President Benigno Aquino III will push for a declaration on the conduct of parties contesting the Spratly Islands at the upcoming 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings in Indonesia this weekend. Aquino's agenda at the May 7-8 summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, will also include human trafficking and interconnectivity in the region, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. “It is the country's aspiration that this potential flashpoint (Spratlys) can be transformed into a zone of peace, friendship, freedom and cooperation," the DFA said in a news release posted on its website. “It goes without saying that the success of the RORO (roll-on-roll-off) linkages is dependent on enhancing maritime security and maintaining the integrity of ASEAN’s sea lanes," it added. A report on dzBB radio said Aquino will be accompanied by Secretaries Albert del Rosario (Foreign Affairs), Cesar Purisima (Finance), Gregory Domingo (Trade), and Jose Almendras (Energy). He is expected to return to the country Sunday afternoon. The Philippines has disputing claims on the Spratlys along with fellow ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam; and with China and Taiwan. Earlier this year, a Philippine-sanctioned exploration vessel claimed it was harassed by Chinese military ships in the Reed Bank area. Maritime security The DFA said Aquino will also push for maritime security at the ASEAN summit, through the effective and full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea soonest. It said Aquino will likewise promote a Philippine initiative for further connectivity within the Southeast Asian region. Also, it said the Philippines will work on further enhancing cooperation among ASEAN member states to achieve ASEAN’s community building goals and to support Indonesia’s theme, “ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations." “The Summit will review the developments in the ASEAN Community Pillars of political-security, economic and socio-cultural, and the master plan on ASEAN Connectivity, where the Philippines will push for its initiative of maritime ASEAN and mainland maritime connectivity patterned after the Roll-on/ Roll-off (RO-RO) linkages," the DFA said. At the summit, the DFA said Aquino will pursue the following initiatives as the Philippines' contribution to ASEAN's community building goals:
Promotion of Human Rights through the drafting of an ASEAN Declaration on Human Rights. Trafficking in Persons: As the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) Lead Shepherd on Trafficking in Persons (TIP), the Philippines looks forward to the adoption of an ASEAN Convention to address this multi-faceted issue. In relation to ASEAN's efforts to address this challenge, the Philippines will host an Experts' Meeting to study the feasibility study of developing an ASEAN Convention on Trafficking in Persons (ACTIP) on June 16 in Manila. Ratification of the Third Protocol to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC): Aquino signed the instrument of ratification of the Third Protocol amending TAC on March 24, and the instrument of ratification was deposited at the ASEAN Secretariat on April 15. So far only two High Contracting Parties to the TAC have ratified the Protocol--Singapore and France. The Third Protocol amends the TAC to allow states outside Southeast Asia and regional organizations composed of sovereign states, such as the European Union, to become parties to the TAC. ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): The Philippines supports Indonesia's Chairmanship of the ARF for 2011. The Philippines is confident that the ARF will continue to be a primary forum to discuss political and security issues in the region under Indonesia's Chairmanship. The ARF Seminar on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was held last March 8 and 9 in Manila, co-chaired by the Philippines and Australia. The success of this event illustrates ASEAN's shared interest in promoting regional maritime security through a better understanding of UNCLOS. Timor-Leste’s Application of Membership into ASEAN: The Philippines welcomes Timor-Leste's recent submission of its application to full membership in ASEAN. The Philippines supports Timor-Leste’s bid to become a member of the ASEAN family at the soonest possible time provided it is able to comply with all obligations of membership. Cambodia-Thailand Conflict: The Philippines commends Indonesia for its efforts to establish an environment conducive for peaceful dialogue to assist Cambodia and Thailand in resolving their differences. The Philippines calls on both countries to move forward in the interest of the region's peace and stability aligned with the principles of the TAC and the ASEAN Charter. Implementation of the Master Plan on Connectivity (MPAC): The Philippines strongly advocates the creation of a nautical highway through the RO-RO concept in addition to road connectivity to complete the missing links in the region. The Philippines looks forward to working with ASEAN's dialogue partners on connectivity initiatives, especially on the feasibility study on the ASEAN RO-RO and Short-Sea Shipping, a Philippine initiative included in the 15 flagship programs in the MPAC; and the feasibility study on the Extension of the Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipiline (TAGP) to BIMB-EAGA, which is one of the key actions in the MPAC. Finalization of the draft Instrument for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers: ASEAN should strive for a legally binding instrument, consistent with international laws and conventions, to implement the ASEAN Declaration on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers issued on 13 January 2007 in Cebu City. ASEAN is home to around 462,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB): The Philippines encourages the remaining ASEAN Member States to ratify the Establishment of the ACB. Ratification of the Agreement will provide the legal basis for the ASEAN Member States to contribute to the ASEAN Biodiversity Fund to sustain the projects of the ACB. East Asia Summit: The Philippines supports the full participation of the United States and Russian Federation into the East Asia Summit, a leaders-led forum for strategic political, security and economic cooperation. “As a founding member of ASEAN, the Philippines attaches great importance to its active participation in the organization," the DFA said. Last Aug. 9, Aquino had committed to ensure that ASEAN achieves its goal of a people-oriented regional community through ASEAN’s three community pillars. Some of the concrete steps he mentioned include the country's commitment to abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), the support for ASEAN Connectivity and further cultural exchanges with its ASEAN neighbors. Del Rosario, the DFA chief, said during his meeting with the members of the diplomatic corps on April 5 that ASEAN will be a cornerstone in promoting national security. “Thus, the Philippines will strengthen its bilateral relations with ASEAN member states, will rely on ASEAN in resolving its territorial disputes with other countries, and will strive for the realization of an ASEAN Community and its three pillars," the DFA said. — KBK, GMA News 
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