Headlines

• Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries are meeting intending to enhance the region's economic and security cooperation and reach out to other dialogue partners in East Asia and Oceania.
• The topics of regional tension in the South China Sea and the civil war in Myanmar are expected to take center stage at the leaders' meeting hosted by Laos in Vientiane.

Vientiane, Oct.8 (DPnet).– The 44th ASEAN Summit is taking place at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos, from October 6 to October 11. Southeast Asian leaders are meeting in Laos for a summit expected to find ways of tackling a worsening civil war in Myanmar, with Thailand set to propose a new path for a political solution after a regional peace effort made scant progress.

Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, attended the Plenary Session and reported on the progress of ASEAN Community-building in 2024 to the ASEAN Leaders and highlighted the key deliverables of Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship under the theme “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”.

This is the second attack by Iran this year, after it fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel in April. 

Tel Aviv, Oct. 1 (DPnet).– Iran launched around 180 missiles towards Israel, the Israeli military said. "A short time ago, missiles were launched from Iran towards the State of Israel," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a statement early this Tuesday. "You are asked to remain vigilant and follow the Home Front Command's instructions precisely," warned the Israeli population. This attack is slightly larger than April's barrage, which saw about 110 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles fired toward Israel.

Footage carried by Israeli TV appeared to show some missiles flying over the Tel Aviv area shortly before 19:45 local time (17:45 BST).

Military officials have confirmed that some hits were recorded during the attack. A military spokesperson said Israel recorded "a few hits in the center and other areas in the south of the country". Ballistic missiles can reach Israel within 12 minutes, while drones and cruise missiles leave more time to defend against.

Israel

– Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Prime Minister of Israel, said that after hearing numerous lies and slander, he decided to come personally “to set the record straight” and “to speak for the truth”.  As his country faces “savage enemies who seek our annihilation”, he stressed that “Israel seeks peace, Israel yearns for peace.”  Comparing the “unimaginable” atrocities committed by Hamas on 7 October to “the Nazi Holocaust”, he said:  “They savagely murdered 1,200 people, they raped and mutilated women, they beheaded men, they burnt babies alive.”  Israel has brought home 154 of 251 people taken hostage by Hamas and dragged into the “dungeons” of Gaza, he said, adding:  “We will not rest until the remaining hostages are brought home safely.”

Following the 7 October attack, Israel has been forced to defend itself on six more war fronts organized by Iran in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iraq, he noted.  In response to Iran’s first-ever direct assault on Israel, he warned:  “Strike us, we will strike you.  There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach and that is true of the entire Middle East.”  Demonstrating two maps, he contrasted the “blessing” of development for Israel and its “Arab partners” with the “curse” of Iran’s influence in the region, warning that “Iran seeks to impose its radicalism beyond the Middle East and threatens the entire world.”  The world should “join Israel in stopping Iran’s nuclear weapons”, he said, calling on the UN to “snap back” sanctions against Iran.  “We must all do everything in our power to ensure Iran never gets nuclear weapons,” he emphasized.

Noting that the Israel Defense Forces continue fighting Hamas, he warned that if the group stays in power, “it will regroup, rearm and attack again.”  Therefore, he rejected “any rule for Hamas in a post-war Gaza”, adding that it would be “inconceivable” if the defeated Nazis were invited to rebuild Germany in 1945. “We do not seek to resettle Gaza,” he underscored, emphasizing that Israel wants a “demilitarized and de-radicalized” Gaza, adding that “only then can we ensure that this round of fighting will be the last.”  

Estonia

– Alar Karis, President

ALAR KARIS, President of Estonia said:  “I want to live in a world that is in peace,” where sovereign nations, whether big or small, are not conquered and colonized; where artificial intelligence serves and not hinders humanity; and where nobody has to fear oppression based on gender, race, nation beliefs or one's thoughts.  Regrettably, peace and freedom are under threat, he said, noting that the number of countries where political rights and civil liberties are diminishing is more than twofold in comparison to those where such freedoms are improving.  The international community may condemn brutal acts of violence but without efficient action against atrocities, it is not enough.  What “keeps us awake at night”, he said, is the children who are lost to conflicts, who will never be old enough to see a high school diploma or learn how to ride a bike.  The happiness of a child is the image that should set the moral compass of the international community, he said.

Stressing the importance of restoring the credibility of the UN, he said now more than ever it is vital to reform the Security Council.  Commending the Pact for the Future as a good guideline, he said “we should have been even more ambitious”.  The future Council must be efficient, open, and accountable and its composition must adequately reflect the current world.  The scope and use of the veto right has to be limited, he said, expressing support for all efforts to limit its use, especially on actions aimed at ending or preventing mass atrocities.  It is impossible to restore the credibility of the UN when a permanent Council member acts against the UN Charter principles, he said, adding “therefore, let us use wisely the powers of the General Assembly”.  Calling on delegates to analyse options to ensure that the Assembly gains more prominence, he added that future peace operations must better respond to existing challenges and emerging realities.

The Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, he said, causes inhumane suffering, as does the war in Gaza and other conflicts.  Since the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel almost a year ago, there has been too much suffering in Gaza and the region.  The two-State solution is the only way to a just and lasting peace, he stressed.  Noting how the global community has condemned the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine “in this very room”, he said it must also firmly condemn the actions of those who arm that country in this aggression — Iran and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. “Russia’s war against Ukraine is as clear as black and white.  Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine is the victim,” he stressed, adding that the “smooth talk about dialogue” and calls on the two countries to engage in direct peace talks is only supporting the Russian Federation’s cause. “We are not going to call Russia for a coffee,” he said, calling on that country to accept Ukraine’s 10-point peace formula.