Local and foreign journalists covering the 40^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting are impressed with the facilities and equipment at the International Media Center (IMC) located at The Forum of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

Satoru Fujita, who planed in from Japan Sunday to cover the Manila meetings for the Mainichi newspaper, said the IMC is "very clean and the security personnel are courteous."

Alastair Mclndoe, Philippine correspondent of The Straits Times of Singapore, said ‘the technical setup is very good. The use of computers for free for journalists is something very helpful to us."

McIndoe said that he also covered the 12^th ASEAN Summit held last January at the brand-new Cebu International Convention Center (CICC). "The media center here is very much the same because of the facilities and the personnel manning it."

Mohamad Nor Ghani Hjabd of Radio and Television of Brunei said "the media center has all the facilities needed by the media and the setup is great. All information we need are being provided by the Media Center staff."

However, some members of the media have complained of the almost freezing temperature at the Forum, particularly when it rains.

Darren Whiteside of Reuters said, "it is very cold here inside the media center and I think, they should set up booths that will serve media people coffee during breaks."

IMC organizers have taken note of the suggestion.

The IMC, located at the PICC Forum, has around 100 computers complete with fast Internet connection that allow more than 1,000 local and foreign journalists covering the five-day affair to write and transmit their stories on real time.

As of Sunday, a total of 1,071 foreign and local journalists have been accredited by the Media Accreditation and Relations Office (MARO). Of this number, 300 are foreign journalists. Among the countries with the most number of journalists covering the Manila meetings are Korea with 83, China with 55, and Japan with 54.

Aside from the AMM, the Philippines is also hosting the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMCs) and the 14^th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), all to be held at the PICC.

With the attendance in the PMCs and the ARF of US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, a number of American journalists are also expected to cover the Manila meetings.

The IMC and the whole of the PICC complex is a Wi-fi Zone, enabling accredited media members with their own computers or laptops to transmit their stories without using the telephone lines.

Also installed at the IMC are 26 printers, four photo copiers and two fax machines.

Satellite feed for television networks that wish to broadcast events live from the PICC can be arranged with the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) through the facilities of the International Broadcasting Center (IBC).

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said today that since its inception 40 years ago, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has evolved into one of the most successful regional groupings in the world that has greatly contributed to the expansion of trade and investments, cultural development, and stability and security in the region.

In his remarks at the opening ceremonies of the 40^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) this morning at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Romulo said ASEAN has been the driving force in the stability, overall development, and towards the full economic integration of the region.

"Since its creation in 1967, ASEAN has been the driving force of positive developments in the cultural, economic, political and security fields that have done so much to reinforce our stability and progress for years to come," he said. 

Romulo said that since 1967, ASEAN, currently with 10 member countries, have overcome and healed the divisions and hostilities of the past, promoted growth, stability and integration, and has earned the respect and recognition of other countries and organizations, regionally and globally. 

"By any standard of measure, therefore, ASEAN stands out as one of the most successful regional groups that has emerged in the developing world," he said.

Romulo said that at present, the ASEAN countries, together with its development partners, would continue to work, adapt and evolve to face the challenges of globalization.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lauded today the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for shutting down its nuclear facilities and allowing inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to return to Pyongyang.

In her keynote speech at the opening of the 40^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting that opened this morning at the Philippine International Convention Center, the President also commended the members of the Six-Party Talks for their efforts in resolving the nuclear impasse in the Korean Peninsula.

"I am sure that I speak for all of the ASEAN states in expressing that we are encouraged that the Six-Party Talks aimed at resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue have resumed," she said.

The President said that ASEAN welcomes the closure of North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear facility and the return of UN inspectors to that country.

According to her, these developments are "historic milestones" in the Six-Party Talks process. "These positive developments inspire confidence that the six countries and the major world players are exerting all they can to bring about lasting stability and peace to the region," she said.

The President recalled that during the 12^th ASEAN Summit held last January in Cebu, ASEAN leaders had expressed grave concern over the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and called for diplomatic and peaceful solution to the impasse.

At the Cebu Summit, the President said that the ASEAN leaders "reaffirmed the need for full implementation of the UNSC (United Nations Security Council) Resolutions 1695 and 1718 by all UN member states as well as their commitment to the peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and negotiation."

Following is the full text of the welcome remarks delivered by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo at the opening ceremony of the 40^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting held this morning at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center:

Your Excellency

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines,

The Honorable Members of the Senate

The Honorable Speaker of the House,

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Honorable Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:

I have the great pleasure and privilege to welcome you all here to Manila for the 40^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, in the presence of Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who so successfully chaired our 12^th ASEAN Summit in Cebu last January.

After a year of chairing ASEAN, the Philippines is honored to host the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. We are also delighted to be joined by the Foreign Minister of Papua New Guinea, as a Special Observer of ASEAN, and the Vice Foreign Minister of Timor-Leste, as Guest of the Chair.

Let me also make a special mention of H. E. Ong Keng Yong, who will be completing his term as ASEAN Secretary General this coming December after five eventful years for our Association.

ASEAN’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE REGION

This year, we mark the 40^th Anniversary of the foundation of ASEAN.

Since its creation in 1967, ASEAN has been the driving force of positive developments in the cultural, economic, political and security fields that have done so much to reinforce our stability and progress for years to come.

We can measure our achievements as a regional organization by simply remembering how far we have traveled from the Southeast Asia of forty years ago. We have overcome the divisions, the hostilities in the past. We have brought all ten nations of Southeast Asia under a single ASEAN roof. We have used regional cooperation to promote growth, development and integration. We have earned the respect and recognition of countries and organizations, regionally and globally.

In Europe, they forged the European Union out of the ashes of World War II. We, in ASEAN forged our regional body in the midst of the Cold War and the challenges of decolonization. But may I add, in this respect, that we have done so in a context of far greater diversity in all fields than what our European friends ever had to manage.

Indeed, ASEAN has ensured that the emerging architecture of our region cannot be designed or constructed without our active consent and collaboration. By any standard or measure, therefore, ASEAN stands out as one of the most successful regional groups that have emerged in the developing world.

Yet it is typical of ASEAN not to rest on its laurels. The realization that the world continues to throw challenges in our direction has moved us away from complacency towards greater action. I believe our ability to adapt, to evolve, and to reengineer our Association is a unique organizational strength that has kept us in step with new demands, inside and outside our region.

PHILIPPINE CHAIRMANSHIP OF ASEAN

This has been at the very heart of the Philippine Chairmanship of ASEAN.

The decisions taken by our leaders at the 12^th ASEAN Summit in Cebu have set the future course of ASEAN that we must pursue at this 40^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and beyond.

In Cebu, we resolved to follow through on the theme of the Philippines Chairmanship, which is to forge "One Caring and Sharing Community" in our region. The centerpiece of that theme is to draft an ASEAN Charter that will define, codify and realize our aspirations to build a true ASEAN community. We await the first draft of the Charter from the High-Level Task Force under its chairperson, our very own Ambassador Rosario G. Manalo.

Our vision of a regional community is a comprehensive one. It is built on three, mutually reinforcing pillars – an ASEAN Security Community, an ASEAN Economic Community and an ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. The focus on people-centered regional community-building that we adopted in Cebu strengthens all three, but with special emphasis on the third pillar.

The future of our region rests, ultimately, in fostering a deeper sense of regional identity, where the people drive and are not driven by the building of a regional community. In Cebu, furthermore, recognizing the accelerating pace of globalization, we committed to advance the building of such a community by five years to 2015.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE 40^TH AMM

Here, at the 40^th AMM, we will review what we have done and what we need to do to carry forward our collective commitments in Cebu. We will, therefore, direct ASEAN’s path over the coming years, guided by the longer-term regional agenda, including making our Southeast Asian nuclear-weapons free, in order to promote regional security cooperation and non-proliferation.

At this AMM, we will have the opportunity to advance further the welfare of the peoples of ASEAN. We will discuss the mechanisms to implement the provisions of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers that we adopted in Cebu. We will try to establish standard operating procedures to assist ASEAN nationals caught in conflict or crisis situations in third countries. We will also discuss ways to make ASEAN increasingly relevant to the lives of our people.

ASEAN IN THE NEXT 40 YEARS

Much is expected of us. We have been a significant force for progress in our region over the last four decades. The task for the next forty years is how to sustain our ability to influence the course of events in Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world, together with our Dialogue Partners.

A Filipiniana welcome like no other.

From the colorful native dancers outside the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to the barong clad-receptionists and the piped-in traditional Filipino music inside the plenary hall, foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were treated to a uniquely Filipino welcome this morning during the opening rites of the 40^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting.  

Even President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as the keynote speaker, was elegant in her peach Filipiniana pantsuit with a matching native necklace that blended well with the stage motif of gold rattan baskets back-dropped by the ASEAN logo and this year’s theme of "One Caring and Sharing Community."

The President, who motored to the PICC straight from Malacaņang, alighted from the black presidential car at exactly 8:45 a.m. She was met by Ambassador Marciano Paynor, secretary general of the National Organizing Committee, and welcomed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo.

Visiting Foreign Ministers of the   ASEAN member countries from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam had earlier arrived one after the other with Romulo also welcoming them at the lobby of the PICC.

Likewise garbed in native barongs, the visiting foreign ministers entered the plenary hall first, followed a few minutes later by the President who was all smiles as she went up the stage.

On both sides of the stage were the flags of the 10-member countries and the ASEAN colors.

Media men, who were positioned in front of the stage had a field day clicking their cameras and taking down notes as the foreign ministers stood up to meet the President and posed for posterity. Applause greeted the President as she took her seat beside Secretary Romulo at the center stage.

Romulo then took the podium for the welcome remarks, citing the accomplishments of the ASEAN in its 40 years of existence and the directions it needs to go to build a truly caring and sharing community this side of the world.

The foreign affairs secretary then introduced the President to a big applause from the gallery that included Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., Senators Edgardo Angara and Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo cited the central role of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in building regional peace and prosperity as he opened the 40^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) this morning.

"This year, we mark the 40th Anniversary of the foundation of ASEAN.  Since its creation in 1967, ASEAN has been the driving force behind positive developments in the cultural, economic, political and security fields.    All of these have done so much to reinforce our stability and progress today and for the years to come," Romulo said in his opening remarks.

Romulo said it is typical of ASEAN not to rest on its laurels and take decisive action on issues that concern and protect the welfare and safety of its peoples as shown by the landmark agreements and policy decisions made by ASEAN Leaders at the 12^th ASEAN Summit in Cebu last January.

The Philippines currently chairs the ASEAN and is hosting this week, aside from the 40^th AMM, the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC) and the 14^th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

"The realization that the world continues to throw challenges in our direction has moved us away from complacency towards greater action.   I believe our ability to adapt, to evolve, and to reengineer our Association is a unique organizational strength that has kept us in step with new demands, inside and outside our region," he explained, adding that "this has been at the very heart of the Philippine Chairmanship of ASEAN."  

In his remarks, the Secretary cited the decisions taken by ASEAN's leaders at the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, saying that these "have set the future course of ASEAN that we must pursue at this 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and beyond."  

"In Cebu, we resolved to follow through on the theme of the Philippines Chairmanship, which is to forge 'One Caring and Sharing Community' in our region," he added.

"Our vision of a regional community is a comprehensive one.  It is built on three mutually reinforcing pillars – an ASEAN Security Community, an ASEAN Economic Community and an ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community," Romulo said. 

He noted that the focus on people-centered regional community-building that was adopted in Cebu "strengthens all three, but with special emphasis on the third pillar."  

The Philippine official explained that at the 40th AMM, "we will review what we have done and what we need to do to carry forward our collective commitments in Cebu.  We will, therefore, direct ASEAN's path over the coming years, guided by the longer-term regional agenda, including making our Southeast Asian nuclear-weapons free, in order to promote regional security cooperation and non-proliferation."

"At this AMM, we will have the opportunity to advance further the welfare of the peoples of ASEAN," Romulo said.

He added that during the AMM, the ASEAN ministers will discuss "the mechanisms to implement the provisions of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers that we adopted in Cebu."

"We will try to establish standard operating procedures to assist ASEAN nationals caught in conflict or crisis situations in third countries.   We will also discuss ways to make ASEAN increasingly relevant to the lives of our people," he added.

From the approving smile on her face, it looked like the local and foreign journalists covering the 40^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting were not the only ones impressed by the facilities at the International Media Center (IMC) at The Forum of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).  

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, too.

This morning, minutes after keynoting the opening rites of the 40^th AMM at the PICC plenary hall, the Chief Executive made a side tour of the adjacent PICC Forum and found to her pleasant surprise that the IMC facilities were working seamlessly—world-class.

During the 20-minute tour, the President was accompanied by Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., secretary general of the National Organizing Committee; Ambassador Vic Lecaros, AMM official spokesman; NOC Deputy Secretary General for Media and Communications Milton Alingod, and Presidential Assistant Lupita A. Kashiwahara.

During the tour, Louie Eleazar, IMC core executive officer for media services, briefed the President on the facilities for the use of some 1,000 local and foreign journalists covering the Manila meetings.

The President spent some time at Media Control Room which controls the satellite feeds for television networks covering the events both at The Forum and at the PICC meeting rooms. She also had a quick look of the main briefing room and the cubicles that house the mobile offices of the various media organizations covering the Manila meetings.  

It was the President’s last stop before she left the PICC Complex for her next official engagement.

The IMC has around 100 computers complete with fast Internet connections that allow local and foreign journalists covering the five-day event to write and transmit their stories on real time.