KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 — Asean foreign ministers yesterday welcomed growing interest from non-regional countries to accede to the bloc’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).
Welcoming Algeria and Uruguay as new signatories to the TAC, the ministers said participation has to be based on respect for, and adherence to, Asean’s purposes and principles.
The ministers reaffirmed the importance of the treaty as a foundational code of conduct for regional interstate relations and a cornerstone for peace and stability.
“We remained committed to promoting and upholding the principles enshrined in the TAC, and emphasised the responsibility of all High Contracting Parties (HCPs) to fulfill their treaty obligations,” the ministers said in a joint communique issued yesterday after the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting here on Wednesday.
The 58th AMM concluded at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre yesterday.
Algeria and Uruguay signed the Instrument of Accession to TAC on Wednesday, bringing the total number of states party to the treaty to 57.
The ministers said they look forward to the convening of the second iteration of the Conference of the HCPs to the TAC, to be held in August at the Asean Secretariat, as part of the 50th anniversary of the TAC next year.
They added that they are anticipating the adoption of an Asean-sponsored resolution by the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the TAC.
— Bernama
