General Carlos P. Romulo Foreign Minister of the Philippines issued a press statement on April 10, 1981 as follows:
As Chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee, on behalf of ASEAN, I am expressing to United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim sincere appreciation of the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Essaafi, as his special representative on a special mission to the Southeast Asia region. ASEAN thanks Mr. Essaafi for undertaking his visit to Southeast Asia including all ASEAN capitals, in an effort to facilitate progress in the search for a political solution to the problem of Kampuchea, which impedes the establishment of durable peace and stability in the region. As ill be recalled, the ASEAN representative had requested the UN Secretary-General at the Notional Meeting ". New, Delhi in February, for the appointment of a special representative to visit all countries concerned with and involved in the Kampuchea. conflict, prepare the ground work for the convening of an international conference on Kampuchea as provided in the resolution, adopted by the 35th session of the UNGA. The ASEAN member-states have found their consultations with Mr. Essaafi to be interesting and of value. They are not opposed to the -idea of having consultations and dialogues among countries of the region taking place simultaneously with, the UN Secretary- General's efforts to prepare for the convening of the international conference, but such consultations are distinct and separate and should not be seen as a substitute for the international conference.
The ASEAN member-states are aware of certain proposals that the Kampuchean conflict be discussed and resolved at a regional conference. They are convinced, however, that as the Kampuchean conflict has international dimensions, the proposed regional conference is not the appropriate forum to resolve this issue. The problem has to be resolved Within the framework of a UN sponsored international conference as stipulated in UNGA resolution 35/6, so that the root cause f the problem will be resolved and obstacle to peace and tensions in the region will be reduced. They therefore urge parties and countries within and outside of Southeast Asia ,which are involved and concerned with the Kampuchean conflict to participate in the international conference.
The ASEAN hopes and expects that the UN .Secretary-General shall continue his efforts towards the early convening of the international conference and that he shall exercise his mandate to implement UNGA resolution 35/6, which calls for the withdrawal f all foreign forces from Kampuchea, the holding of free: election in Kampuchea under UN supervision and the full exercise of the Kampuchean people of their right to self-determination, without interference and coercion from any quarter.
They hope that Mr. Essaafi's visit to Southeast Asia and Japan shall result in the growth of a political will among all parties and countries concerned with the Kampuchean problem to make substantive and meaningful efforts to achieve progress towards . satisfactory and durable political settlement of the Kampuchean problem, through the international conference which has the endorsement of the vast majority of nations, so that the countries of Southeast Asia main channel their energies to the construction of lasting peace, security and stability of their region.

Press Statement of the Philippines Foreign Ministers on Mr. Essaafi's (1981) 10 APRIL 1981
General Carlos P. Romulo Foreign Minister of the Philippines issued a press statement on April 10, 1981 as follows: As Chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee, on behalf of ASEAN, I am expressing to United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim sincere appreciation of the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Essaafi, as his special representative on a special mission to the Southeast Asia region. ASEAN thanks Mr. Essaafi for undertaking his visit to Southeast Asia including all ASEAN capitals, in an effort to facilitate progress in the search for a political solution to the problem of Kampuchea, which impedes the establishment of durable peace and stability in the region. As ill be recalled, the ASEAN representative had requested the UN Secretary-General at the Notional Meeting ". New, Delhi in February, for the appointment of a special representative to visit all countries concerned with and involved in the Kampuchea. conflict, prepare the ground work for the convening of an international conference on Kampuchea as provided in the resolution, adopted by the 35th session of the UNGA. The ASEAN member-states have found their consultations with Mr. Essaafi to be interesting and of value. They are not opposed to the -idea of having consultations and dialogues among countries of the region taking place simultaneously with, the UN Secretary- General's efforts to prepare for the convening of the international conference, but such consultations are distinct and separate and should not be seen as a substitute for the international conference. The ASEAN member-states are aware of certain proposals that the Kampuchean conflict be discussed and resolved at a regional conference. They are convinced, however, that as the Kampuchean conflict has international dimensions, the proposed regional conference is not the appropriate forum to resolve this issue. The problem has to be resolved Within the framework of a UN sponsored international conference as stipulated in UNGA resolution 35/6, so that the root cause f the problem will be resolved and obstacle to peace and tensions in the region will be reduced. They therefore urge parties and countries within and outside of Southeast Asia ,which are involved and concerned with the Kampuchean conflict to participate in the international conference. The ASEAN hopes and expects that the UN .Secretary-General shall continue his efforts towards the early convening of the international conference and that he shall exercise his mandate to implement UNGA resolution 35/6, which calls for the withdrawal f all foreign forces from Kampuchea, the holding of free: election in Kampuchea under UN supervision and the full exercise of the Kampuchean people of their right to self-determination, without interference and coercion from any quarter. They hope that Mr. Essaafi's visit to Southeast Asia and Japan shall result in the growth of a political will among all parties and countries concerned with the Kampuchean problem to make substantive and meaningful efforts to achieve progress towards . satisfactory and durable political settlement of the Kampuchean problem, through the international conference which has the endorsement of the vast majority of nations, so that the countries of Southeast Asia main channel their energies to the construction of lasting peace, security and stability of their region.