DRUGS, TERRORISM AND FLESH TRADE AGREEMENT AT FORUM

Capacity-Building, Small Firms Backed

East Asian and Latin American countries have agreed to fight against
terrorism, drugs and human trafficking at a meeting in Manila.

Ministers of 32 countries from the Forum for East Asia-Latin America
(Fealac) also agreed during the two-day conference to tackle trans-border
threats including drugs, trafficking in women and children, small arms, and
communicable diseases, said Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai.

The meeting also recognised that North Korea's development of nuclear
weapons posed a threat to regional peace and stability, and supported the
six-party dialogue on the issue.

Fealac comprises the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, while
members on the Latin American side include Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia,
Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay,
Peru, Panama, Uruguay and Venezuela. Two new members are Nicaragua and
Guatemala.

The meeting adopted the Manila Plan of Action, which set the forum's
priorities and direction in capacity-building and cooperation in enhancing
micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, said the co-chair of this year's
meeting, Philippine secretary of foreign affairs Delia Domingo Albert.