The first South and South East Asian Nations Chiefs of Defence Dialogue, hosted by the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was held from 27th to 29th November 2014 in Colombo. The theme of this Dialogue was "On Overcoming New and Existing Security Challenges through regular Dialogue, Cooperation and Mutual Understandingâ€
Acknowledging the importance of establishing mutual trust and confidence among member states through greater understanding of defense, security challenges, transparency and openness;
Expressing confidence that peace and stability can be achieved through regular dialogue and enhanced cooperation among member countries;
Recognizing the rapid transition in the demographic and economic factors in South and South East Asia which is propelling the region into geopolitical prominence;
Further Recognizing the establishment of a SASEAN Security Community (SSC);
Recognizing CICA 's Defense officials ' in taking the lead in the SASEAN process through establishment of a secretariat and inaugural meetings with its member countries;
Recognizing that SASEAN shall be an integral part of CICA complimenting the overall CICA process and actively engaging CICA member states and observer states;
Further Recognizing the guidance by The Declaration of Principles Guiding Relations between CICA member states in its efforts to promote regional peace and security
CONCLUDED THE FOLLOWING
The necessary measures to implement the agreed recommendations under the areas discussed for creating an Asia of stability and prosperity are as follows;
1. Promote to implement Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), stipulated in the relevant CICA documents since its inception, through enhanced cooperation and thereby strengthening an atmosphere of peace and friendship within and outside of the Asian region.
2. Encourage to work with CICA to develop a framework for implementing CBMs in military-political dimension through step by step approach with consensus.
3. Exchange views and expertise on regional and extra regional security and defence issues.
4. Follow cooperative security approach, which is inclusive, non-adversarial and non-confrontational, a pertinent way to bring together states with different cultural values and divergent interests.
5. Review existing mechanisms and establish effective mechanisms through enhanced cooperation to jointly address terrorism, violent extremism, separatism and transnational organized crime.
6. Acknowledge sharing information, experience and expertise in eradicating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
7. Further acknowledge the exchange of information in financing, supporting, harboring, training and equipping of terrorists within and outside of the Asian region.
8. Improve inter-military cooperation in terms of training, joint exercises, exchanges, assistance in capacity building as means to strengthen regional security as a whole.
9. Encourage to condemn the use of religion, nationality, civilization, ethnicity and other such attributions to justify acts of terrorism.
10. Commit to ensure our territories will not be used by separatist movements and entities and we will not establish any kind of relations or communications with separatists.
11. Contribute to address air, land and maritime disputes through peaceful means without resorting to force and/or threat to use force against the territorial integrity with a view to consolidating peace, stability, trust and confidence.
12. Encourage energy security which is essential for sustainable development and economic wellbeing of peoples in and outside of Asia.
13. Reaffirm the importance of taking necessary measures to promote and to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and our commitment to fulfill these obligations in accordance with the UN Charter, UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, international law and other applicable international human rights instruments.
14. Strengthen support to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, as stipulated in the relevant previous CICA documents, adopted at Heads of State and Ministerial level meetings.
15. Acknowledge the prevention and eradication of the illicit trade and trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW).
16. Acknowledging the shared responsibility to prevent illicit drug production, trafficking, consumption and abuse through effective international cooperation in a multilateral framework.
17. Encourage sharing of intelligence that enables militaries, law enforcement agencies and other key actors in national security to improve their preparedness to combat threats.
18. Strengthen joint counter-piracy operations and efforts to eliminate maritime robbery in the region.
19. Agreed to hold the Second South and South East Asian Nations Defence Chiefs Dialogue in 2015.
20. This Concluding Statment is reflective of our collective will to take the SASEAN process further ahead in line with CICA efforts by continuing to work towards building a milieu of confidence, trust, mutual understanding and enhanced cooperation to create an Asia of stability and prosperity.
Colombo, 27 - 29 November 2014`
