STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE 37th ASEAN STANDING COMMITTEE (ASC)
ON THE SIX-WAY NEGOTIATION
ON KOREAN PENINSULA

His Excellency Mr. N. Hassan Wirajuda, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Chairman of the 37th ASEAN Standing Committee (ASC), on behalf of the ASEAN member countries, issues the following statement:

1. In the interest of global and regional peace and security, ASEAN has been following closely the situation on the Korean Peninsula and has consistently encouraged the parties concerned to pursue dialogue and negotiation to address the issue therein.

2. Indonesia, as the current Chairman of the 37th ASC, therefore welcomes the convening of the Six-party talk in Beijing on 27-30 August 2003 as a positive step towards a peaceful resolution of the situation on the Korean Peninsula. It believes that such an outcome would in turn contribute to building an environment conducive to durable peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

3. ASEAN expresses its appreciation for the commitment showed by parties concerned and their efforts to resolve the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Jakarta,  27 August 2003