ASEAN foreign ministers flag Mideast, US-Iran conflicts

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are concerned over the evolving situation in the Middle East and renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran.

At the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting plenary session at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay, top diplomats called on the US and Iran to exercise self-restraint and avoid acts that may further aggravate the situation.

Diplomats emphasized the immediate and long-term effects of the Middle East crisis on people and warned of further implications of continued Middle East tensions on regional trade, energy and food security.

Ministers reaffirmed the importance of maintaining maritime safety and security and upholding freedom of navigation, in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

They expressed “deep concern over any discriminatory or unilateral measures that may impede or obstruct vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, or any straits used for international navigation.”

The statement was released ahead of the foreign ministers’ meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio today.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said “this is of such urgency that we have to release the document as soon as possible.”

“There is serious concern on the developments in the Middle East. If you notice, this is the only document that involves geopolitics in our discussions,” Lazaro said.