By ROY C. MABASA
MANILA, Philippines — The Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) emphasized the need to respect existing international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other ASEAN initiated documents, in order to ensure regional maritime security and cooperation.
The declaration was made at the closing of the 3rd ASEAN Maritime Forum held at the historic landmark Manila Hotel which was attended by delegates representing the ten ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat.
Other documents cited by the delegates to the forum that will enhance cross-sectoral maritime cooperation, in line with the activities listed in the ASEAN Political Security Community (APSC) Blueprint, include the 1967 Bangkok Declaration, the Bali Concords, the 1976 Treaty of Amity of Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and the recent Six-Point Principles on the South China Sea.
In a statement, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Erlinda F. Basilio, who stood as chair of the forum, said the ASEAN Member States highlighted recent concepts and trends on maintaining freedom of navigation and stressed the importance of recent developments in enhancing current cooperation activities aimed at addressing sea piracy on high seas and armed robbery at sea.
According to Basilio, the delegates also exchanged views on the protection of marine environment and promoting eco-tourism and fishery regime in East Asia.
She said the ASEAN member states also identified several best practices of cooperation that are being observed to protect marine resources and bring sustainable growth to communities that can potentially benefit from such cooperative activities.
They also discussed the future work of the ASEAN Maritime Forum by looking at the various recommendations from previous meetings of the AMF and the views shared by delegates and guests experts on cross-cutting maritime issues.
Basilio said the ASEAN Member States likewise recommended that the ASEAN Secretariat conduct a study and make recommendations on the potential institutionalization of the ASEAN Maritime Forum.
Finally, the ASEAN Member States agreed to hold the 4th ASEAN Maritime Forum and the 2nd Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum in 2013.
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