JAKARTA, Nov 17 — Asean defence ministers have raised their growing concerns over the escalating situation in the Middle East during the 17th Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and 10th ADMM-Plus meetings, according to the chairman’s statement.
Stressing the seriousness, it said member states urged for immediate attention and constructive dialogue to address the ongoing conflicts in Gaza.
The meeting advocated for the swift establishment of a humanitarian corridor to facilitate the unimpeded delivery of aid to those affected by the conflict.
“The meeting supported the initiation of peace negotiations aimed at achieving a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders per international law and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” the statement read.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and his Asean counterparts met for a two-day 17th Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting and 10th ADMM-Plus meetings, chaired by Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, which concluded yesterday.
The ministers also confirmed their support for the Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council Leaders’ Statement on Gaza’s development and the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the recent escalation of armed conflicts in the Middle East, issued on October 20.
The meeting called for an immediate, lasting humanitarian truce, prioritising civilian protection, including Asean nationals, and unconditional release of hostages.
It urged the UN, especially the Security Council, to prevent conflict escalation and emphasised protecting civilians, especially Palestinians.
Meanwhile, they also endorsed a joint statement on Women, Peace, and Security at the ADMM-Plus meeting, which reaffirmed commitment to implement the Asean Regional Plan and advance the WPS agenda in work plans from 2024 to 2027.
The ADMM-Plus meeting is a platform for Asean and eight dialogue partners to assess security cooperation for regional peace and development.
The dialogue partners include Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States.
— Bernama
