Brussels/Madrid, 07/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - At the end of their Thursday and Friday meetings in Madrid, ASEM Foreign Affairs Ministers adopted a series of political declarations and approved new initiatives for strengthening co-operation between the Union and the ten Asian counties present at these informal talks (Japan, China, South Korea and 7 ASEAN members).
After discussing the main international and regional current affairs themes (globalisation, the economy, security after 11 September and East Timor), Ministers expressed concern at the increased tension between India and Pakistan over Kashmir for which they called the two sides to immediate talks in order to diminish the risk of a nuclear confrontation. They explained that it was urgent to put an end to this vicious circle for which the consequences could not be fathomed and which would be felt throughtout the region and beyond. The Europeans and their Asian partners are calling for an immediate cessation of all terrorist activities in the disputed zone and have welcomed Pakistani promises to relaunch the peace process but are waiting for Islamabad to take practical steps to achieve this end. In another declaration, the partners showed support for the attempt to relaunch the peace processes in the Middle-East within the framework of an international conference in which the United Nations would have an important role, at the same time as recognising the efforts made by the "Quartet" (USA, EU and Russia). They also voted in favour of the declaration of the "historic Arab Summit of last March, supporting the idea of a security mechanism between Israelis and Palestinians by using a third party and the possible support of the international community to preserve, strengthen and help the Palestinian Authority" (institutional and economic reconstruction, security, governance, humanitarian and financial aid etc.). On the political front, the partners welcomed the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by the Burmese junta and explained that they were waiting for other positive and concrete action for national reconciliation. The question of accession of ASEM countries has been, as expected, put off until the next summit in Hanoi in 2004.
Ministers approved a number of joint initiatives at which the next summit in Copenhagen is expected to give the green light, the setting up of a "workshop" on "the future of employment and the quality of work". This particularly vague formula has the merit of leaving the door open for more dialogue on fundamental social standards including the banning of child labour, forced labour etc and a number of highly sensitive issues which had already provoked some notoriously unproductive discussions before and at Doha at the WTO. Other Euro-Asian initiatives which will soon be acted on intend to optimise the war on terrorism (ASEM seminar sponsored by China, Japan, Spain, Germany and Denmark), reinforcing inter-regional cultural ties (conference on cultures and civilisation, sponsored by China, France, Denmark and Singapore) and dealing with the problems linked to the management of natural resources (at a workshop on the different aspect of water management, co-financed by China and France). Ministers also examined the fields where partnerships could be developed in common activities within the context of Asian-European co-operation (AECF): dialogue on the elaboration of market systems in the context of globalisation, forum on references on performances and information technologies and communications, exchanging experiences on planning and the implementation of fiscal policies, co-operation in training and technical assistance in the banking sector, promotion of tourism for eradicating hunger and poverty and an information campaign addressed to young people on drugs.