DFA marks 45th year of Asean founding

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario. AP FILE PHOTO

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is set to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation’s foundation on Friday amid disagreements in regional talks on the West Philippine (South China) Sea dispute.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario will host ambassadors from 10 Asean countries in ceremonies at the DFA Main Building in Pasay City, including Cambodian envoy Hos Sereythonh, who was summoned by the DFA last week.

The DFA had sought Sereythonh’s explanation for his remarks blaming the Philippines and Vietnam for Asean’s failure to adopt a joint communique regarding the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea in last month’s ministers’ meeting Phnom Penh.

Sereythonh, along with the ambassadors of member-countries the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma (Myanmar), Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, are expected to appear in Friday’s parade of colors at the DFA, where school children walk in procession wearing the national costumes of each Asean country.

Del Rosario said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas would circulate 10-million pieces of P50 bills bearing the Asean logo to commemorate the bloc’s anniversary.

“This is part of the Philippines’ contribution to Asean’s efforts to boost the spirit of community among peoples across the lands and seas of Southeast Asia,” said Del Rosario in a statement yesterday.

Del Rosario reaffirmed the Philippines commitment to strengthening a unified Asean community amid tensions resulting from competing territorial claims in the region.

“The Philippines has been steadfast in its commitment to strengthen Asean’s institutions and build an Asean Community which is people-oriented and people-centered.  The Philippines fully supports efforts to reinforce the three pillars of this Community, namely, Asean Political Community, Asean Economic Community and Asean Socio-Cultural Community,” said Del Rosario.

He cited the benefits of a successful Asean community to the region’s roughly 600-million residents.

“A progressive and cohesive community will redound to the benefit of the peoples of Southeast Asia, contribute to the continued economic development and peace and stability of the region and firmly anchor Asean’s central place in the regional security architecture,” he said.

The celebration comes shortly after Asean ministers failed to issue a joint communique due to disagreements on the Spratlys dispute at the Phnom Penh talks in July, an unprecedented closing of a ministers’ meeting in Asean’s history.