ASEAN Member Countries, Dialogue Partners Prepare For 22nd ARF Ministerial Meeting

KUCHING (Sarawak, Malaysia), June 11 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Regional Forum Senior Officials Meeting (ARF SOM) held here Wednesday, achieved constructive exchange of views on political and security situations, as well as on security challenges faced by the region. It was attended by representatives from the 27 ARF participating countries, namely the 10 ASEAN member states and 10 ASEAN dialogue partners like Australia, Canada, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States, and one ASEAN observer, Papua New Guniea. Also attending were representatives from the People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Mongolia, Pakistan, Timor Leste, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. According to ASEAN-Malaysia Director-General, Mohammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakub, the meeting was essentially to discuss preparations for the 22nd ARF Ministerial Meeting scheduled on Aug 6, this year in Kuala Lumpur. "Some of the main issues discussed were the regional architecture, developments in the Korean Peninsula and the rise of violent extremism and terrorism, in particular the so-called Islamic State (IS)," he said. He said this at a media conference after the conclusion of the meeting. Muhammad Shahrul said also discussed was the irregular movement of migrants, including the issue of Trafficking in Person and People Smuggling. "We have also discussed today (Wednesday), the outcome of the various activities held during Malaysia's Chairmanship of the ARF of the Inter-Sessional year 2014-2015, as well as endorsed various activities to be implemented in the next Inter-Sessional year 2015 -2016. "The meeting also discussed the development of ARF Work Plans on disaster relief, counter-terrorism and transnational crime on maritime security for the next three years, beginning this year," he added. He said in strengthening co-operation on cyber security, the meeting discussed the development of ARF Work Plan on security of, and in the use of information and communications technologies. Muhammad Shahrul said there was a consensus from all to come up with a joint communique which would be announced during the Aug 6 meeting. Besides the ARF SOM, Kuching had from June 9 (Tuesday) until Wednesday, hosted the East Asia Senior Officials' Meeting and the ASEAN Plus Three Senior Officials Meeting. -- BERNAMA