ABSTRACT
The first session of the ASEM6 Summit in Helsinki was entitled “Strengthening
multilateralism and addressing security threats”. This not only highlights the
importance of these two items on the ASEM agenda, but also illustrates the
linkage between multilateralism and the tackling of security threats. Multilateralist
principles are on the one hand part of the security goal. ASEM security is about
security of states and their citizens. Unilateralist dominance would compromise the
independence of ASEM states and ASEM state citizens, who would be left with
a weak state instrument to protect them. However, multilateralism is primarily
related to the principles of security promotion. ASEM is a security instrument that
is based on international law and the primacy of the United Nations. It is therefore
an instrument that honors member states and the participating continents as equal
partners. This is the foundation of ASEM’s search for security.
