(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 28-member European Union on Wednesday expressed their serious concern over the risk of the escalation of conflict in Gaza, which had resulted in the loss of hundreds of civilian lives.
A joint statement, released here after the 20th EU-ASEAN Ministerial meeting, called for the de-escalation of the conflict, restoration of peace and immediate ceasefire between the concerned parties. The Ministers urged the international community to act swiftly and decisively to end the current crisis through dialogue and negotiation. They underlined the urgent need for all parties to work towards a resumption of the diplomatic process and to pursue a two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Ministers had in-depth discussions and exchange of views on international and regional issues of common concern, including the Korean Peninsula, the Middle East Peace Process, Syria, Iran, the situation in North Africa and the problem of piracy off Somalia and the Gulf of Guinea. They called for a swift, full and thorough, transparent and independent international investigation into the downing of the Malaysian airliner in Eastern Ukraine in accordance with international civil aviation guidelines.
The Ministers welcomed the ongoing process of democratic transition which is taking place in Myanmar and took note of the political situation in Thailand.
The Meeting was co-chaired by Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy , and Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, as Country Coordinator of ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations. The Meeting was attended by Foreign Ministers from the EU Member States and ASEAN, and the Secretary-General of ASEAN.
The two sides agreed to work towards the upgrading of the partnership to a strategic one and tasked their senior officials to develop a roadmap for this goal.
The EU shared ASEAN's commitment in preserving the Southeast Asia region as free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, noted the statement.
Overall EU aid to South East Asia, including through bilateral assistance, will increase from 2.2 billion euro (2007-2013) to close to 3 billion euro (2014-2020), it added.
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