Excerpts from the Joint Communique of the 33rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, Bangkok, Thailand, 24-25 July 2000

The Foreign Ministers had a wide-ranging exchange of views on current regional and international developments. They noted that the overall security environment was marked by a number of positive developments, including continued economic recovery and greater interactions and exchange between and among regional countries. They were of the view that stable relations among the major powers had been a factor contributing to these positive developments. They stressed that it was particularly important for the major powers to work together with countries of the Asia-Pacific to further enhance peace, stability and prosperity of the region.
The Foreign Ministers commended Indonesia for all its efforts in resolving the East Timor issue, and noted the key role of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) in ensuring the territory’s smooth transition to fall independence. They reaffirmed ASEAN’s support for and encouraged the international community to remain engaged in, the process of reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction that is essential for a peaceful and stable East Timor.