30th AMM opens with one less member than expected<\/p>\n
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat<\/p>\n
PETALING JAYA, Malaysia (JP): Less than a month ago many
\nenvisioned the start of today's two-day ASEAN Ministerial Meeting
\n(AMM) as the dawn of a new era for the organization.<\/p>\n
The 30th AMM would have been the first time that all 10
\nSoutheast Asian states would have sat down as members of the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).<\/p>\n
But the recent turmoil in Cambodia has forced the grouping to
\ndelay Cambodia's admission, and only Laos and Myanmar were
\nadmitted yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"ASEAN remains hopeful that Cambodia can join ASEAN as soon as
\ncircumstances permit,\" said ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Ajit
\nSingh.<\/p>\n
With the admission of two new members yesterday, ASEAN now
\ncomprises Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
\nPhilippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam<\/p>\n
Members of the Cambodian delegation, represented by Foreign
\nMinister Ung Huot, are still expected to attend the meeting as
\nobservers.<\/p>\n
While the Cambodian issue is again expected to feature in the
\nmeeting, ASEAN ministers will also have a full agenda of 22 items
\nto discuss.<\/p>\n
They will have the task of selecting a secretary-general as
\nAjit Singh ends his five-year term at the end of the year.<\/p>\n
Ajit himself is seeking re-election but delegates here tip
\nPhilippine Foreign Undersecretary R. Severino to become the next
\nsecretary-general.<\/p>\n
Both candidates have refused to comment on their respective
\nnominations in an attempt to avoid competition in public.<\/p>\n
\"Nobody is challenging anybody ... I was nominated by my
\ngovernment,\" Severino said.<\/p>\n
In a typical non-confrontational, ASEAN, way the selection
\nwill not be decided by ballot, but rather by consultation through
\nIndonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas, who communicated with his
\nASEAN colleagues in private as to their individual choice.<\/p>\n
Delegates here said Alatas would inform the ministers at
\ntoday's meeting as to who had most support and the meeting would
\nthen advise one of the candidates to withdraw his nomination.<\/p>\n
In an effort to promote better cohesion and recognition among
\nthe region's peoples, the AMM will also launch an ASEAN Award.<\/p>\n
This is aimed at giving recognition to individuals and
\norganizations for their work in the region which is considered
\nconsistent with ASEAN's own objectives.<\/p>\n
An ASEAN Foundation is also expected to be launched. Ajit
\nSingh said the it was aimed at helping \"promote ASEAN awareness,
\ngreater interaction among peoples and widen their participation
\nin ASEAN's activities\".<\/p>\n
The foundation is most likely to be based in Jakarta and
\nactivities will be held in cooperation with the private sector.<\/p>\n
Ministers here will also take some time to review preparations
\nfor the year-long celebration of ASEAN's 30th anniversary. The
\ncelebrations will be officially kicked-off by President Soeharto
\nat an ASEAN reception in Jakarta on Aug. 8.<\/p>\n
One of the main events to be discussed is the commemorative
\nsummit which will be held in Kuala Lumpur in December. Leaders
\nfrom China, Japan and South Korea will be invited to attend it.<\/p>\n
On the economic side, ministers will discuss the progress of
\nthe ASEAN-Mekong Basin Development Cooperation. This project
\nbegan in 1995 to help spur development in the Mekong Basin area,
\nparticularly to help Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.<\/p>\n
Discussions will also be held on a proposal to convene an
\nASEAN Roundtable on legal, technical and economic issues arising
\nfrom advances in multimedia technology.<\/p>\n
The AMM will be followed on Sunday by the ASEAN Regional Forum
\nwhich bring ASEAN and its dialog partners together in a
\npolitical-security dialog forum. ASEAN will then hold a two-day
\nPost Ministerial Conference starting Monday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/30th-amm-opens-with-one-less-member-than-expected-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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