Asean to look into boosting security ties ahead of AEC

[Lite Beer]

Asean to look into boosting security ties ahead of AEC
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation 
 

BANGKOK: -- Ministers will seek knowledge on border control from partners like EU and the US

Asean will explore the ways and means of strengthening cooperation in order to tackle new, non-traditional security threats at the annual ministerial meeting in Nay Pyi Taw next week, an official said yesterday.

The grouping has enhanced regional integration and connectivity over the past few years and is about to build an economic community by the end of next year. However, Asean needs to be aware of the negative impacts of this connectivity and integration, warned Arthayudh Srisamoot, director of the Thai Foreign Ministry's Asean Affairs Department.

The negative side of the connectivity and integration includes transnational crimes, human trafficking, migration, trans-border disease and environmental problems, he said.

Asean foreign ministers will also have a chance to meet dialogue partners from other parts of the world, including the European Union and the United States, which have experience in border control, he said.

In this regard, Thailand will play an active role in forging cooperation and will, with China, co-chair the Asean Regional Forum's Inter-Sessional Meeting on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime in 2015, he said.

Thailand will also host a regional conference on August 25 and 26 on the future of security in the Asia-Pacific region.

At the forum, academics and experts will discuss trans-border issues and threats, he said.

The forum will also discuss emerging challenges, promoting conflict management and enhancing cooperation in maritime areas, Arthayudh added.

At the Nay Pyi Taw meeting, Asean members will also discuss among themselves and with dialogue partners several regional and global issues including the Middle East, North Africa, and Ukraine crises, notably the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, as well as the situations in Northeast Asia and the South China Sea, he said.

Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow, who is also acting foreign minister, will represent Thailand at the Asean meeting, where he will meet his counterparts from the grouping as well as from dialogue partners such as China, Australia and North Korea.

Basically, Sihasak will seek other countries' understanding over the Thai political development, Arthayudh said.

At the meeting with the North Korean minister, views will be exchanged about the situation in the Korean Peninsula that the international community and Asean countries are concerned about, he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Asean-to-look-into-boosting-security-ties-ahead-of-30240055.html

 

[thenation]2014-08-02[/thenation]

[NongKhaiKid]

Be careful when having ' dialogue ' with Nth. Korea as they may threaten to nuke Bkk if they don't hear what they like.

Will TAT be present to pitch LoS as a tourist destination ?

 

The EU and the US used have valuable input on border control as both have very secure borders 

Britain alone admits to something like 180,000 people who have entered on visas obtained by false applications and others who overstayed their visas and appear to have been ' mislaid '.  Perhaps one factor for Asean is they don't have all the do-gooder groups and laws that stall deportation.

 

 

 

[Lite Beer]

Sihasak to attend 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Myanmar
By Digital Content 
 

 

BANGKOK, Aug 2 -- Mr Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, is scheduled to attend the 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings from August 5-10 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

In addition to the AMM, ASEAN Foreign Ministers are scheduled to meet with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and attend a series of meetings with external partners, including the Post-Ministerial Conferences with Dialogue Partners, the 15th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 4th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the 21st ASEAN Regional Forum.

At the sub-regional level, Mr Sihasak will also attend the 7th Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 7th Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Ministerial Meeting and 4th Friends of Lower Mekong (FLM) Ministerial Meeting.

Moreover, ASEAN Foreign Ministers will discuss follow up and review of the progress of the implementation of key measures in the ASEAN Community building process, including a discussion to promote ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture.

As customary practice, ASEAN Foreign Ministers will meet with the Dialogue Partners and explore ways and means to strengthen cooperation in tackling non-traditional security issues which could become more eminent as a result of enhanced regional connectivity and closer regional integration, such as transnational crimes, illicit drug matters, trafficking in persons and migration.

In this regard, Thailand will host a Regional Conference on “The Future of Security in the Asia-Pacific: Emerging Challenges, Promoting Conflict Management and Enhancing Cooperation in Maritime Areas” in Bangkok on August 25-26 and will co-chair ASEAN Regional Forum on Inter-Sessional Meeting on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime in 2015.

The Plus One, EAS and ARF Meetings provide the chance for ASEAN Foreign Ministers and Foreign Ministers of Dialogue Partners to exchange views on key regional and international issues of common interest, such as relations among major powers in the region, situation in East Asia, South China Sea, Middle East and Northern Africa, and the situation in Ukraine.

Mr Sihasak is also scheduled to have bilateral meetings with several Foreign Ministers, including those from Indonesia, Brunei, China, Australia, and South Korea. (MCOT online news)

 

[tna]2014-08-02[/tna]

[UbonRatch]

Who's interested in where and with whom he's meeting. It's the proposals on offer which are of more concern, assuming he has any concrete offers which aid to help develop Thailand as a nation (Kingdom).

 

As for discussion with N. Korea - most of the world does not - thus Thailand = "The Shining Example" of ASEAN member states.