10 August 2014 - The ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR) launched last August 08 its first-ever publication in ceremonies held at the sidelines of the on-going ASEAN Ministerial and related meetings. The event was led by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh and Myanmar Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Aung Lwin, who is hosting the meetings.

The publication documents the proceedings of the first AIPR Symposium on Peace and Reconciliation Processes and Initiatives, held in Manila on 7-8 April 2014, where the Members of the AIPR Governing Council and Advisory Board discussed experiences and best practices in peace and reconciliation initiatives in the region and around the world. 

The book also contains the presentations made at the Symposium by renowned experts in peace and reconciliation, including Nobel Peace Prize Committee member Bishop Gunnar Stålsett, former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in Timor-Leste Professor Sukehiro Hasegawa, head of the Philippine Panel to the GPH-MILF Peace Talks Professor Miriam Coronel Ferrer and Facilitator Tengku Dato’ Abdul Ghafar Bin Tengku Mohamed, former ASEAN Secretary General Rodolfo C. Severino, and Center for Humanitarian Dialogue Regional Director Dr. Michael Vatikiotis.

The symposium was held a few days after the historic signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which was hailed by the speakers as one of the best examples of peace agreements in the world today. The Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles, delivered the Keynote Address during the Symposium.

In attendance during the launching ceremony were the ASEAN Foreign Ministers, Senior Officials, members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives, AIPR Governing Council and Advisory Board.

Myanmar Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin, who delivered the opening remarks during the launch, extended his congratulations to the Philippines for taking the initiative in organizing the very first Symposium of the AIPR in April 2014.  He said that the publication would greatly contribute to the region’s effort towards the maintenance of peace and reconciliation, conflict management, as well as the promotion of the rule of law and the peaceful settlement of disputes in the region.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario said that Manila is proud to have hosted AIPR’s first symposium, which was organized after the historic signing of the CAB. He thanked the member countries of ASEAN for their support to the peace process, specifically Malaysia and Indonesia for their assistance in facilitating the peace talks between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). He wished AIPR even more success in its innovative programs and research activities on peace, conflict management, and conflict resolution. 

ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh said that ever since the founding of ASEAN on 08 August 1967, the building and preservation of peace has been a time-honored endeavor, core value and a major contribution by ASEAN to the world. He noted the auspicious co-incidence that the publication was being launched on ASEAN Day itself, and encouraged the AIPR to continue to explore and consider new ways to strengthen the region’s commitment to peace and reconciliation for the benefit of present and future generations of ASEAN’s peoples.

Copies of the publication were presented to the Ministers and other participants during the launch. END