Day: February 4, 2022

ASEAN Prize is a regional premier award to recognize the inspiring achievements of ASEAN citizens or ASEAN-based organizations with significant contribution toward ASEAN community-building efforts. The ASEAN Prize 2022 is officially open for nominations. The search for an outstanding ASEAN citizen or institution to receive this regional premier award will open until 25 April.

ASEAN Prize recognises ASEAN individuals and institutions who have made impactful differences and promoted a greater ASEAN identity towards ASEAN Community building.

Check out the eligibility and requirements before submitting your nomination to the ASEAN Prize National Focal Points in your respective country.

Source: Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Don discussed the repatriation process of displaced people in Bangladesh to Rakhine State and welcomed the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand – Bangladesh, during a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh.

On 31 January 2022, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, had a telephone conversation with H.E. Dr. Abulkalam Abdul Momen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, to exchange New Year greetings. Both sides discussed the repatriation process of displaced people in Bangladesh to Rakhine State. Bangladesh has given shelter to approximately 1.1 million displaced people. On this issue, the Deputy Prime Minister reiterated Thailand’s readiness to support the repatriation process both bilaterally and multilaterally within the ASEAN framework.

The Foreign Minister of Bangladesh expressed appreciation to the Thai Government for the repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals from Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bangladeshi side also appreciated Thailand’s offer of the Duty Free/Quota Free (DFQF) scheme and encouraged more investment from Thai investors in various sectors, particularly in the agro-processing industries.

Both sides also welcomed the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Bangladesh in 2021 and agreed to support and promote celebratory activities throughout the year, including the exchange of high-level visits to strengthen bilateral relations.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand

SEOUL– South Korea’s top diplomat, in phone talks with his Japanese counterpart yesterday, protested against Japan’s bid to put a war-linked mine, in the UNESCO heritage list, renewing diplomatic rows between Seoul and Tokyo over historical issues.

South Korean Foreign Minister, Chung Eui-yong, held phone talks with his Japanese counterpart, Yoshimasa Hayashi, expressing deep disappointment with, and protesting against Japan’s push to nominate the controversial Sado mine, for the UNESCO World Heritage list, according to Seoul’s foreign ministry.

Chung said, the correct perception over history is the basis for future-oriented relations between South Korea and Japan, noting, the Sado mine represents the painful history relevant to wartime forced labour of Koreans during the 1910-1945 Japanese colonisation of the Korean Peninsula.

South Korean historians say, thousands of Koreans were forced by Imperial Japan into heavy labour for the gold and silver mines on Sado Island, which were turned into facilities to produce war-related materials, during World War II. The mine was shut down in 1989.

The Japanese government submitted the letter of recommendation for the mine to be listed in the UNESCO heritage earlier this week.

Chung urged Japan to fulfill its promise, to install an information centre on the forced labour of Koreans, at its existing UNESCO heritage sites, including Hashima Island.

The South Korean foreign minister also called on Japan, to take more active measures over historical issues, including the wartime forced labour and the sexual slavery of Korean women, during the colonisation, to seek solutions that can be accepted by the victims.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

Jawa Tengah, Indonesia

Event Date : Tue, 01 Feb 2022

AHADID: AHA-FL-2022-000141-IDN | GLIDE Number:

Impact Update Date : Tue, 01 Feb 2022 23:40:00

AFFECTED AREA/S

Tegal

DESCRIPTION

Cause: Heavy rainfall

Location: Kec. Margasari, Kec. Kramat, Kec. Balapulang

Source: ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance

DHAKA, 04 February 2022 — Philippine Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alan L. Deniega presented his Letter of Credence to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, at formal ceremonies held at the President’s House in Colombo on 01 February 2022.

Ambassador Deniega congratulated President Rajapaksa on the upcoming celebrations for the 74th Independence Day of Sri Lanka.

After the ceremony, Ambassador Deniega met with Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris. The two discussed the close relationship between the Philippines and Sri Lanka, including how to move it forward given the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in January last year, and the expected normalization of the pandemic situation in most parts of the world.

Among the key areas of cooperation are economic development (including sharing of technical expertise in agricultural matters), defense cooperation and counterterrorism, people-to-people exchanges (especially tourism), and environmental protection.

The Ambassador also thanked Sri Lankan government officials for their assistance in looking after the concerns and welfare of the Filipinos based in Sri Lanka, especially during the repatriation flights to the Philippines due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: Republic of Philippines Department Of Foreign Affairs

UNITED NATIONS, New York, 04 February 2022 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. told fellow Ministers and other officials that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is a good example of successful mediation. The Secretary shared this statement at the 11th Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Mediation hosted virtually by the Governments of Finland and Turkey on 02 February 2022.

Quoting President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Secretary Locsin said, “The creation of the BARMM brings us a step closer to the realization of our decades-old dream of a peaceful region governed by the autonomous government that serves all Muslims, Christians, lumads and other indigenous peoples, and every Filipino who also call Mindanao their home…proof of our determination to bring genuine peace and development to Muslim Mindanao through a responsive government that truly reflects the identity of its people.”

The Ministerial Meeting was convened under the theme, “Mediation as a tool for peaceful settlement and resolution of violent conflicts: Taking stock after 10 years of the first UN Resolution and looking ahead.”

Secretary Locsin also highlighted the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes as the instrument that gave the legal framework for the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

The UN will commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Manila Declaration on 15 November 2022.

Secretary Locsin concluded his statement by saying that “The key is sincerity proved by complete transparency between the parties as to their intentions and actions. And this is achieved only by mediation; never by imposition; unless the unity and therefore the life of the Republic is at stake. Then history takes over again.”

United Nations Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs stressed that UN’s “mediation practices will inform and be informed by the New Agenda for Peace, which the Secretary-General has committed to developing as part of Our Common Agenda,” a global roadmap for ensuring a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto of Finland said that “in analyzing current conflict situations, Member States must take into account the opportunities that mediation may provide as a tool for conflict prevention and resolution,” while Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu of Turkey mentioned the use of artificial intelligence in mediation “to reach more people,” and announced that the 8th Istanbul Mediation Conference will be held in Antalya on 10 March 2022.

Established on 24 September 2010 and co-chaired by Finland and Turkey, the Group of Friends of Mediation aims to promote and advance the use of mediation in the peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and resolution, as well as to generate support for the development of mediation. With over 50 Members (including ASEAN and EU), the Group of Friends of Mediation gives a strong voice to mediation efforts worldwide.

The Philippines is one of the founding members of the Group.

Source: Republic of Philippines Department Of Foreign Affairs