1.  The First Conference of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information was held in Jakarta from 24 - 25 May 1989, preceded by a Senior Officials Meeting from 21 - 22 May 1989.

2.  The Conference was attended by the Special Adviser to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam in the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Dato Haji Isa bin Pehin Dato Haji Ibrahim; the Minister of Information of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Harmoko; the Minister of Information of Malaysia, Dato' Mohamed Rahmat; the Press Undersecretary of the Republic of the Philippines, Mr. Noel Tolentino; the Minister for Communications and Information of the Republic of Singapore, Dr. Yeo Ning Hong; and the Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office in charge of Information of the Kingdom of Thailand, Khunying Supatra Masdit.

3.  The Conference was declared open by H.E. President Soeharto in a ceremony hold at Bina Graha. H. E. the President addressed the distinguished Ministers who attended the opening ceremony.

4.  In his address, H.E. President Soeharto said that "The Conference of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information has a great significance for the future of ASEAN. Because the present conference constitutes a forum to promote cooperation in the fields of information and communication, which is essential for the effort of enhancing greater sense of regional solidarity among ASEAN countries. It is precisely this sense of regional solidarity that becomes one of our principal assets to realise the aspirations of ASEAN, to develop a balanced dissemination of information and to support the creation of a New International Order in the political and economic areas.

5.  The Head of State pointed out that "It is assumed that without information and communication, human beings will find difficulties in their life. President Soeharto said further that "information and communication are not mere human needs, but one of the means to create the sense of regional solidarity and to achieve greater well-being, which actually remains the goal of our common struggle. This is therefore the reason why I warmly welcome the holding of this important conference in Indonesia. I sincerely hope the atmosphere and the hospitality of the Indonesian people are helpful to all of you, conference delegates, to adopt resolutions which are highly beneficial for the creation of greater well-being."

6.  President Soeharto stated "The fraternal ties, mutual trust and cooperation among its member-states are increasingly becoming stronger, making ASEAN today an impressive forum of regional cooperation. Through increasingly stronger fraternal ties, mutual trust and cooperation, ASEAN reflects the growing determination of its members to handle and chart their own future."

7.  The President pointed out "The fact shows that developing countries, including ASEAN member states, are still being flooded up to now by news which are, on the one hand, only benefiting the interest of the advanced countries, while on the other hand, destroying the image of the developing countries. This is definitely unfair and we have to rectify it. The struggle to correct the imbalance in these information and communication areas are also an important part of the struggle to establish a politically and economically more equitable New International Order. As far as ASEAN is concerned, this struggle represents the one being waged for the creation of Southeast Asia as a zone of peace, freedom and neutrality."

8.  President Soeharto emphasized that "During the current conference, it is extremely useful for us, fellow ASEAN members, to exchange our respective experiences and to learn from each other about our respective successes and failures aimed at promoting the cooperation in the dissemination of information beneficial to development and to all partners, as well as enhancing the potentials of communication and information media."

9.  President Soeharto expressed hope that "the present Conference of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information succeeded in formulating the directives for the implementation of the resolutions adopted during the ASEAN Summit Meeting in the fields of information and communication, intensifying the exchange of information amongst us and preparing programmes of information for the future."

10. The ASEAN Ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation and their role in the promotion and development of information in enhancing ASEAN cooperation and solidarity in all fields. They discussed the ways and means to enhance ASEAN cooperation in the field of information, including the press, television, radio, film and-video areas in implementing the decisions on information taken by the ASEAN Heads of Government at the Third Meeting in Manila from 14 - 15 December 1987.

Principles of ASEAN Press Cooperation

11. The ASEAN Ministers recognized the strategic importance of the press and its vital role in the process of national development of each of the ASEAN nations. Considering the interdependence of ASEAN nations, the ASEAN Ministers encouraged the ASEAN press to promote the paramount goals of ASEAN, including the preservation of political stability, rapid economic growth, social justice, greater regional cohesion, and the development of human resources to their full potential.

12. Within the above framework and the enhancement of the role of the press in national and regional development, the ASEAN Ministers agreed that the principle of press freedom with social responsibility is the basis of the ASEAN press.

13. The press in ASEAN has a role and responsibility to continue promoting greater awareness and understanding among the peoples of ASEAN of their history, traditions, ideals and values, and continue to enhance positive relationships among ASEAN member countries. The ASEAN Ministers noted the importance of the press in enhancing ASEAN solidarity and in this connection urged the press to continue to exercise sensitivity in handling issues that might affect this solidarity.

14. The ASEAN Ministers encouraged increased contacts among ASEAN editors and journalists to develop the spirit of ASEAN consciousness.

Cooperation among ASEAN News Agencies (ANEX) Network

15. The ASEAN Ministers agreed that member countries participating in the ASEAN News Exchange (ANEX) Network should continue to strengthen the capability of ANEX to collect and disseminate news, within as well as outside the ASEAN region.

16. The Ministers requested that the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (COCI) consider providing additional financial assistance to ANEX so that ANEX can develop new programmes, such as the establishment of a databank for information exchange and other efforts to improve its capability.

17. With regard to the establishment of a lower common intra-ASEAN telecommunication tariff for the ANEX Network, the ASEAN Ministers agreed to consult with their respective telecommunication authorities.

Relations with Foreign Media

18. The presence of the foreign media and agencies contributes to the flow of a vital resource, information, from the rest of the world to ASEAN and vice-versa. Their presence has been welcomed by the Governments of ASEAN countries in accordance with their respective national policies. The ASEAN Ministers, however, also agreed to promote awareness among the foreign media and agencies of the unique circumstances prevailing in each ASEAN member country.

19. The ASEAN Ministers further agreed:

1. to share their experiences on the matter in the interest of each ASEAN country with a view to developing mutually beneficial relations with the foreign media;
   
   

2. to seek ways to ensure that press reports on ASEAN countries in the foreign media are more balanced and objective, and
   
   

3. that the foreign media take into consideration the values and sensitivities of ASEAN peoples.

20. The ASEAN Ministers agreed to establish a Working Group of Senior Officials in consultation with the representatives of the ASEAN press and interested relevant media organizations in ASEAN to explore ways and means to further enhance ASEAN press cooperation through:

1.  holding forums, seminars and workshops, exchanging ideas and studying the history and development of the press system in ASEAN countries;
   
   

2. encouraging ASEAN journalists to be trained to develop ASEAN consciousness based upon the need to promote and preserve political stability, rapid economic growth, social justice, greater regional cohesion, and the development of human resources to their full potential in the ASEAN region; and
   
   

3. undertaking research on the role of the press in national and regional development.

To facilitate the undertaking of such activities, it may be necessary to consider the possibility of establishing a center.

Annual ASEAN Journalism Awards

21. The ASEAN Ministers agreed to the establishment of Annual ASEAN Journalism Awards in cooperation with the COCI to be given to the journalists selected in the six member countries who best typify in their writings, for the previous year, the ASEAN ideals of regional unity and cohesion, the promotion of economic growth and social justice and the development of ASEAN's human resources to their full potential.

ASEAN Cooperation in the Areas of Television, Radio Film and Video

22. The ASEAN Ministers expressed their appreciation and supported the programme sponsored by the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (COCI) designed to facilitate the exchange of Information including the electronic, film, print and interpersonal media in order to strengthen the socio-cultural relationships among ASEAN member countries.

Facilitating Production Crews

22. The ASEAN Ministers agreed that there should be improvements in the arrangements for facilitating the work of TV production crews from ASEAN member countries on location in any ASEAN member country.

Exchange Programme, Training and Workshop

23. The ASEAN Ministers agreed that:

1. The exchange of TV personnel, training and a pooling of skills be carried out on an attachment basis on a rotation system;
   
   

2. A study be undertaken to assess the possibility of utilizing the already existing Asian Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) facilities in Malaysia for training purposes;
   
   

3. TV managers, programme planners, producers, directors and writers be encouraged to attend periodic workshops on enhancing and accelerating ASEAN TV cooperation, with private TV stations being invited for input.

24. The ASEAN Ministers agreed to increase cooperation in the areas of personnel training in the field of TV and radio, and took note of efforts to encourage the development of film and video industry in the region conducive to ASEAN cooperation and understanding.

ASEAN Exchange Programme

25. The ASEAN Ministers agreed to enhance the exchange of television programmes, featuring the daily life, culture and news of ASEAN peoples.

Radio Programme on ASEAN

26. The ASEAN Ministers agreed to the possibility of producing specific programme on ASEAN, initially through the coordination of national radio stations.

ASEAN Radio - TV Symphony Orchestra

27. The ASEAN Ministers agreed to request ASEAN COCI to consider reviving the "All ASEAN Radio and Television Orchestra" (ASEAN Symphony Orchestra) focusing on ASEAN music and composers, highlighting the diversity of talent in the ASEAN region in conjunction with COCI projects on Music and Song Festivals.

ASEAN Songs for Radio and TV

28. Within the framework of efforts to foster unity, solidarity and harmony among the peoples of ASEAN, the ASEAN Ministers agreed that Indonesia's contribution of the song "ASEAN Harmony" which reflects this feeling of unity and solidarity be broadcast on radio and television in ASEAN countries.

29. The ASEAN Ministers expressed appreciation to Indonesia and encouraged composers from other ASEAN countries to present their composition for endorsement.

ASEAN Cooperation in Interpersonal Communication

30. The ASEAN Ministers recognised the importance of interpersonal communication and recommended the continuation and enhancement of the existing programme to foster closer relationships and better understanding among the peoples of ASEAN.

Implementation

31. The ASEAN Ministers agreed that the Senior Officials Meeting for the Conference of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information meet as and when necessary to coordinate the implementation of the decisions of the Ministers.

Acknowledgement

32. The delegations from Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand expressed their appreciation to the Government and the People of Indonesia for the generous hospitality accorded them and the efficient arrangements made for the Conference. The Conference also expressed thanks to the ASEAN Secretariat for the assistance provided.

33. The Conference was held in traditional spirit of ASEAN cordiality and solidarity.