The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have called for a cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. This was stated in a joint statement adopted Friday in Phnom Penh by participants at the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which is being organized by Cambodia, that chairs the organization.
"With regard to Ukraine, as to all nations, we reaffirm our respect for sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity. We reiterate our call for compliance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations," the communiqué reads.
The meeting stressed the importance of an immediate cessation of hostilities and the creation of favorable conditions for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. The ASEAN foreign ministers voiced their support for the UN Secretary-General's efforts to find a peaceful solution to the situation in Ukraine and called for the security of civilians and unhindered access to humanitarian aid for those in need.
North Korea's nuclear issue
The meeting also called on all concerned parties to resume peaceful dialogue, continue to work toward resolving the DPRK's nuclear problem and achieving a nuclear-free status for the Korean Peninsula.
"We call on all parties concerned to resume peaceful dialogue and continue to work toward achieving lasting peace and stability on the nuclear-free Korean Peninsula," the communiqué said. "The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the full implementation of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and noted international efforts to achieve by peaceful means the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."
"We reaffirm our willingness to play a constructive role, including through the use of ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Security Forum (ARF), to create an enabling environment for peaceful dialogue among the parties concerned," the ASEAN foreign ministers' statement stressed.
Security in the South China Sea
In addition, the ASEAN foreign ministers spoke in favor of strengthening peace and security in the South China Sea (SCS).
"We reaffirm the importance of maintaining and strengthening peace, security, stability, freedom of navigation and aviation in the South China Sea," the communiqué said. The ministers also stressed the need for confidence-building measures between parties in the South China Sea and reaffirmed the importance of upholding international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The foreign ministers called for responsible implementation of all provisions of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Rules of Conduct of Parties in the SCS, as well as the early adoption of an "effective and meaningful Code of Conduct for Parties."
For decades, China has been in dispute with a number of ASEAN countries over the territorial ownership of a number of islands in the SCS, offshore of which substantial hydrocarbon reserves have been discovered. This conflict involves, to varying degrees, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was founded in 1967 and today unites ten countries of Southeast Asia - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Press-service MFA RF\TASS
Based on materials TASS