SIEM REAP (Cambodia), 12 Jan 2012— Association of South- East Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign minister concluded a meeting here Wednesday with agreements on a number of regional and international issues of common concern, said, a Press release issued after the event.

Those issues included the Korean Peninsula, the implementation of the declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DoC), the progress of democratization in Myanmar, and others, according to the Press release. On Myanmar, the ASEAN foreign ministers agreed to reiterate their call for the lifting of economic sanctions against Myanmar, saying lifting the sanctions would significantly contribute to the country’s socioeconomic development. The ministers also agreed to call for an end of the role of good offices of the United Nations Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, since Myanmar has pledged to continue to work closely with the UN. “We, ASEAN foreign ministers, hailed the good progress of the democratization process in Myanmar, so it is no longer necessary to convene any international conference on Myanmar outside this country,” said Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Hor Namhong.

The foreign ministers vowed to finalize the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration in 2012. They have also discussed disaster prevention, assistance cooperation, maritime security and other issued.