Let me first of all thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your kind words of welcome. I believe that all those present will agree with me when I say how much the European Union appreciates being given the opportunity, each year, to exchange views in this way.
EU-ASEAN relations have become ever closer during recent years. The EU congratulates ASEAN on the initiation of its Regional Forum, which met for the first time yesterday and which can make a significant contribution to confidence-building and stability in the region.
We are filled with concern when we look beyond Thailand's borders towards its neighbors, Myanmar and Cambodia.
The people of Myanmar are being denied the most elementary human and civil rights. The clear result of the 1990 parliamentary elections, in which the people made it obvious by whom they want to be governed, is being ignored by those wielding power. The EU is prepared to begin talks with SLORC. It is, however, up to leadership in Yangon to ensure, by making real progress towards democracy and respect for human rights, that this does arise as to which path SLORC intends to pursue in order to achieve a policy of greater openness in the country.
In an impressive move in the face of massive intimidation attempts by the Khmer Rouge, one of the signatories to the Paris agreements, the people of Cambodia placed responsibility for the nation's affairs in the hands of democratically legitimized government. The Government has quickly addressed itself to its difficult tasks. But the process of reconstruction is being jeopardised by the Khmer Rouge. The EU will continue to give Cambodia substantial reconstruction assistance. Cambodia's neighbors are particularly called upon to support the country. A peaceful Cambodia must be at the core of ourjoint endeavors in keeping with the spirit of the Paris accords.
Mr. Chairman,
On 1 July Germany took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. On the basis of the Treaty on European Union, which entered into force in November 1993, we will use all the options at our disposal in order to advance European integration. One priority of Germany's presidency is the consolidation of security and stability in an undivided Europe. The ratification of the accession agreements with the four EFTA states is to be completed during our presidency. The EU has a special responsibility towards the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. We want to draw these countries ever closer to the EU and thus gradually prepare them for accession. We are concluding free-trade agreements with the Baltic states. Our partnership with Russia, Ukraine and the other NIS states must be further strengthened. Reinforcing our partnership with the Mediterranean states will be equally important.
NATO is vital for security in Europe. New tasks are emerging. We must contribute towards stability in Central and Eastern Etirope. NATO's offer to this end, the "Partnership for Peace", has already been taken up by twenty-one countries. Joint training, planning and exercises for international peace-keeping missions are part of it.
The CSCE is the only. pan-European framework for security cooperation. Its main tasks are preventive diplomacy and crisis management. Owing to diverse tensions, the CSCE is as yet far from achieving its ambitious programme. But who would deny that the course embarked upon is the right one ?. Missions in Georgia, Moldova, Estonia and Latvia are helping to promote peaceful settlements.
The demise of the Soviet system offered Russia a historic opportunity to find its place in the world. The EU is particularly committed to promoting economic and political reforms in Russia, and has backed this up with major financial contributions. We also support drawing Russia closer to and integrating it in existing international fora. As just been concluded with Russia in Corfu, Russia's involvement in the political consultations of G-7 at the World Economic Summit in Naples, and its recent signing of a Partnership for Peace agreement with NATO. These developments herald a new era of cooperation.
The situation in the former Yugoslavia, and especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has consequences far beyond the boundaries of Europe. The basis of the international community's endeavors towards a peace settlement is the proposal of the international contact group which, in turn, was based on the EU's plan of action for the entire territory of the former Yugoslavia of November 1993 and in whose elaboration the EU, the USA, the Russian Federation and the United Nations were involved. The EU and its member states are resolved to continue their commitment to seeking a lasting peace settlement, as well as their humanitarian aid to the benefit, in particular, of the suffering civilian population, and to explore new avenues to this end. As a visible symbol of this commitment, the EU is assuming the administration of the city of Mostar. In addition, it is prepared to make an appropriate contribution towards the implementation of a peace settlement and towards reconstruction.
Mr. Chairman,
My colleague from the European Commission will comment in greater detail on economic issues. But I would like to emphasize the importance that I, as President of the Council, attach to intensifying the EU's relations with the Asia-Pacific region in all spheres. Europe is well on the way to consolidating and extending its cooperation with Asia and the Pacific. This is true both of the economy and of political dialogue.
The Asia-Pacific states have created in APEC a coordinating body which, with its free trade orientation, we can only welcome. The EU underlines its readiness to cooperate more closely with APEC on matters of mutual interest and to this end to initiate dialogue with APEC. It would be appropriate to consider how to go about it.
Mr. Chairman,
I especially appreciate the fact that ASEAN and the EU have several opportunities to carry on an intensive dialogue during my term as President of the Council. My colleagues and I were pleased to accept your invitation to the meetings here in Bangkok and are looking forward to welcoming you and your ASEAN colleagues to the EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in Karlsruhe and the subsequent EU-ASEAN business conference in Stuttgart. We will use these meetings to lend additional momentum to the tried and tested cooperation between our two regional organizations.
We have a common interest :
I am confident that our discussions today will bring us closer on these issues.