Brussels, 27/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - In his opening statement at the ASEAN-EU Post Ministerial Conference in Kuala Lumpur on 27 July, the High Representative for the CFSP Javier Solana spoke of the essential role of these meetings. Relations between the EU and ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations, which brings together Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) have never looked so good, said Mr Solana, expressing his pleasure that discussions “are now much more about political and security issues, and no longer just the economic issues”. The most significant evidence of the work carried out together by the EU and ASEAN is the Aceh Monitoring Mission, a project which bodes well for future cooperation, he said, adding that the menace of terrorism remained a common concern. “The future for EU-ASEAN relations looks good and healthy” and “the agenda is full and there are a lot of issues that we want to continue to discuss together,” he added.
After the first East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur in December 2005, Mr Solana argued that the EU should become a full member of this authority. He also announced that the EU had decided to accede to the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. On Friday, Mr Solana is taking part in the ASEAN Regional Forum, which brings together the members of the Asian organisation and other partners (including the EU, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, India and Russia) and is devoted to the fight against terrorism.