Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting Concludes Without Joint Communique

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 (Bernama) -- The 45th meeting of Asean Foreign Ministers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia over five days ended Friday without a consensus to issue a joint communique. According to a Foreign Ministry statement here Friday, the failure to issue a joint communique was the first time in the history of Asean, as there was no consensus for a joint communique on a section on the South China Sea. "Malaysia has always emphasised on the solidarity among Asean countries and as such the failure is considered a serious matter which is disappointing and should not have happened," the statement said. Malaysia's stand was that it was important for the meeting to issue a joint communique which underlined the main principle to resolve conflicts through peaceful negotiations based on international laws including the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea, the statement said. Despite the non issuance of a joint communique, Malaysia was generally satisfied with the outcome of the meeting as issues brought up by Malaysia succeeded in receiving the agreement of Asean Foreign Ministers, it said. "Malaysia is of the view that focus should be given to agreements achieved in other important areas especially on the formation of an Asean Community by 2015. "The problem dose not dampen Asean's spirit and resolution to start discussions with China to structure a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea aimed at ensuring security and peace in South China Sea," the statement added. -- BERNAMA