Snowy Owl
Retired in 2010, In Memoriam
Security, Avian Flu Dominate First Day Of Asean SOM
KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 (Bernama) -- A variety of issues ranging from the environment to regional security topped the discussions on the first day of the Asean senior officials meeting (SOM) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) here Saturday.
The discussions ended far beyond the scheduled time, a clear sign of the importance of the issues at hand, to be further discussed and endorsed at the two-day 39th Asean Ministerial Meeting (AMM) which begins on Tuesday.
The SOM started with the Asean Standing Committee (ASC) and senior officals draft committee session in the morning.
The session was chaired by Malaysia's Asean Director-General Datuk Hussein Haniff. It was followed by the discussion on the Initiative for Asean Integration (IAI).
Regional issues were given prominence and the officials spent hours deliberating on the draft of the communique to be issued at the end of the AMM.
Diplomatic sources said the officials focused on pressing current issues in Southeast Asia like the Avian Influenza that caused havoc in the region in 2004.
The outbreak killed about 30 people and caused adverse economic impact, forcing farmers to cull some three million birds in the region.
The sources said the officials also discussed security in the Straits of Melaka, another touchy subject but of great importance as some 60,000 ships pass through the world's busiest sea-lane.
Sea piracy has been a major concern in the straits as ships and crews continue to fall victim to pirates.
The officials of the 10-member Asean also looked for ways to put into place a comprehensive early warning system for tsunamis which continue to devastate the coastal communities.
The discussions ended far beyond the scheduled time, a clear sign of the importance of the issues at hand, to be further discussed and endorsed at the two-day 39th Asean Ministerial Meeting (AMM) which begins on Tuesday.
The SOM started with the Asean Standing Committee (ASC) and senior officals draft committee session in the morning.
The session was chaired by Malaysia's Asean Director-General Datuk Hussein Haniff. It was followed by the discussion on the Initiative for Asean Integration (IAI).
Regional issues were given prominence and the officials spent hours deliberating on the draft of the communique to be issued at the end of the AMM.
Diplomatic sources said the officials focused on pressing current issues in Southeast Asia like the Avian Influenza that caused havoc in the region in 2004.
The outbreak killed about 30 people and caused adverse economic impact, forcing farmers to cull some three million birds in the region.
The sources said the officials also discussed security in the Straits of Melaka, another touchy subject but of great importance as some 60,000 ships pass through the world's busiest sea-lane.
Sea piracy has been a major concern in the straits as ships and crews continue to fall victim to pirates.
The officials of the 10-member Asean also looked for ways to put into place a comprehensive early warning system for tsunamis which continue to devastate the coastal communities.