo said. “The series of positive developments inspire confidence that the six countries and major world players are exerting all they can to bring lasting stability and peace to the region.”

Hours after her speech, Mrs. Arroyo held a 30-minute one-on-one meeting with North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun in Malacañang. A Palace official said the meeting was “very friendly and very cordial.”

Jong Song Il, deputy director general of North Korea’s Department of International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, voiced his country’s adherence to peaceful means in resolving regional issues.

“It is the firm position of the DPRK (North Korea) to settle the nuclear issue of the Korean peninsula through negotiations and dialogue,” Jong said.

Negroponte in Manila

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, special envoy to the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), arrived in Manila last night, the US Embassy reported.

The embassy said Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill will also arrive today.

US Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop said Hill will join Negroponte when they attend the 14th ASEAN Regional Forum, the largest security forum in Asia. – With Delon Porcalla, AP