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ASEM: Non-traditional security challenges in focus

Article date: 2011, June 7 - 1:35pm Last modified date: 2011, July 18 - 9:19am
ASEMAshtonAsiaMartonyinuclear safety
The dividing line between traditional and non-traditional security challenges seems to have vanished simultaneously, with the blurring of the difference between internal and external challenges, János Martonyi explained on 6 June 2011, at the Asia–Europe Meeting of Foreign Ministers (ASEM) in Gödöllő. The 48 participants stressed the importance of cooperation efforts in the field of non-traditional challenges.

The unexpected storm has washed away the opening ceremony that was planned to take place in the garden of the Royal Castle in Gödöllő, a town situated close to Budapest; and owing to the power failure, which was caused by a bolt of lightning, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had to interrupt his opening speech. Despite this, the 48 Asian and European partners were not dissatisfied with the first day of the ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on 6 June.

Both the Hungarian Prime Minister as special guest of the event, and later during the discussions, the participants themselves emphasised on the importance of cooperation and underlined, “Lone fighters can no longer be successful.” Viktor Orbán called the Asia–Europe Meeting, launched 15 years ago in 1996, a success story, which was created in that spirit. He said that the cooperation between Europe and Asia may be a starting point for renewing the post economic crisis world.

In the plenary discussion about non-traditional security challenges, on behalf of the Hungarian Presidency, János Martonyi stressed the importance of establishing nuclear energy safety. According to the Foreign Minister, the natural and nuclear disaster in Japan also demonstrated that the “usual ways” is no longer viable and we must get prepared for emergencies.

Cooperation is the best way

Mr Martonyi called his counterparts’ attention to the action of the EU: the competent ministers immediately elevated the testing of nuclear plants to community priority level. The Foreign Minister stated that the best way to resolve such problems, both in the field of nuclear safety and environment protection, is to seek solutions jointly.

Acting as chair of the meeting, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton highlighted the same idea at the press conference, after the session. Europe and Asia have several common interests, she said, adding that all these areas have clearly demonstrated how important Asia is for Europe and vice versa.

Japanese Foreign Minister, Takeaki Matsumoto stated that the combat against terrorism, disaster management, nuclear safety, climate change and nuclear non-proliferation, are all challenges demanding cooperation, which is in the joint interest of countries of Asia and Europe.  According to Mr Matsumoto, ASEM provides an appropriate framework for the 48 partners, in order to strengthen their cooperation in these areas.

Food and water shortage – future problems

In response to a journalist’s question, the EU’s High Representative said, besides energy safety, food and water shortage has also been registered as a new type of challenge. “Yemen is going to have serious problems in the next 4 to 5 years, with the shortage of water,” Ms Ashton said, highlighting the case of the country in the Middle East.

Several countries have highlighted the issue of food shortage during the plenary discussion. “It is no wonder that the reduction of poverty and the establishment of food safety is the No. 1 development objective of the millennium. This is an important political factor,” a West European EU Member State pointed out, stressing the importance of the issue. According to certain countries of Southeast Asia, we need a holistic approach in this field, and it would add significant value if ASEM also strived to improve their technological and scientific cooperation. Representatives of other ASEAN countries, called the attention of their partners, to the need of assigning a significant role to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The debate also dealt with maritime safety, which is an important matter, especially the fight against pirates and the issue of cyber safety; while several ASEM partners emphasised on the necessity to promote cooperation, not only in the recovery from, but also the prediction of natural disasters and the mitigation of risks.

ASEMAshtonAsiaMartonyinuclear safety

Event information

ASEM: Europe-Asia meeting-’ Working together on non-traditional security challenges’

  • Date: 2011. June 06. - 2011. June 07.
  • The Tenth ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will take place on 6-7 June 2011 in Gödöllő – Hungary with the participation of 48 delegations from ASEM member states. ASEM Senior Officials (SOM) will convene the day before the Ministerial Meeting. The overarching title of the conference is “Working together on non-traditional security challenges”
  • Location: Royal Palace of Gödöllő
  • Address: Hungary 2100 Gödöllő, Gödöllői Királyi Kastély

  • The Tenth ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will take place on 6-7 June 2011 in Gödöllő – Hungary with the participation of 48 delegations from  ASEM member states. ASEM Senior Officials (SOM) will convene the day before the Ministerial Meeting. The overarching title of the conference is “Working together on non-traditional security challenges”.

     

    Draft Programme for the Press
     

    Note. This is a preliminary programme subject to changes.

    Meetings at the Royal Palace of Gödöllő are not open for the press.
    Part of the meetings will be broadcast live by the Host Broadcaster (HB).
    Photo and TV reporters can register for taking photographs of the opening ceremonies and family photos at the HB desk in the back of the press centre.

    Representatives of the press may attend open meetings in the Royal Palace of Gödöllő with escort only.
    Journalists can request for an escort at the Media Desk in the Press Centre.
    Please note that in case the number of applicants exceeds the venue’s capacity, they will be placed in pools.
    Press conferences will be broadcast live on the Presidency’s website at www.eu2011.hu

    HB desk:
    E-mail: hb@dunatv.hu
    Phone: +36 1 489-1612
    Mobile: +36 30 813-9911

    Media desk:
    Petra Hajdu: +36 30 226 48 76 (petra.hajdu@kum.gov.hu)
    Anna Fehér: +36 30 268 1494 (anna.feher@kum.gov.hu)
    Andrea Birgány: +36 30 226 4437 (abirgany@kum.hu)
    Tibor Mezei: +36 30 226 7654 (tmezei@kum.gov.hu)
     

    6 June 2011
    Monday

    Due to the tight schedule of the ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting there is only limited op-portunity to interview Ministers and Heads of Delegations. Interviews can be conducted at the press centre and at the Royal Palace of Gödöllő. Please note that representatives of the press may only move about the Royal Palace of Gödöllő with escort. To request an escort, please refer to the Media Desk at the press centre.

    11.50 Transfer of the press from the Press Centre to the Palace to record arrivals, make interviews and participate at the opening ceremony. We are going to or-ganize two pools. For registration please refer to the Media Desk at the Press Centre.
    Pool A : Escorted transfer of photographers and cameraman to the Royal Palace of Gödöllő to take photos and to attend the opening ceremony
    Pool B : Escorted transfer of journalists to the Royal Palace of Gödöllő to make short interviews on arrival with heads of delegations and to attend the opening ceremony

    11.55 Host Broadcaster’s brief keynote interview with Foreign Minister János Mar-tonyi in English, live broadcast at Press Centre

    12.00- Arrival of ministers and delegations at the Royal Palace of Gödöllő
    13.00
    Host: János Martonyi, Minister of Foreign Affairs
    Opportunity to take fill-in photos (Pool A) and make short interviews with heads of delegations (Pool B)

    13.00-13.30 Opening ceremony at the Royal Palace of Gödöllő (Opening ceremony is broadcast live in the Press Centre and on the official website of the Presidency (www.eu2011.hu) EN-HU)
    Pool A and Pool B are escorted to the opening ceremony at 12.45 or return to the Press Centre.
    Speeches delivered by:
    - Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary
    - Pham Gia Khiem, Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, Minister of Foreign Affairs (host of previous ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in May 2009)
    -János Martonyi, Minister of Foreign Affairs (host, European coordinator)
    -Matsumuto Takeaki, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs (Asian coordina-tor)
    -Thongloun Sisoulith, Laotian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs (Asian coordinator)

    13.30- Working lunch
    15.00

    14.45 Pool A : Escorted transfer of photographers and cameraman to the Royal Palace of Gödöllő for taking family photos
    Pool B: Escorted transfer of journalists to Royal Palace of Gödöllő for making pre-arranged and doorstep interviews

    15.00- Family photo at in the Baroque Theatre (Pool A)
    15.15
    Opportunity of making pre-arranged and doorstep interviews in the Confer-ence Hall of the Royal Palace of Gödöllő (Pool B)

    15.15- First Plenary session
    16.45

    16.45- Press conference at Press Centre, Gödöllő
    17.15 (tbc)
    Speakers:
    -János Martonyi, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs
    -Matsumoto Takeaki, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs
    -Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Se-curity Policy
    -Thongloun Sisoulith, Laotian Minister of Foreign Affairs

    17.15- Second Plenary session
    18.45

    7 June 2011
    Tuesday

    09.40 Escorted transfer of the press to the Royal Palace of Gödöllő for the ceremony of signature of the the Social Security Agreement between Hungary and Aus-tralia, followed by the related doorstep press conferences

    10.00- Ceremony of signature of the Social Security Agreement between Hungary
    10.20 and Australia followed by doorstep press conference at Ceremonial Hall, Royal Palace of Gödöllő
    Agreement signed by Foreign Minister János Martonyi and Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd on behalf of Hungary and Australia respectively, live broadcast at Press Centre

    10.25 Host broadcaster’s keynote interview with Foreign Minister János Martonyi in English, broadcast live at the Press Centre

    10.30- Third Plenary session
    12.00

    12.00- Coffee break
    12.15
    Opportunity of making pre-arranged interviews

    12.15- Fourth Plenary session
    13.45

    14.00- Press conference at the Press Centre, Gödöllő
    14.30
    Speakers:
    -János Martonyi, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs
    -Thongloun Sisoulith, Laotian Minister of Foreign Affairs 

     

    INFORMATION ON THE PRESS CENTER
     

    House of Arts, Gödöllő
    Address: H- 2100 Gödöllő
    Szabadság út 6.

    GPS coordinates: 47.5990 / 19.3503

    Opening hours:
    On 6 June, 2011 (Monday) from 8.00
    On 7 June 2011 (Tuesday) from 8.00

    Services:
    Broadband cable and WiFi internet connections, phones, faxes, information (media) desk, HB desk, printed publications, photo copier, TV and radio booths (on order), news conference area, working rooms for journalists, briefing rooms, stand-up positions, buffet.

    Transportation:
    Shuttle buses:
    If you wish to use our shuttle buses please send an e-mail to pressaccr@eu2011.hu with your name, media organization and e-mail address.
     

    On June 6th shuttle buses to Gödöllő leave from the Museum of Etnography (Néprajzi Múzeum, address: Kossuth square 12.)
    To Gödöllő: 10.15, 15.15
    Back from Gödöllő: 17.45, 18.45

    On June 7th shuttle buses to Gödöllő leave from the Museum of Etnography (Néprajzi Múzeum, address: Kossuth square 12.)
    To Gödöllő: 7.15, 12.30
    Back from Gödöllő: 15.00, 16.00

    By car:
    • From Budapest on the M0-M31 or M3 motorways.
    • From Budapest via Örs vezér square on main road No.3.

    IMPORTANT: Only a limited number of parking spaces are available in front of the Press Center (House of Arts). These are reserved mainly for television
    crews and handicapped persons. Please send your parking space requirement by e-mail to: pressaccr@eu2011.hu.
    Public transport:
    • From Budapest Örs vezér square by HÉV suburban railway to Gödöllő Szabadság tér station (50 minutes).
    • from Budapest’s Stadion bus station with Volan buses;
    • from Budapest’s Keleti railway station by train (Hatvan-Füzesabony – Miskolc line)

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