montag
02-08-2007, 11:36 AM
ASEAN welcomes North Korea’s shutdown of nuke facilities
By Cynthia Balana
Inquirer
Last updated 05:22pm (Mla time) 07/30/2007
MANILA, Philippines -- The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) welcomed on Monday North Korea's decision to close its nuclear facilities.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said that during his bilateral talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun on Sunday, he reiterated ASEAN's desire for the successful outcome of the Six-Party Talks that would eventually free the Korean peninsula from nuclear weapons.
He said ASEAN also welcomed the closure of the Yongbyon nuclear facility in North Korea under verification procedures to be undertaken by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the United Nations.
The Six-Party Talks aim to find a peaceful resolution to the security concerns as a result of the North Korean nuclear weapons program.
There have been a series of meetings with six participating states: China, South Korea, North Korea, the United States, the Russian Federation, and Japan. These talks were a result of North Korea withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 2003.
Five rounds of talks from 2003 to 2007 produced little progress until the third phase of the fifth round of talks, when North Korea agreed to shut down its nuclear facilities in exchange for fuel aid and steps towards the normalization of relations with the United States and Japan.
Romulo is the chairman of the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meetings, which formally opened on Monday at the Philippine International Convention Center with President Macapagal-Arroyo as the keynote speaker.
Pak is in the Philippines on a bilateral visit and to attend the 27-nation 14th ASEAN Regional Forum.
During the bilateral meeting, Romulo and Pak discussed bilateral issues and signed the Agreement on the Establishment of a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between the foreign affairs ministries of both countries.
This agreement establishes the mechanism through which regular consultations can be held between the two countries' foreign ministries.
"The objective is to promote further mutual understanding and cooperation between our two countries," Romulo said.
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view_article.php?article_id=79542
By Cynthia Balana
Inquirer
Last updated 05:22pm (Mla time) 07/30/2007
MANILA, Philippines -- The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) welcomed on Monday North Korea's decision to close its nuclear facilities.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said that during his bilateral talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun on Sunday, he reiterated ASEAN's desire for the successful outcome of the Six-Party Talks that would eventually free the Korean peninsula from nuclear weapons.
He said ASEAN also welcomed the closure of the Yongbyon nuclear facility in North Korea under verification procedures to be undertaken by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the United Nations.
The Six-Party Talks aim to find a peaceful resolution to the security concerns as a result of the North Korean nuclear weapons program.
There have been a series of meetings with six participating states: China, South Korea, North Korea, the United States, the Russian Federation, and Japan. These talks were a result of North Korea withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 2003.
Five rounds of talks from 2003 to 2007 produced little progress until the third phase of the fifth round of talks, when North Korea agreed to shut down its nuclear facilities in exchange for fuel aid and steps towards the normalization of relations with the United States and Japan.
Romulo is the chairman of the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meetings, which formally opened on Monday at the Philippine International Convention Center with President Macapagal-Arroyo as the keynote speaker.
Pak is in the Philippines on a bilateral visit and to attend the 27-nation 14th ASEAN Regional Forum.
During the bilateral meeting, Romulo and Pak discussed bilateral issues and signed the Agreement on the Establishment of a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between the foreign affairs ministries of both countries.
This agreement establishes the mechanism through which regular consultations can be held between the two countries' foreign ministries.
"The objective is to promote further mutual understanding and cooperation between our two countries," Romulo said.
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view_article.php?article_id=79542