SINGAPORE, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The first meeting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs (AIPACODD) concluded here Wednesday with the agreement of two resolutions to combat illicit drugs.
The resolutions are the "Resolution on Securing A Drug-Free ASEAN Community for Future Generations" and the "Resolution on the Terms of Reference on the AIPA Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs", according to a press release by the Parliament of Singapore.
They will be submitted for subsequent adoption at the 39th AIPA General Assembly, which will be held in Singapore in September 2018, it added.
As a major step forward in the fight against drugs, AIPACODD's Terms of Reference were finalized, according to the press release.
Christopher de Souza, Chair of the first meeting of the AIPACODD, affirmed that these resolutions signified AIPA parliamentarians' strong and firm stance against dangerous drugs in the region.
"The fight against drugs requires constant and regular vigilance and attention. We must therefore remain resolute in the face of calls and efforts to decriminalize illicit drugs. As ASEAN, our own local and regional circumstances will guide and steer our efforts to secure drug-free ASEAN communities for our future generations," he said.
Hosted by the Parliament of Singapore from June 19 to 20, AIPACODD was attended by over 50 delegates, including parliamentarians from the 10 AIPA Member Parliaments, as well as the AIPA Secretaria.
AIPA comprises all 10 parliaments of ASEAN, aiming to provide solidarity, understanding, cooperation and close relations among AIPA Member Parliaments, AIPA Observers and other organizations.
AIPA was first established in 1977 as the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization (AIPO), with the parliaments of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand as its founding members. In 2007, AIPO was officially renamed as AIPA.
