[Title] ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint

I. INTRODUCTION

1. The ASEAN Political-Security Community has its genesis of over four decades of close co-operation and solidarity. The ASEAN Heads of States/Governments, at their Summit in Kuala Lumpur in December 1997 envisioned a concert of Southeast Asian nations, outward looking, living in peace, stability and prosperity, bonded together in partnership in dynamic development and in a community of caring societies.

2. To concretise the ASEAN Vision 2020, the ASEAN Heads of States/Governments adopted the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II (Bali Concord II) in 2003, which establishes an ASEAN Community by 2020. The ASEAN Community consists of three pillars, namely the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).

3. Conscious that the strengthening of ASEAN integration through accelerated establishment of an ASEAN Community will reinforce ASEANs centrality and role as the driving force in charting the evolving regional architecture, the ASEAN Leaders at the 12th ASEAN Summit in the Philippines decided to accelerate the establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015.

4. At the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore, the ASEAN Heads of States/Governments signed the ASEAN Charter, which marked ASEAN Member States commitment in intensifying community-building through enhanced regional cooperation and integration. In line with this, they tasked their Ministers and officials to draft the APSC Blueprint, which would be adopted at the 14th ASEAN Summit.

5. The APSC Blueprint is guided by the ASEAN Charter and the principles and purposes contained therein. The APSC Blueprint builds on the ASEAN Security Community Plan of Action, the Vientiane Action Programme (VAP), as well as relevant decisions by various ASEAN Sectoral Bodies. The ASEAN Security Community Plan of Action is a principled document, laying out the activities needed to realise the objectives of the ASEAN Political Security Community, while the VAP lays out the measures necessary for 2004-2010. Both documents are important references in continuing political and security cooperation. The APSC Blueprint provides a roadmap and timetable to establish the APSC by 2015. The APSC Blueprint would also have the flexibility to continue programmes/activities beyond 2015 in order to retain its significance and have an enduring quality.

II. CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF THE APSC

6. It is envisaged that the APSC will bring ASEANs political and security cooperation to a higher plane. The APSC will ensure that the peoples and Member States of ASEAN live in peace with one another and with the world at large in a just, democratic and harmonious environment.

7. The APSC shall promote political development in adherence to the principles of democracy, the rule of law and good governance, respect for and promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms as inscribed in the ASEAN Charter. It shall be a means by which ASEAN Member States can pursue closer interaction and cooperation to forge shared norms and create common mechanisms to achieve ASEANs goals and objectives in the political and security fields. In this regard, it promotes a people-oriented ASEAN in which all sectors of society, regardless of gender, race, religion, language, or social and cultural background, are encouraged to participate in, and benefit from, the process of ASEAN integration and community building. In the implementation of, the Blueprint, ASEAN should also strive towards promoting and supporting gender-mainstreaming, tolerance, respect for diversity, equality and mutual understanding.

8. At the same time, in the interest of preserving and enhancing peace and stability in the region, the APSC seeks to strengthen the mutually beneficial relations between ASEAN and its Dialogue Partners and friends. In doing so, it also maintains the centrality and proactive role of ASEAN in a regional architecture that is open, transparent and inclusive, while remaining actively engaged, forward-looking and non-discriminatory.

9. The APSC subscribes to a comprehensive approach to security, which acknowledges the interwoven relationships of political, economic, social-cultural and environmental dimensions of development. It promotes renunciation of aggression and of the threat or use of force or other actions in any manner inconsistent with international law and reliance of peaceful settlements of dispute. In this regard, it upholds existing ASEAN political instruments such as the Declaration on Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN), the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation in South East Asia (TAC) and the Treaty on the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), which play a pivotal role in the area of confidence building measures, preventive diplomacy and pacific approaches to conflict resolution. It also seeks to address non-traditional security issues.

10. Based on the above, the ASEAN Political-Security Community envisages the following three key characteristics:

a) A Rules-based Community of shared values and norms;

b) A Cohesive, Peaceful, Stable and Resilient Region with shared responsibility for comprehensive security; and

c) A Dynamic and Outward-looking Region in an increasingly integrated and interdependent world.

11. These characteristics are inter-related and mutually reinforcing, and shall be pursued in a balanced and consistent manner. To effectively realise the APSC, the APSC Blueprint is an action-oriented document with a view to achieving results and recognises the capacity and capability of ASEAN Member States to undertake the stipulated actions in the Blueprint.

A. A RULES-BASED COMMUNITY OF SHARED VALUES AND NORMS

12. ASEANs cooperation in political development aims to strengthen democracy, enhance good governance and the rule of law, and to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, with due regard to the rights and responsibilities of the Member States of ASEAN, so as to ultimately create a Rules-based Community of shared values and norms. In the shaping and sharing of norms, ASEAN aims to achieve a standard of common adherence to norms of good conduct among member states of the ASEAN Community; consolidating and strengthening ASEANs solidarity, cohesiveness and harmony; and contributing to the building of a peaceful, democratic, tolerant, participatory and transparent community in Southeast Asia.

13. Moreover, cooperation in political development will bring to maturity the political elements and institutions in ASEAN, towards which the sense of inter-state solidarity on political systems, culture and history will be better fostered. Such inter-state solidarity can be achieved further through the shaping and sharing of norms.

A.1. Cooperation in Political Development

14. Since the adoption of the ASC Plan of Action in 2003, ASEAN has achieved progress in different measures of political development. There was increased participation by organisations, such as academic institutions, think-tanks, and civil society organisations in ASEAN meetings and activities. Such consultations and heightened interactions fostered good relations and resulted in positive outcomes for the region.

15. Efforts are underway in laying the groundwork for an institutional framework to facilitate free flow of information based on each countrys national laws and regulations; preventing and combating corruption; and cooperation to strengthen the rule of law, judiciary systems and legal infrastructure, and good governance. Moreover, in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, the ASEAN Charter stipulates the establishment of an ASEAN human rights body.

A.1.1. Promote understanding and appreciation of political systems, culture and history of ASEAN Member States

Actions:

i. Assign appropriate ASEAN sectoral bodies to take necessary measures to promote understanding and appreciation of political systems, culture and history of ASEAN Member States, which will undertake to:

a. Encourage the holding of at least two track-two events per year, including academic conferences, workshops and seminars;

b. Release periodic publications on the dynamics of ASEAN Member States political systems, culture and history for dissemination to the public; and

c. Intensify exchange of experience and training courses in order to enhance popular and broader participation.

ii. Hold seminars/workshops to share experiences on democratic institutions, gender mainstreaming, and popular participation; and

iii. Endeavour to compile best practices of voluntary electoral observations.

A.1.2. Lay the groundwork for an institutional framework to facilitate free flow of information for mutual support and assistance among ASEAN Member States

Actions:

i. Encourage the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) to develop an institutional framework to facilitate free flow of information, based on each countrys national laws, by establishing an information baseline of these laws and to submit a progress report to the ASEAN Political-Security Community Council;

ii. Request each ASEAN Member State to develop relevant media exchange programmes to aid free flow of information, starting within three months from the adoption of this Blueprint;

iii. Enhance media capacity to promote regional-community building, explore the possibility of establishing an ASEAN media panel to boost cooperation and collaboration among the media-related institutions and organizations with emphasis on the process of the implementation of the APSC Blueprint;

iv. Implement internships, fellowships, scholarships and workshops, study visits and journalist exchange programs to enhance media capacity and professionalism in the region with emphasis on the process of the implementation of the APSC Blueprint; and

v. Facilitate co-production and exchanges of films, TVs, animations, games and new media content to promote cultural exchanges with emphasis on the process of the implementation of the APSC Blueprint.

A.1.3. Establish programmes for mutual support and assistance among ASEAN Member States in the development of strategies for strengthening the rule of law and judiciary systems and legal infrastructure

Actions:

i. Entrust ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM), with the cooperation of other sectoral bodies and entities associated with ASEAN including ASEAN Law Association (ALA) to develop cooperation programmes to strengthen the rule of law, judicial systems and legal infrastructure;

ii. Undertake comparative studies for lawmakers on the promulgation of laws and regulations;

iii. Develop a university curriculum on the legal systems of ASEAN Member States by the ASEAN University Network (AUN) by 2010; and

iv. Enhance cooperation between ALAWMM and ALA and other Track II organisations through seminars, workshops and research on international law, including ASEAN agreements.

A.1.4. Promote good governance

Actions:

i. Conduct analytical and technical studies to establish baselines, benchmarks, and best practices in various aspects of governance in the region;

ii. Promote sharing of experiences and best practices through workshops and seminars on leadership concepts and principles with emphasis on good governance, and on developing norms on good governance;

iii. Conduct a study by 2009 on partnership between public and private sectors and academia in creating a conducive climate for good governance to provide concrete recommendations to appropriate ASEAN sectoral bodies; and

iv. Promote dialogue and partnership among governments, private sectors and other relevant organisations to foster and enable new ideas, concepts and methods with a view to enhance transparency, accountability, participatory and effective governance.

A.1.5. Promotion and Protection of human rights

Actions:

i. Establish an ASEAN human rights body through the completion of its Terms of Reference (ToR) by 2009 and encourage cooperation between it and existing human rights mechanisms, as well as with other relevant international organizations;

ii. Complete a stock-take of existing human rights mechanisms and equivalent bodies, including sectoral bodies promoting the rights of women and children by 2009;

iii. Cooperate closely with efforts of the sectoral bodies in the development of an ASEAN instrument on the protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers;

iv. Strengthen interaction between the network of existing human rights mechanisms as well as other civil society organisations, with relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies;

v. Enhance/conduct exchange of information in the field of human rights among ASEAN countries in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of peoples in accordance with the ASEAN Charter and the Charter of the United Nations, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action;

vi. Promote education and public awareness on human rights; and

vii. Cooperate closely with efforts of the sectoral bodies in the establishment of an ASEAN commission on the promotion and protection of the rights of women and children.

A.1.6. Increase the participation of relevant entities associated with ASEAN in moving forward ASEAN political development initiatives

Actions:

i. Develop modalities for interaction between relevant entities associated with ASEAN, such as the ASEAN-ISIS network, and ASEAN sectoral bodies;

ii. Promote research studies and scholarly publications on ASEAN political development initiatives;

iii. Hold consultations between AIPA and appropriate ASEAN organs; and

iv. Revise the Memorandum of Understanding of the ASEAN Foundation to take into account the provisions of the ASEAN Charter.

A.1.7. Prevent and combat corruption

Actions:

i. Identify relevant mechanisms to carry out cooperation activities in preventing and combating corruption and strengthen links and cooperation between the relevant agencies;

ii. Encourage all ASEAN Member States to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation for Preventing and Combating Corruption signed on 15 December 2004;

iii. Promote ASEAN cooperation to prevent and combat corruption, bearing in mind the above MoU, and other relevant ASEAN instruments such as the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (MLAT);

iv. Encourage ASEAN Member States who are signatories to the United Nations Convention against Corruption to ratify the said Convention; and

v. Promote the sharing of best practices, exchange views and analyse issues related to values, ethics and integrity through appropriate avenues and fora and taking into account inputs from various seminars such as the ASEAN Integrity Dialogue.

A.1.8. Promote principles of democracy

Actions:

i. Promote understanding of the principles of democracy among ASEAN youth at schools at an appropriate stage of education, bearing in mind the educational system in the respective ASEAN Member States;

ii. Convene seminars, training programmes and other capacity building activities for government officials, think-tanks and relevant civil society organizations to exchange views, sharing experiences and promote democracy and democratic institutions; and

iii. Conduct annual research on experiences and lessons-learned of democracy aimed at enhancing the adherence to the principles of democracy.

A.1.9. Promote peace and stability in the region

Actions:

i. Support the inclusion of culture of peace which includes, inter alia, respect for diversity, promotion of tolerance and understanding of faiths, religions and cultures in the curriculum of ASEAN academic institutions;

ii. Develop programmes and activities aimed at the promotion of culture of peace, interfaith and intrafaith dialogue within the region;

iii. Promote respect and appreciation for the regions diversity and harmony among the peoples of the region;

iv. Promote dialogue and greater interaction among various religious and ethnic groups;

v. Promote networking among schools in the region to develop peace-education in their respective curricula; and

vi. Support poverty alleviation and narrowing development gaps to contribute to promoting sustained peace and stability in the region.

A.2. Shaping and Sharing of Norms

16. ASEAN promotes regional norms of good conduct and solidarity, in accordance with the key principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter. In this context, ASEAN also continues to uphold the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the SEANWFZ Treaty and other key agreements, as well as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea.

A.2.1. Adjust ASEAN institutional framework to comply with the ASEAN Charter

Actions:

i. Prepare and implement a transitional work plan on the necessary institutional reforms needed to comply with the ASEAN Charter;

ii. Develop, as appropriate, supplemental protocols and/or agreements, including terms of references and rules of procedures, needed to implement the ASEAN Charter; and

iii. Develop a legal division to support the implementation of the ASEAN Charter.

A.2.2. Strengthening cooperation under the TAC

Actions:

i. Convene workshops and seminars to assess the progress of the implementation of the TAC and explore ways to improve its mechanisms;

ii. Convene a conference of High Contracting Parties to the TAC to review its implementation; and

iii. Encourage the accession to the TAC by non-ASEAN countries.

A.2.3. Ensure full implementation of the DOC for peace and stability in the South China Sea

Actions:

i. Continue ASEANs current practice of close consultation among Member States to achieve full implementation of the DOC;

ii. Explore and undertake cooperative activities identified in the DOC and eventually explore other co-operative measures on the basis of close consultation among the member countries, while respecting sovereignty and integrity of each other;

iii. Carry out on a regular basis the overview of the process of implementation of the DOC, thus ensuring timely and proper conducts of the Parties in the South China Sea in accordance with the DOC; and

iv. Work towards the adoption of a regional Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

A.2.4. Ensure the implementation of South East Asian Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty, and its Plan of Action

Actions:

i. Comply with the undertakings in the SEANFWZ Treaty, including accession to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards agreements and related instruments;

ii. Encourage Accession to the Protocol of the SEANWFZ Treaty by Nuclear Weapon States; and

iii. Cooperate to implement the Plan of Action and draw up specific work programmes/projects to implement the Plan of Action.

A.2.5. Promote ASEAN maritime cooperation

Actions:

i. Establish the ASEAN Maritime Forum;

ii. Apply a comprehensive approach that focuses on safety of navigation and security concern in the region that are of common concerns to the ASEAN Community;

iii. Stock-take maritime issues and identify maritime cooperation among ASEAN member countries; and

iv. Promote cooperation in maritime safety and search and rescue (SAR) through activities such as information sharing, technological cooperation and exchange of visits of authorities concerned.

B. A COHESIVE, PEACEFUL AND RESILIENT REGION WITH SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY

17. In building a cohesive, peaceful and resilient Political Security Community, ASEAN subscribes to the principle of comprehensive security, which goes beyond the requirements of traditional security but also takes into account non-traditional aspects vital to regional and national resilience, such as the economic, socio-cultural, and environmental dimensions of development. ASEAN is also committed to conflict prevention/confidence building measures, preventive diplomacy, and post-conflict peace building.

B.1. Conflict Prevention/Confidence Building Measures

18. Confidence Building Measures and Preventive Diplomacy are important instruments in conflict prevention. They mitigate tensions and prevent disputes from arising between or among ASEAN Member States, as well as between ASEAN Member States and non-ASEAN member countries. They will also help prevent the escalation of existing disputes.

19. In the area of defence and regional political consultations, ASEAN Defence Officials have been involved in the ASEAN security dialogue since 1996. Under the framework of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN has made voluntary briefings on political and security developments in the region and regularized meetings of high-level defence officials under the ARF Defence Officials Dialogue (DOD) and the ARF Security Policy Conference (ASPC). ASEAN has also established an annual ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) and ASEAN Defence Senior Officials' Meetings.

B.1.1. Strengthen confidence-building measures

Actions:

i. Organise regional exchanges among ASEAN Defense and military officials, at all levels, including among military academies, staff colleges and defence universities in the ASEAN Member States;

ii. Promote the exchange of observers of military exercises, commensurate with the capability and condition of each ASEAN Member State;

iii. Share information among ASEAN Member States on submissions to the UN Register of Conventional Arms;

iv. Promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation between defence officials and exchange visits between military training institutions to promote trust and mutual understanding; and

v. Conduct joint research projects on defence issues between government-affiliated policy and strategic research institutes in the region.

B.1.2. Promote greater transparency and understanding of defence policies and security perceptions

Actions:

i. Work towards developing and publishing an annual ASEAN Security Outlook;

ii. Hold voluntary briefings on political and security developments in the region;

iii. Develop an ASEAN early warning system based on existing mechanisms to prevent occurrence/escalation of conflicts; and

iv. Hold consultations and cooperation on regional defence and security matters between ASEAN and external parties and Dialogue Partners including through the ADMM Plus when it is operationalised.

B.1.3. Build up the necessary institutional framework to strengthen the ARF process in support of the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC)

Actions:

i. Follow-up on the recommendations of the Review of the ARF;

ii. Implement the enhanced role of the ARF Chair, and activate the Friends of the ARF Chair mechanism as and when needed;

iii. Implement the decision of the ARF Ministers to move the ARF towards the preventive diplomacy stage (PD);

iv. Expand the capacity of the ARF Heads of Defense Universities, Colleges and Institutions Meeting (ARF HDUCIM) to exchange best practices in defense policies and academic development;

v. Compile best practices on confidence building measures, preventive diplomacy and conflict resolutions for further development by ARF; and

vi. Enhance the role of the Secretary-General of ASEAN in the ARF including further strengthening the ARF Unit in the ASEAN Secretariat.

B.1.4. Strengthen efforts in maintaining respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity of ASEAN Member States as stipulated in the Declaration on Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in Accordance with the Charter of the United Nations

Actions:

i. Compile best practices and relevant international law to promote understanding and appreciation of best practices concerning friendly relations and cooperation among Member States of the United Nations;

ii. Convene consultation as well as a series of tract-two activities to strengthen cooperation in addressing threats and challenges that may affect the territorial integrity of ASEAN Member States including those posed by separatism; and

iii. Further promote and increase awareness on these issues to help accelerate the pace of ASEAN Community building and elevate ASEANs profile in the world.

B.1.5. Promote the development of norms that enhance ASEAN defence and security cooperation

Action:

i. Initiate preparatory work for the development of practical cooperation programmes among the militaries of ASEAN Member States.

B.2. Conflict Resolution and Pacific Settlement of Disputes

20. Convinced that the settlement of differences or disputes should be regulated by rational, effective and sufficiently flexible procedures, avoiding negative attitudes, which might endanger or hinder cooperation, ASEAN promotes the TAC, which seeks to preserve regional peace and harmony and prescribes that Member States refrain from threat or use of force.

21. The TAC gives provision for pacific settlement of disputes at all times through friendly negotiations and for refraining from the threat or use of force to settle disputes. The strategies for conflict resolution shall be an integral part of a comprehensive approach. The purpose of these strategies shall be to prevent disputes and conflicts from arising between ASEAN Member States that could potentially pose a threat to regional peace and stability.

22. ASEAN, the United Nations and other organisations have held a number of cooperation activities in the effort to promote peace and stability. More efforts are needed in strengthening the existing modes of pacific settlement of disputes to avoid or settle future disputes; and undertaking conflict management and conflict resolution research studies. Under the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN may also establish appropriate dispute settlement mechanisms.

B.2.1. Build upon existing modes of pacific settlement of disputes and consider strengthening them with additional mechanisms as needed

Actions:

i. Study and analyse existing dispute settlement modes and/or additional mechanisms with a view to enhancing regional mechanisms for the pacific settlement of disputes;

ii. Develop ASEAN modalities for good offices, conciliation and mediation; and

iii. Establish appropriate dispute settlement mechanism, including arbitration as provided by the ASEAN Charter.

B.2.2. Strengthen research activities on peace, conflict management and conflict resolution

Actions:

i. Consider the establishment of an ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation;

ii. Compile ASEANs experiences and best practices on peace, conflict management and conflict resolution;

iii. Identify priority research topics, with a view to providing recommendations on promoting peace, conflict management and conflict resolution;

iv. Enhance existing cooperation among ASEAN think tanks to study peace, conflict management and conflict resolution;

v. Hold workshops on peace, conflict management and conflict resolution with relevant regional and international organisations, including the UN;

vi. Undertake studies to promote gender mainstreaming in peace building, peace process and conflict resolution; and

vii. Develop a pool of experts from ASEAN Member States as resource persons to assist in conflict management and conflict resolution activities.

B.2.3. Promote regional cooperation to maintain peace and stability

Actions:

i. Carry out technical cooperation with the UN and relevant regional organisations to exchange expertise and experiences in maintaining peace and stability;

ii. Identify national focal points, with a view to promoting regional cooperation in maintaining peace and stability; and

iii. Establish a network among existing ASEAN Member States peace keeping centres to conduct joint planning, training, and sharing of experiences, with a view to establishing an ASEAN arrangement for the maintenance of peace and stability, in accordance with the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) 3-Year Work Programme.

B.3. Post-Conflict Peace-building

23. ASEANs efforts in post-conflict peace building shall complement other comprehensive approaches to: (a) ensure the complete discontinuity of conflicts and violence and/or man-made disasters in affected areas; (b) facilitate the return of peace and/or normalisation of life as early as possible; and (c) lay the ground for reconciliation and all other necessary measures to secure peace and stability, thus preventing the affected areas from falling again to conflicts in the future.

24. Measures can be pursued in promoting humanitarian relief activities, including intensifying cooperation with the United Nations and other organisations, as well as capacity building for people in affected areas.

B.3.1. Strengthen ASEAN humanitarian assistance

Actions:

i. Provide basic services or assistance to bring relief to victims of conflict in consultation with the receiving State;

ii. Promote cooperation for orderly repatriation of refugees/displaced persons and resettlement of internally displaced persons;

iii. Promote the safety of the humanitarian relief assistance workers;

iv. Develop common operating procedures for the provision of humanitarian assistance in the event of conflict;

v. Intensify cooperation with the United Nations and promote the role and contributions of relevant international organisations on humanitarian assistance;

vi. Promote civil-military dialogue and coordination in humanitarian assistance; and

vii. Expand the role and contribution of women in field-based humanitarian operations.

B.3.2. Implement human resources development and capacity building programmes in post-conflict areas

Actions:

i. Draw up guidelines for training and capacity-building needs assessment;

ii. Identify priority training topics;

iii. Design training programmes in the identified priority topics and development of training materials;

iv. Implement annual programmes in each target area;

v. Develop cooperation programmes with relevant external parties and financial institutions to promote Human Resources Development and capacity building in post-conflict reconstruction and peace building; and

vi. Work towards the development of a systematic training programme for formal and community educators in the field of peace education and reconciliation, which can be conceptualised and implemented.

B.3.3. Increase cooperation in reconciliation and further strengthen peace-oriented values

Actions:

i. Undertake studies to increase cooperation in reconciliation and further strengthen peace-oriented values;

ii. Promote public participation in the development of cooperation in post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation including the encouragement of comprehensive input of academia, media, non-governmental organisations, civil society and community groups; and

iii. Promote inter-communal understanding through exchange activities.

B.4. Non-Traditional Security Issues

25. A key purpose of ASEAN is to respond effectively and in a timely manner, in accordance with the principles of comprehensive security, to all forms of threats, transnational crimes and transboundary challenges.

B.4.1. Strengthen cooperation in addressing non-traditional security issues, particularly in combating transnational crimes and other transboundary challenges

Actions:

i. Implement effectively eight priority areas in the Work Programme to Implement the Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime;

ii. Endeavour to ratify the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters among ASEAN Member States and work towards elevating it to an ASEAN treaty;

iii. Continue the work of the working group, as mandated by the ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting, to enhance cooperation on the issue of extradition;

iv. Further strengthen criminal justice responses to trafficking in persons, bearing in mind the need to protect victims of trafficking in accordance with the ASEAN Declaration Against Trafficking in Persons Particularly Women and Children, and where applicable, other relevant international conventions and protocols on trafficking in persons;

v. Enhance cooperation to combat people-smuggling;

vi. Work towards a drug-free ASEAN by 2015, in accordance with the ASEAN Work Plan for Combating Illicit Drug-Trafficking, by: strengthening measures to prevent the illicit production of drugs, import and export of controlled chemical precursors as well as regional cooperation in controlled delivery; and enhancing cross-border law enforcement cooperation through information sharing, best practices, and capacity building, in combating drug-trafficking;

vii. Develop multilateral or bilateral legal arrangements towards combating drug and precursor chemical trafficking starting in 2008;

viii. Provide assistance to ASEAN Member States in enhancing scientific laboratory capacity in precursor identification and drugs signature analysis for drug enforcement operation and intelligence;

ix. Provide transfer of knowledge concerning the profile of drug crime syndicate groups as well as watch-list of their drug activities;

x. Provide transfer of knowledge on best practices on the disposal of precursors and essential chemicals seized from clandestine laboratories;

xi. Strengthen the capacity of the criminal justice system including judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officials on drug control;

xii. Enhance cooperation with relevant external parties in combating transnational crimes, including countering terrorism;

xiii. Enhance cooperation and coordination among existing ASEAN sectoral bodies in dealing with transnational crimes;

xiv. Strengthen close cooperation among ASEAN Member States, to combat IUU fishing in the region and where applicable, through the implementation of the IPOA - IUU fishing and work towards the establishment of ASEAN Fisheries Consultative Forum (AFCF);

xv. Promote full implementation by relevant sectoral bodies, to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, in accordance with the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects (UN PoA) and the International Instrument to enable States to Identify and Trace, in Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (International Tracing Instrument);

xvi. Strengthen cooperation and assistance in combating and suppressing cyber crimes including cooperation among law enforcement agencies, taking into account the need of each country to develop laws to address cyber crimes;

xvii. Forge closer cooperation in fighting against sea piracy, armed robbery against ships, hijacking and smuggling, in accordance with international laws; and

xviii. Strengthen cooperation in the field of border management to jointly address matters of common concern, including forgeries of identification and travel documents, by enhancing the use of relevant technologies to effectively stem the flow of terrorists and criminals.

B.4.2. Intensify counter-terrorism efforts by early ratification and full implementation of the ASEAN Convention on Counter-Terrorism

Actions:

i. Work towards the entry into force of the ASEAN Convention on Counter-Terrorism (ACCT) by 2009 its ratification by all ASEAN Member States, and promote effective implementation of the Convention;

ii. Endeavour to accede and ratify the relevant international instruments on counter terrorism;

iii. Promote effective implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Plan of Action on Counter-Terrorism; and

iv. Cooperate to support development initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of terrorism and conditions conducive to terrorism.

B.5. Strengthen ASEAN Cooperation on Disaster Management and Emergency Response

Actions:

i. Enhance joint effective and early response at the political and operational levels in activating the ASEAN disaster management arrangements to assist affected countries in the event of major disasters;

ii. Enhance civilian-military coordination in providing effective and timely response to major natural disasters;

iii. Finalise the SOP for Regional Standby Arrangements and Coordination of Joint Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Operations for establishing joint operations in providing relief aid to disaster affected areas of Member States in line with the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER);

iv. Work towards effective interface on disaster management between ASEAN and other ASEAN-related bodies such as ARF, ASEAN Plus Three and East Asia Summit (EAS) in a manner that will enhance ASEANs disaster management capacities; and

v. Develop ARF strategic guidelines for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief cooperation.

B.6. Effective and Timely Response to Urgent Issues or Crisis Situations Affecting ASEAN

Actions:

i. Convene special meetings at the Leaders or Ministerial levels in the event of crisis or emergency situations affecting ASEAN; and develop arrangements to address such situations in a timely manner.

C. A DYNAMIC AND OUTWARD-LOOKING REGION IN AN INCREASINGLY INTEGRATED AND INTERDEPENDENT WORLD

26. ASEAN fosters and maintains friendly and mutually beneficial relations with external parties to ensure that the peoples and Member States of ASEAN live in peace with the world at large in a just, democratic and harmonious environment. ASEAN remains outward-looking and plays a pivotal role in the regional and international fora to advance ASEAN's common interests.

27. Through its external relations, ASEAN will exercise and maintain its centrality and proactive role as the primary driving force in an open, transparent and inclusive regional architecture to support the establishment of the ASEAN Community by 2015.

C.1. Strengthening ASEAN Centrality in Regional Cooperation and Community Building

Actions:

i. Initiate, host, Chair and/or Co-Chair activities and meetings with Dialogue Partners, other external parties, and within the context of ASEAN Plus Three, EAS and ARF;

ii. Explore, initiate and implement concrete cooperation activities on actions as stipulated in various agreed documents including the APSC Blueprint under the existing regional frameworks;

iii. Advance the ARF towards Preventive Diplomacy in a phased and prudent manner while continuing with Confidence Building Measures; while also engaging other regional and international organisations and Track II organisations in the process; and

iv. Enhance coordination in ASEANs external relation and regional and multilateral fora.

C.2. Promoting Enhanced Ties with External Parties

Actions:

i. Promote activities to raise awareness of ASEAN and enhance ASEAN's interests, including the establishment of ASEAN Committees in Third Countries where appropriate;

ii. Explore cooperation projects with regional organisations such as the GCC, ECO, Rio Group, SAARC and SCO; and

iii. Develop cooperation projects to implement the ASEAN-UN Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

C.3. Strengthening Consultations and Cooperation on Multilateral Issues of Common Concern

Action

i. Enhance consultations within ASEAN including by ASEAN Permanent Missions in United Nations and other International Organisations with the aim of promoting ASEAN's interests.

III. IMPLEMENTATION AND REVIEW OF THE APSC BLUEPRINT

A. IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISM

28. To ensure the success in implementing the APSC Blueprint, Member States shall integrate the programmes and activities of the Blueprint into their respective national development plans.

29. All relevant ASEAN senior official bodies or their equivalent shall be responsible in ensuring the implementation of the various elements, actions and commitments in the Blueprint by reflecting them in their respective work plans, mobilising resources for them, raising issues for the consideration of their respective ministerial bodies and the ASEAN Leaders, and undertaking national initiatives in order to meet these commitments.

30. The Coordinating Conference for the ASEAN Political-Security Community Plan of Action (ASCCO) shall continue to serve as the platform in coordinating the efforts of various sectoral bodies through exchanges of information, best practices, and lessons learned in the implementation of the APSC Blueprint. ASCCOs new initiatives and recommendations on emerging issues shall be reported to the ASEAN Political-Security Council.

31. The ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council shall be responsible for the overall implementation of the Blueprint and shall ensure coordination of efforts under its purview as well as those which cut across the other Community Councils.

32. Progress of implementation of the APSC Blueprint shall be reported annually by the Secretary-General of ASEAN to the annual ASEAN Summit, through the APSC Council.

B. RESOURCE MOBILISATION

33. Financial resources to implement the Blueprint will be mobilised by ASEAN Member States, as well as from various facilities including the ASEAN Development Fund (ADF), Dialogue Partners, donor countries, international agencies, the private sector, and non-governmental organisations.

C. COMMUNICATION STRATEGY

34. To ensure the success of establishing the APSC, a comprehensive communication plan will be developed and launched at the national and regional levels. This will not only create greater public awareness of the various initiatives, outcomes and issues of the APSC, but also enable all stakeholders to be involved in the process.

D. REVIEW MECHANISM

35. The APSC Blueprint shall be reviewed and evaluated to ensure that all the activities are responsive to the needs and priorities of ASEAN, taking into account the changing dynamics of the region and the global environment. The review and evaluation shall be conducted biennially by the ASCCO, in co-ordination with the ASEAN Secretariat. In the course of the review and evaluation, ASEAN Member States are given the flexibility to update the Blueprint. As in the progress of implementation of the APSC Blueprint, the results of the review and evaluation shall be reported by the Secretary-General of ASEAN to the ASEAN Summit through the APSC Council.