November 27, 1971

DECLARATION TO SECURE RECOGNITION AND RESPECT FOR SOUTH EAST ASIA A ZONE OF PEACE, FREEDOM AND NEUTRALITY

Reference: This Declaration is also published in X DFA TS No. I, p.87

DECLARATION

We the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,

Singapore and the Special Envoy of the National Executive Council of

Thailand,

Firmly believing in the merits of regional cooperation which has drawn our countries to cooperate together in the economic, social and cultural fields in the Association of South East Asian Nations,

Desirous of bringing about a relaxation of international tension and of achieving a lasting peace in South East Asia,

Inspired by the worthy aims and objectives of the United Nations, in particular by the  principles of respect for the sovereignty and  territorial integrity of all states, abstention from the  threat or use of force, peaceful settlement of international disputes, equal rights and self-determination, and noninterference in the internal affairs  of States;

Believing in the continuing validity of the "Declaration on the Promotion of World Peace and Cooperation" of the Bandung Conference of 1955 which among others enunciates the principles by which states may coexist peacefully;

Cognizant of the significant trend towards establishing nuclear-freezones, as in the "Treaty  for the Prohibition of Nuclear  Weapons in Latin America" and the Lusaka Declaration proclaiming Africa a nuclear-free zone, for the purpose of promoting world peace and security by reducing the areas of international conflict and of international tensions;

Recognizing the right of every state, large or small, to lead its national existence free from outside interference in its internal affairs  as  this interference will adversely affect its freedom, independence and integrity;

Being dedicated to the maintenance of peace, freedom and independence

unimpaired;

Believing, at the same time, in the need to meet present challenges and new developments by cooperating with all peace and freedom loving  nations, both within and outside the region in the furtherance of world peace, stability and harmony;

Reiterating their commitment, in the Bangkok Declaration that

established ASEAN in 1967, to the principle that the countries of South

Asia share a primary responsibility for strengthening the economic and social stability of the region and ensuring their peaceful and progressive national development, and that they are determined to  ensure their stability and security from external interference in any form or manifestation in order to preserve  their national  identities  in accordance  with the  ideals and aspirations of their peoples:

Being agreed that the neutralization of South East Asia is a desirable objective and that they should explore ways and means of bringing about its realization;

Convinced that the time is propitious for joint action to give effective expression to the deeply felt desire of the peoples of South East Asia to ensure the conditions of peace and stability indispensable to their independence and their economic and social well-being;

DO HEREBY STATE

1) that Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand are determined to exert initially necessary efforts to secure the recognition of and respect for South East Asia as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, free from any form or manner of interference by outside Powers.

2) that South East  Asian countries  should make concerted efforts to broaden their mutual cooperation  which would contribute to their strength and solidarity as well as to the  closer relationship among countries of the region.

DONE at Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, the 27th of November, 1971.

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia:

(Sgd.) ADAM MALIK

Minister of Foreign Affairs

On behalf of the Government of Malaysia:

(Sgd.) TUN ABDUL RAZAK BIN HUSSEIN

Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs

On behalf of the Republic of the Philippines:

(Sgd.) CARLOS P. ROMULO

Secretary of Foreign Affairs

On behalf of the Republic of Singapore:

(Sgd.) S. RAJARATNAM

Minister of Foreign Affairs

On behalf of the Kingdom of Thailand:

(Sgd.) THANAT KHOMAN

Special Envoy of the National

Executive Council, Thailand.

JOINT COMMUNIQUE

As agreed at their Meeting in New York on 2nd October 1971, a Meeting of Foreign Ministers of ASEAN countries was held in Kuala Lumpur on 26- 27 November 1971. The Meeting was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, His Excellency Tun Adam Malik; the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, His Excellency Tun Haji Abdul Razak Bin Hussein; the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, His Excellency Dr. Carlos P. Romulo; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, His Excellency Mr. S. Rajaratnam and the Special Envoy of the National Executive Council of Thailand, His Excellency Tun Thanat  Khoman. The Foreign Minister's Meeting was preceded by a meeting of their officials on 25th-26^th November 1971.

2. The Meeting was held in a very informal and friendly atmosphere and was characterized by free and frank discussions in the spirit of regional cooperation and consultation among ASEAN member countries.

3. The Foreign Ministers and the Special Envoy exchanged views and discussed matters of mutual interest concerning recent developments in the international situation as they affect the region of South East Asia.

4. The Foreign Ministers and the Special Envoy agreed to continue to consult each other with' a view to fostering an integrated approach on all matters and developments which affect the South East Asian region.

5. At the end of their deliberations, the Foreign Ministers and the Special Envoy signed and issued a Declaration in which they stated their determination to exert initially necessary efforts to secure the recognition of and respect for South East Asia as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, free from any form or manner of interference by outside Powers, and also stated that South East Asian countries should make concerted efforts to broaden the areas of cooperation which would contribute to their strength, solidarity and closer relationship.

6. The Foreign Ministers and the Special Envoy agreed that their concern for peace and stability should be manifested through a Meeting at the highest level. They accordingly agreed to recommend that a Summit Meeting of the Heads of State or Government of the members of ASEAN be held in Manila at a date to be announced later.

7. The Foreign Minister and the Special Envoy also agreed that they would bring  the contents of their Declaration to the attention of the other countries of South  East Asia and would encourage themselves with the aspirations and objective expressed in the Declaration.

8. The Foreign Ministers and the Special Envoy also agreed to establish a Committee of Senior Officials initially of the ASEAN countries to study consider what further necessary steps should be taken to bring about the realization of their objectives. The Committee would be convened in Malaysia.

9. The Foreign Ministers and the Special Envoy expressed their sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Government and people of Malaysia for the warm and generous hospitality extended to them during the Meeting.

Kuala Lumpur

27th November, 1971

Source: Supreme Court e-Library