JAKARTA: Asean Defence Ministers have called for the swift establishment of a humanitarian corridor to facilitate unimpeded delivery of aid to those affected by the conflict in Gaza.
They raised their growing concerns over the escalating situation in the Middle East during the 17th Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and 10th ADMM-plus meeting, according to the chairman’s statement.
Stressing the seriousness, the statement said member states also urged for immediate attention and constructive dialogue to address the ongoing conflict.
“The meeting supported the initiation of peace negotiations aimed at achieving a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders in accordance with international law and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” the statement read, Bernama reported.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and his Asean counterparts met for a two-day meeting, chaired by Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, which concluded on Thursday.
The ministers also confirmed their support for the Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council Leaders’ statement on Gaza’s development and the Asean Foreign Ministers’ statement on the recent escalation of armed conflicts in the Middle East.The meeting called for an immediate, lasting humanitarian truce, prioritising civilian protection, including Asean nationals, and an unconditional release of hostages.
It urged the United Nations, especially the Security Council, to prevent conflict escalation and emphasise protecting civilians, especially Palestinians.
Meanwhile, they also endorsed a joint statement at the ADMM-plus meeting which reaffirmed a commitment to implement the Asean Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) from 2024 to 2027.
The ADMM-plus meeting is a platform for Asean and eight dialogue partners to assess security cooperation for regional peace and development.
The dialogue partners include Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States.
