ASEAN MINISTERIAL MEETING ON DRUG MATTERS
1 – 4 SEPTEMBER 2013,
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
Chairman's Statement
1. ASEAN Ministers, SOM Leaders and the Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies and the ASEAN Secretariat attended the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters held in Bandar Seri Begawan on 3rd September 2013. The Meeting aimed, through ASOD to monitor the progress of the implementation of the ASOD Work Plan 2009-2015.
2. The Meeting expressed their profound gratitude to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for graciously granting an audience to the Ministers and Senior Officials and for his invaluable advice in advancing regional cooperation in combating transnational crime.
3. The Meeting took note that the Leaders of ASEAN called for intensified concerted efforts to realise the vision and goal of a Drug-Free ASEAN 2015 to be a high priority agenda. The Meeting also recognised that the drug problem continues to constitute a serious threat to public health, security and safety and the well-being of humanity.
4. The Meeting shared views, efforts and achievements in facing the challenges posed by the drug problem in the respective countries of ASEAN, which includes, among others:
ASEAN MINISTERIAL MEETING ON DRUG MATTERS
1 – 4 SEPTEMBER 2013,
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
(i) Emphasised that ASEAN Member States have the gigantic task to achieve the desired target of a Drug-Free ASEAN by 2015.
(ii) All ASEAN Member States shared their best practices on treatment and rehabilitation programmes;
(iii) Highlighted the need for a new paradigm to combat the threat of drugs, with the attainment of a balance between treatment and prevention approach with the law enforcement approach;
(iv) Recommended ASEAN Member States to fully participate in and contribute to data collection and Standardised Country Reports which would substantively attribute to the regional actions that ASEAN would inspire to undertake;
(v) Highlighted the importance of adopting the approach of strengthening of national programs and combining bilateral cooperation agreements and regional ASEAN collaboration to combat the drug problem;
(vi) To protect our community especially the young generation of ASEAN Member States from the drug menace;
(vii) Shared the concern on increasing threats of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) and recommended sharing of information on profiling of new drugs.
5. The Meeting commended ASOD in its relentless efforts to achieve its mission of realizing a vision of drug-free ASEAN by 2015 and urged ASOD and other relevant bodies to discuss necessary measures to work towards a post-2015 agenda for ASEAN to further realise this vision.
6. The Meeting commended the significant progress made by the ASEAN Airport Interdiction Task Force on Drugs (AAITF), and looks forward to the expansion of the operational cooperation to include sea/maritime and land border interdiction. The Meeting noted the interest of ASEAN Dialogue Partners and other external parties in collaborating with the AAITF.
7. The Meeting agreed to task the ASEAN Secretariat to develop a comprehensive concept paper on the institutionalisation of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters and on the strengthening of co-ordination and co-operation between ASEAN sectoral bodies on drug matters.
8. It is imperative to continue the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters in 2014 and 2015 in order to strengthen ASEAN cooperation and monitor the progress on cross cutting issues relating to drug matters. The Meeting welcomed Indonesia's offer to host the 3rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters in 2014.
9. The Meeting took note of Thailand's proposal to establish the office of ASEAN-Narco which will serve as the coordinating office for ASEAN Member States on drug matters.
10. The Meeting affirmed their determination and resolve to work closely together to realise the vision of a Drug-Free ASEAN 2015 and beyond,
realising that combating the drug menace is no longer just the individual responsibility of each ASEAN Member State, but the collective responsibility of all.
11. The Meeting was held in the traditional spirit of ASEAN solidarity and cordiality, in line with this year ASEAN's "Our People, Our Future Together".
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