Javier Solana to take part in the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum and the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with the EU in Phuket, Thailand

Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), will lead the EU delegation participating in the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the EU and the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Phuket on Wednesday, 22 and Thursday, 23 July 2009.

The ARF and related meetings will provide an opportunity to discuss regional and international issues, EU-ASEAN relations and regional integration in South-East Asia. Strategies for tackling shared challenges, such as counter-terrorism, maritime security, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, disaster relief and climate change, will also be on the agenda.

On Wednesday, 22 July, Mr. Solana will participate in the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with the EU and attend the dinner hosted by Thailand's Foreign Minister, Kasit PIROMYA, in
honour of the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN, the ASEAN Dialogue Partners and ASEAN Regional Forum and the ASEAN Secretary-General.

On Thursday, 23 July, the High Representative will participate in several sessions of the ARF Ministerial Meeting and the ARF Foreign Ministers lunch. In the margins, Mr Solana will have a number of bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of
Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, among others.