Comments by Singapore MFA Spokesman on Foreign Affairs Minister Prof S Jayakumar's Bilateral Meetings with Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines and Thailand

In response to media queries, the Singapore MFA Spokesman said "Minister for Foreign Affairs Prof S Jayakumar today had separate bilateral meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr Ali Alatas, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar, U Win Aung, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs from the Republic of the Philippines, Mr Domingo Siazon, and the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, Dr Surin Pitsuwan. The Foreign Ministers are in Singapore for the 32nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) which begins with an informal working dinner this evening.

Prof Jayakumar briefed his counterparts from Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand on the preparations for the forthcoming ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) and sought their inputs. He also apprised his colleagues of his plans for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat to be held on Fri 23 Jul at Sentosa. The Retreat will be an important occasion for the ministers to meet in an informal setting for a free and candid discussion on the future of ASEAN. Ministers Alatas, Win Aung, Siazon and Pitsuwan expressed their full support for the Retreat."

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
22 JULY 1999