Senior Representatives from 10 ASEAN Member States visited Europe last week to observe EU arrangements in managing disasters as part of the “EU-ASEAN Knowledge Exchange Activity,” aimed towards greater cooperation and exchange of skills and practices.

Jakarta , 25 April 2012

ASEAN welcomes the EU announcement of its suspension of sanctions on Myanmar.

ASEAN Chief Dr Surin Pitsuwan said that, “All ASEAN Member States welcome the suspension of sanctions on Myanmar. We have called for this soon after the country’s general elections in 2010, and we reiterated our call immediately after the by-elections in early April.”

Phnom Penh, 3 – 4 April 2012

(extract)

REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

Myanmar

WE, the Heads of State/Government of Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Member States of ASEAN, at the 19th ASEAN Summit;

REAFFIRMING our commitments to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international laws subscribed to by the ASEAN Member States;

Cambodia: 19 provinces among 24 provinces; most affected are Kampong Thom (KPT), Kratie (KRT) and Steung Treng (STG) provinces

Thailand: Total of 62 provinces affected (28 provinces at present); situation is critical

Lao PDR:

Myanmar: 8 townships across three Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing regions of the Dry Zone; Magway Region worst affected. Not classified - assessments underway.

ASEAN stands ready to assist fellow Member State Myanmar, following the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Shan State Thursday. The Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, extended the region's condolence and support in person through the Permanent Representative of Myanmar to ASEAN, U Nyan Lynn, when the two met at the ASEAN Secretariat this afternoon.

"I have been encouraged by the numerous calls, e-mails and text messages from the other Permanent Representatives to ASEAN," stated Ambassador Lynn. "I thank everyone for their

At the invitation of the Chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and their representatives met in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 22 February 2011. The Secretary-General of ASEAN also participated in the meeting.

The meeting discussed recent regional and international development, including the recent border incidents between Cambodia and Thailand.

In this connection, pursuant to the earlier written communications, Indonesia, Chair of ASEAN, further briefed the

During the 7-day mission, the team worked with the Head and senior officials of Badan Penanggulangan Bencana Nasional (Indonesia's National Agency for Disaster Management), local government

The Secretary-General of ASEAN has personally written to the many countries that have contributed to the ASEAN-led post-Cyclone Nargis efforts to convey his deep appreciation for their support.

In separate letters to his counterparts, Dr Surin Pitsuwan wrote that the contribution has assisted ASEAN in addressing the critical needs of the livelihood, wash, shelter and health activities of the Cyclone Nargis survivors. Their timely contribution reached the Cyclone affected people while assistances are greatly needed, wrote Dr Surin in his letters.