EAS To Issue Declaration On Avian Flu
By R. Ravichandran
Bernama, 9 Dec 2005

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- The East Asia Summit (EAS) on Wednesday will issue a declaration on collaboration in tackling the dreaded Avian flu that has resulted in loss of lives and is posing a threat to economies in Asia.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the 10 member nations of Asean had approved a declaration on the matter and it would be brought up at the EAS for its endorsement.

"In fact, (there is) going to be a separate declaration for us to cooperate (in tackling) the Avian flu. We are going to bring it up with the countries  in   the East Asia Summit to

get    approval,"    he    told    a     news conference at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), venue of the 11th Asean Summit and related summits as well as the EAS from Monday to Wednesday.

Syed Hamid was responding to questions on whether the upcoming summits would discuss measures to be adopted to contain the spread of Avian flu.

He said Asean and the other countries attending the EAS must work together and learn from each other's experience to be able to address pandemic and communicable diseases more effectively.

The minister noted that there was already close cooperation among ministries of the Asean countries against the bird flu.

Since outbreaks of the bird flu occurred last year, Asean member countries have worked closely with each other and key international agencies to contain outbreaks and prevent transmission.

Avian flu has infected up to 135 people in the last two years in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and China, and killed 69 of them. -- BERNAMA