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Asian forum moves to bolster security response

Tuesday, May 29, 2007 (1308 reads)

MANILA, Philippines, May 23 (Associated Press) -- Asia's largest security forum, which includes the US, the European Union and China, is forming a quick-reaction group to respond to outbreaks of war and political crises, diplomats said Wednesday. The move by the 26-member ASEAN Regional Forum is considered a crucial step in deflecting criticism that it is an annual talk-shop incapable of dealing with security threats and conflicts in the volatile Asia-Pacific region. Senior diplomats meeting in Manila this week are finalizing the creation of the so-called "Friends of the Chair," a four-member ministerial-level group that can be rapidly convened when security threats erupt, said M. C. Abad Jr., a diplomat who helps oversee the forum.

North Korea reaffirms commitment to nuclear talks

Tuesday, May 29, 2007 (953 reads)

MANILA, May 24, 2007 (AFP) - North Korea has reaffirmed its commitment to multilateral talks to end a deadlock on its nuclear programme, diplomats attending a security forum said here Thursday.The commitment was made by North Korean diplomats during annual security policy talks by senior officials of the 26-nation ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Asia's only security forum composed of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' 10 members and its partners, including those involved in the six-way talks."DPRK (North Korea) reaffirmed this morning its commitment to multilateral security process," said M.C. Abad, a Filipino diplomat who heads the ARF secretariat. He said the rogue Stalinist state had submitted a document to be included in the ARF's annual security publication in which it "expressed the view that the ongoing implementation of the agreements in the six-party talks is an affirmative development.

Singapore calls for community involvement in counter-terror fight

Thursday, May 03, 2007 (1132 reads)

SINGAPORE, May 3, 2007 (AFP) - Community groups should play a bigger role in the fight against terrorism, a Singapore minister told an international forum here Thursday, saying police and military action were not enough. Beefing up security measures would remain the first line of defence against such threats, but communities could challenge the extremist ideology that fuels them, said Senior Minister for Law and Home Affairs Ho Peng Kee. "We cannot afford to only rely on the police and security services to guarantee our long-term security," he told diplomats, academics and foreign ministry officials. "Ultimately, it rests on whole communities to come together in a consolidated effort to challenge and defeat the extremist ideologies and keep our society together."