CO-CHAIRS' SUMMARY REPORT OF THE SECOND MEETING OF THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MANILA 000553 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL RP SUBJECT: CO-CHAIRS' SUMMARY REPORT OF THE SECOND MEETING OF THE ASEAN ARF EEPS, FEBRUARY 5-6, 2007 IN MANILA ¶1. The Department of Foreign Affairs has requested that Embassy forward to relevant U.S. authorities the summary report from the ARF EEP meeting in Manila. Full text in para 3. ¶2. Cover letter: quote Department of Foreign Affairs Republic of the Philippines 12 February 2007 Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to provide you the Co-Chairs' Summary Report of the Second Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum Experts and Eminent Persons (ARF EEPs) held last 5-6 February 2007 in Manila. With my best regards, Sincerely yours, /s/ Erlinda F. Basilio Undersecretary for Policy and ARF SOM Leader-Philippines ARF SO Leaders ASEAN Secretariat End quote ¶3. Report: Quote CO-CHAIRS' SUMMARY REPORT OF THE SECOND MEETING OF THE EXPERTS AND EMINENT PERSONS, THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM Manila, the Philippines 5-6 February 2007 ¶1. The Second Meeting of Experts and Eminent Persons (EEPs) of the ARF was held in Manila, the Philippines on February 5-6, 2007 in order to discuss multilateral security cooperation in Northeast Asia. The meeting was co-chaired by elected EEPs, Carolina Hernandez from the Philippines, ARF Chair country and Chung-in Moon of the Republic of Korea. The meeting was attended by 26 EEPs and 40 observers from 25 countries, and the ASEAN Secretariat. ¶2. H.E. Dr. Alberto G. Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines and Chairman of the ASEAN Regional Forum, delivered the welcoming remarks and recalled the recommendations of the 13th ARF in Kuala Lumpur in July 2006. Given the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, the Secretary noted the timeliness of this meeting's theme and reaffirmed ARF's support for the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement to establish a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and for UN Security Council Resolutions 1695 and 1718. He noted the steady progress of trilateral cooperation among Northeast Asian countries as evidenced by the recent Summit Meeting of China, Japan and ROK held in Cebu, the Philippines in January 2007. He then stressed the need for the ARF to move closer toward preventive diplomacy and reaffirmed the Philippines' enhanced role and regional leadership as ARF Chair. ¶3. The meeting was organized into four sessions: the overall security situation in Northeast Asia; non-traditional security issues in Northeast Asia; lessons from other regional security cooperation and their implications for Northeast Asia: EU and ASEAN cases; and enhancement of multilateral security cooperation in Northeast Asia: what and how. Overall Security Situation in Northeast Asia ¶4. Despite the relative peace and the growing economic and socio-cultural interdependence among countries in the region, the overall security situation in Northeast Asia has remained precarious and uncertain. ¶5. The DPRK's nuclear program is a serious threat to the peace and security of Northeast Asia. The EEPs encouraged the full implementation of the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement which reaffirmed the role of the Six Party Talk process as the most viable mechanism for the peaceful resolution of the nuclear problem. Full and concerted implementation of UN Security Resolution 1718 was also strongly encouraged to dissuade the DPRK's nuclear ambitions. ¶6. The rise of China and Japan's move to become a 'normal state' should not have a negative impact on the security situation in Northeast Asia so long as China's rise remains peaceful and the US-Japan security alliance remains stable. Concerns were also raised on the issues of history and nationalism, and their adverse effect on regional cooperation in Northeast Asia. ¶7. Multilateral security cooperation in Northeast Asia, in the opinion of the EEPs is the best approach to cope with actual MANILA 00000553 002 OF 003 security challenges. Non-Traditional Security Issues in Northeast Asia ¶8. While Northeast Asia lack a multilateral security institution other than the Six Party Talks process, Non traditional security (NTS) concerns offer opportunities for regional cooperation especially in environmental security, energy security, and infectious diseases. In addition, the need for cooperation in counter-terrorism, maritime security and human security, such as the issue of refugees, was also emphasized. ¶9. In order to cope with non-traditional security issues it was suggested that northeast Asian countries actively pursue comprehensive and cooperative security and where relevant, learn from the experiences of other regions such as ASEAN and Europe. Lessons from Other Regional Security Cooperation and Their Implications for Northeast Asia: E and ASEAN Cases ¶10. ASEAN was recognized as on of the more successful cases of regional securiy cooperation, as it has overcome suspicion and hostility while enhancing mutual trust and transparency. ASEAN's success was attributed to political will, leadership commitment, the "ASEAN Way", pragmatism and external support. The role of track II mechanisms was also valuable in realizing ASEAN's goals of regional stability and security. The experiences of the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) were regarded as other successful examples of regional security cooperation. European experiences may not be easily applicable to Northeast Asia at this time but the Northeast Asia region has a lot to learn from European experiences in terms of transparency, enhancing mutual confidence and fostering cooperation. ¶11. Contextual differences notwithstanding, Northeast Asia may learn from the experiences of ASEAN and Europe. The lessons to be learned include political leadership, commitment towards regional cooperation, more institutionalized patterns of cooperation, and multiple layers of interaction (bilateral, trilateral, sub-regional, regional, global). Effective utilization of track II mechanisms in promoting regional cooperation in Northeast Asia was also emphasized. Enhancement of Multilateral Security Cooperation in Northeast Asia ¶12. Although Northeast Asia's security environment is complicated by various traditional and non-traditional security issues coupled with the rise of nationalist sentiments and the contentious DPRK nuclear issue, these challenges can be met by simultaneous dialogue-oriented and action-oriented multilateral cooperation from top-down and bottom-up approach which could eventually lead to comprehensive security cooperation in the region. While such cooperation has not yet been institutionalized in Northeast Asia, a number of significant multilateral efforts have emerged at the official and track II levels. It was recognized that the Six-Party Talk process could pave the way for multilateral cooperation, not only in the security areas but also in other areas. ¶13. While there is a need to enhance multilateral security cooperation in Northeast Asia, it must be ensured that its development or evolution would not undermine existing region-wide mechanisms. ARF can and should contribute to multilateral security in Northeast Asia and the wider East Asian region. Recommendations ¶14. The following ideas were proposed regarding the enhancement of multilateral security cooperation in Northeast Asia: - Encourage regional dialogue and cooperation in the peaceful settlement of disputes and ensure that cooperative mechanisms are effective, efficient, flexible, and mutually responsive to the rapidly changing world - Strengthen regional capacity, including the provision of human, technical and financial assistance, particularly in the areas of conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict stabilization - Organize small working groups of EEPs for in-depth discussion on important security issues, such as secure energy supply, environmental degradation and Northeast Asian multilateral security cooperation. Furthermore, government officials participating in working group meetings as observers may convene separate meetings, and exchange views on how to make best use of policy recommendations proposed by the EEPs; and - Use ARF meetings as opportunities for the participants of the Six Party Talk process and other interested ARF participants to hold separate meetings to discuss various security issues in Northeast Asia including the promotion of multilateral security cooperation in MANILA 00000553 003.3 OF 003 the region. Manila, 6 February 2007 End quote KENNEY