JAKARTA, 8 February 2012—A dialogue between ASEAN Secretariat and the UN Secretariat was held yesterday at the ASEAN Secretariat to advance the relationship between the two through identification of work modalities.

“In the meeting, we prioritised implementation areas of the ASEAN-UN Comprehensive Partnership; discussed ways and means of the two Secretariats’ work methods and coordination of implementation of the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations (UN); and identified preparational needs of joint reporting on the progress to the ASEAN-UN Ministerial Meeting (AUMM)”, said HE Mr Sayakane Sisouvong, Deputy Secretary- General of ASEAN.

The meeting also touched upon the preparations for the ASEAN-UN Workshop “Lessons Learned and Best Practices of the United Nations and Regional Organisations in Conflict Prevention, Peacemaking, Peacekeeping, and Peace building,” taking place this week on 7-8 February 2012 at the ASEAN Secretariat. The workshop is being conducted under the Joint Declaration framework to enhance cooperation and exchange best practices between ASEAN and the UN through a series of ASEAN-UN seminars, workshops and trainings. These activities will cover various issues such as preventive diplomacy—in particular mediation and conflict prevention, peacekeeping and post- conflict peace building.

The Joint Declaration was agreed upon during the 4th ASEAN-UN Summit on 19 November 2011, in Bali, Indonesia. The meeting was co-chaired by HE Sisouvong and HE Mr Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General of the UN and attended by representatives of both secretariats.