core sector communique

ADMM Plus Championing Peace, Stability and Understanding

Ha Noi, 11 October 2010

 

The First ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus begins in Ha Noi tomorrow with the Defence Ministers from the ten Member States meeting their counterparts from eight of ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners, marking another step forward in the strengthening of ASEAN’s community building efforts.

This meeting aims to increase the mutual confidence in the region among the countries, and to send the positive signal of ASEAN’s role as a modulating mechanism of diverse interests in East Asia, said the Secretary-General of ASEAN in Ha Noi earlier today.

“The increasing importance of East Asia as a growth engine of the world needs to assure the global community that we can also guarantee peace, stability and mutual understanding among the various players,” said Dr Surin Pitsuwan, when attending the ADMM Retreat, which is being held to prepare for the inaugural ADMM Plus.  “After all, this is the first ASEAN Defence Ministers Plus and we are eager to learn how counterparts from ASEAN Dialogue Partners share how they can contribute to peace, stability and security in the region,” said Dr Surin.

ASEAN has provided the 27-member ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) for dialogue where the defence establishments have been participating. However, the ADMM Plus is the first time that the defence establishments of ASEAN and its Dialogue Partners have their own forum at the highest level for effective dialogue and cooperation, Dr Surin emphasised. “The ADMM Plus process would greatly substantiate what the ARF has already been considering and discussing,” he added.

The world, said Dr Surin, pins so much hope on East Asia. “East Asia must rise to fulfil those expectations and only ASEAN can offer a forum, a process, and a platform for all these interactions, leading to mutual trust, transparency, and regional confidence,” he continued.

The ADMM Plus focuses on five cooperation areas: disaster relief, counter-terrorism, maritime security, peacekeeping, and military medicine. The establishment of the ADMM Plus is considered a milestone in the evolution of the ASEAN defence sectoral body, and will serve as a platform for the defence establishments of ASEAN and their key security partners to strengthen the region’s capacity and effectiveness in addressing common security challenges.

Since its inception in 2006, the ADMM has facilitated cooperation on key areas including on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as cooperation with civil society organisations on non-traditional security issues. A three-year ADMM programme was adopted the following year.

The Dialogue Partners attending the meeting comprise all the major military powers from around the world: Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Russian Federation and the United States.