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ASEAN-UN Cooperation Encouraging Says Sultan

Bandar Seri Begawan - His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday called for the Asean-United Nations relationship to be based on values which the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has actively promoted instead of the old-fashioned, donor-recipient kind of relationship.

His Majesty said the cooperation between Asean and the UN should be based on the belief that dialogue and negotiations were the only acceptable basis on which to conduct international affairs.

His Majesty also said that he was encouraged by the progress that has been made in the Asean-UN cooperation during discussions at the 2nd Asean-US Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, RTB reported.

His Majesty was accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Also present at the summit were other Asean leaders and the UN Secretary-General.

Among matters addressed at the summit were the UN reports, the initiative for Asean - integration, United Nations assistance to Cambodia, Laos, Myamnar and Vietnam as well as Asean's role in South-South trade and the Millennium Development Goals.

His Majesty said there was hardly an area of modern life that was not covered in the Asean-UN cooperation. His Majesty, however, recognised that there were elements still needed to be stressed a lot more, and this is the kind of relationship Asean was hoping to develop with the UN.

That relationship, His Majesty said, should not be the old-fashioned, donor-recipient kind of relationship.

His Majesty stated the relationship between Asean and the UN should be based on values which Kofi Annan has actively promoted.

It should be mainly on mutual respect and understanding among all people regardless of their background or culture, shared expertise and human resources and recognition of the peoples' common humanity and needs.

His Majesty further said that Asean-UN projects and programmes had to have a very deep, underlying purpose with aims to provide the people with security in the fullest sense of the word.

His Majesty also said that Asean shared the vision of peace and stability and how best to go about achieving it.

His Majesty also expressed deep appreciation for the assistance extended to Asean by the United Nations over years in the form of funding and practical assisitance.

The summit ended with the issuance of a joint communique in which leaders welcomed the opportunity given at the summit to consider many matters that were of critical importance in current development plans in Asean member countries.

The communique also highlighted the importance of the initiative for Asean integration, Asean's role in promoting economic development and progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

The Asean leaders also welcomed UN cooperation in realising the Vientiance Action Programme's goal of increasing the capacity of member nations in preventing the spread of HIV/ AIDS in Southeast Asia. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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