Strengthening inter-regional diplomacy

We are in the midle of the 77^th session of the United Nations General Assembly which started its proceedings on 13 September with a provisional agenda of 180 items covering all major global problems of humanity to be considered by 193 member states.

Australia was represented at a high level in this diplomatic event by Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs. She declared inter alia the following :

Australia seeks a region that is peaceful and predictable, that is governed by accepted rules and norms, where all our countries and peoples can cooperate, trade and thrive.Where our relations are based on respect and partnership, and guided by the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.Where all states can contribute to a strategic equilibrium in a regional order in which countries are not required to choose sides, but can make their own sovereign choices.

One of the less known and modestly publicized participant in this event , without legal status with the world organization, is the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) established in 1994.

In fact, ARF is an important iner-regional platform for promoting security dialogue in Asia and the Pacific. It provides a setting in which members can discuss current international security issues and develop cooperative measures to enhance peace and security.

The ARF is characterised by consensus-based decision-making and frank dialogue. It comprises 27 members: the 10 ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam); 10 ASEAN Dialogue Partners (Australia, Canada, China, the European Union (EU), India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea , Russia and the United States), as well as Bangladesh, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste.

The 29^th ASEAN Regional Forum was held on 5 August 2022, in Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia, under the Kingdom of Cambodia's 2022 ASEAN Chairmanship.

Its main diplomatic document is ASEAN Regional Forum Statement to promote peace, stability, and prosperity through confidence building measures and preventing diplomacy.

As a result of diplomatic negotiations and drafting efforts, this document adopted by two regional organizations and by an impressive list of countries mentioned above cannot be ignored or condemned to obscurity. A short analysis of its content deserves to be shared with readers of On Line Opinion.

The document is fundamentally focused on peace and starts by reaffirming the responsibility of all members to uphold the principles of mutual respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and equal rights of all nations as enshrined in the United Nations Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. It calls on all nations to exercise maximum self-restraint and make utmost efforts to pursue peaceful dialogue through all channels, including diplomatic means to reduce tensions and mitigate conflicts.

It recognizes the impacts and uncertainties posed by the growing complexities of regional and global security challenges, including traditional and non-traditional security issues, and acknowledges that such challenges require a holistic and comprehensive approach to address them.

An important provision deals with the continued relevance of the ARF and the commitment of its members in promoting and maintaining peace, security and stability in the region and its vital role in building confidence and trust amongst its participants.

The expression "vital role" should be interpreted as a consensus understanding of what ARF expects from its activity.

In nuanced language ARF reminds:

the commitment of the ARF in fostering constructive dialogue and cooperation on political and security issues of common interest and concern; enhancing mutual understanding and transparency, accepting and whenever possible reconciling divergent views to reduce the risk to security, promoting respect for international law, including the UN Charter and its related instruments, as well as promoting confidence-building and preventive diplomacy to maintain peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

For consistency reasons ARF reminds the basic principles contained within the 1994 ARF Concept Paper, which is an important foundational document that has guided the development of the ARF since its inception.

For similar reasons the document reiterates the importance placed by ASEAN on the principles and objectives in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

A significant element of the document is the specific reference to the dialogue encompassing interfaith and inter-cultural interaction as well as to the efforts to promote respect, understanding and tolerance among people of all religions and no religions, beliefs and cultures as an important part of ARF efforts to promote peace and security.

The topicality of the document is revealed also by the reference to all the principles and purposes of the United Nations set out in the Charter of the United Nations which calls for maintaining the international peace and security; and underlining the necessity of respecting human rights and international humanitarian law in resolving conflicts.

Attention should be paid to the fact that ARF reaffirmed in clear terms the role of ASEAN as the primary driving force of the ARF and emphasizing that the active, and equal participation and cooperation of all ARF participants is critical for the success of the ARF.

Having in mind the current tensions in international relations , it is quite natural for ARF to emphasize the importance of the peaceful settlement of disputes and sustaining peace, particularly through the prevention of armed conflict, strengthening of the rule of law, and promotion of inclusive and sustainable economic growth, poverty eradication, social development, sustainable development, reconciliation and unity including through inclusive dialogue and mediation, access to justice, accountability, good governance, and gender equality while promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The document is realistic in its assessments by recognizing that despite the ARF's best efforts and successful endeavours, security threats and challenges that could undermine the peace, security and stability of the region still exist, and that such challenges are increasingly multifaceted in nature which require common resolve and cooperation to address them.

Finally, as a conclusion the preambule underlines the importance of creating a favourable environment for enhancing cooperation among "our countries" in keeping with the principles of consensus, equality, partnership, consultation, and mutual respect, and the value of ARF as a venue for constructive dialogue, thereby contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

Responsible commitments

The whole Declaration analyzed in these pages reminds by its structure and style , including its frequent repetions, a traditional UN resolution. Its operative part is opened by an interesting terminology. ARF announces that "Do hereby endeavour to:" What follows are 12 paragraphs in which ARF informs what its participants are committed to do in the future.

First of all they renew their individual and collective commitment to build upon the achievements of the ARF and strengthen dialogue and cooperation in existing and new areas to promote and maintain regional peace and security.

The ARF participants commit to maintain and promote peace, stability and prosperity through confidence building measures and preventive diplomacy in the spirit of upholding the fundamental principles of international law as reflected in the UN Charter and ASEAN basic principles, and shared values and norms.

ARF wants to deepen cooperation towards a collective and effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic; advance regional recovery through effective COVID-19 vaccine rollout management and support the enhancement of ASEAN-led regional cooperation and initiatives, including the implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework and its Implementation Plan, in ensuring equitable access to safe, effective and quality-assured COVID-19 vaccines.

At the same time , ARF wishes to work jointly to encourage constructive dialogue and partnerships to build common ground for cooperation in areas of mutual concern and shared interest and peaceful settlement of international disputes.

Another promising commitment is to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would affect peace and stability, to refrain from the threat or use of force, to adhere to the principles of preventive diplomacy and to resolve differences and disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law.

The document is future-oriented as ARF Participants (the original Declaration uses capital letter for this word) are determined to further strengthen cooperation in the response to emerging traditional and non-traditional security challenges, including through information sharing, awareness raising, as well as capacity building measures.

Moreover, ARF Participants commit to concrete and practical cooperation to address issues of common interests, with the view to build capacity, develop expertise and enhance coordination in areas that can contribute to the region's collective security objectives.

In the same context, ARF is ready to conduct more concrete and effective confidence-building measures and preventive diplomacy , so as to promote mutual respect, dialogue and consultation, and a culture of peace and non-violence, which can contribute to avoiding misunderstanding and miscalculation, promote the purposes and principles as enshrined in the ASEAN Charter, and support multilateralism founded on the principles stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations and on the basis of international law.

It is instructive to note that ARF wishes to "Support ASEAN Centrality as driving force in upholding an open, transparent and inclusive regional architecture based on the principles of international law".

Without being more specific, ARF intends to explore new possible areas of cooperation in accordance with its objective to promote mutual trust and respect and mutual benefit, thereby contributing to regional peace, stability, and long-term prosperity and sustainability.

The final operative paragraph of the analyzed document contains the crucial commitment to "Promote cooperation in peacebuilding initiatives including through encouraging the participation of women and youth in peace processes, foster the sharing of experience, best practices, capacity building, and collaboration on political and security issues of common interest and concern, including in humanitarian assistance and demining actions towards achieving peace, stability, prosperity, and sustainability in the region and beyond".

Expected implementation?

The results of the 77^th session of the United Nations General Assembly are expected to demonstrate to what extent the ARF commitments are implementable.

In a world characterized by global vulnerabilities , perplexities and discontinuities, diplomacy cannot generate miracles. It is a disturbing reality that the duty of solidarity at the inter-regional level is not treated as an imperative pre-requisite of a globalization with a human face. However, if ARF takes its mandate seriously, a moderate optimism can emerge and be visible in an unpredictable future.