ASEAN countries meet to discuss tough issues<\/p>\n
MANILA (DPA): Top Southeast Asian officials and their major
\ntrading partners gathered in Manila yesterday in hopes of
\nmitigating the region's economic crisis, averting further nuclear
\ntests and promoting an honest election in Cambodia.<\/p>\n
Moves to motivate Association of Southeast Asian Nations
\n(ASEAN) countries to criticize each other, cooperate in curbing
\ntransnational crimes and environmental havoc round out the top
\nissues confronting the 31st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and
\naccompanying sessions from July 21-29.<\/p>\n
\"The present financial crisis will have a profound effect not
\nonly on Asian economies, but on global economic growth as well,\"
\npredicted Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon.<\/p>\n
With Japan's weak yen elevating the regional contagion to a
\nglobal concern, the nine ASEAN members were expected to call on
\nthe Group of Seven (G-7) industrialized countries for more help.<\/p>\n
The crisis has ravaged many Asian currencies, prompted the
\nInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) to dish out more than 100
\nbillion dollars in rescue funds. It has left millions jobless and
\nreduced the capability of governments to provide basic services.<\/p>\n
The nine-day conference begins with a meeting of ASEAN senior
\nofficials July 21-22, followed by the ministerial meeting July
\n24-25, the ASEAN Regional Forum July 27 and the post ministerial
\nconference July 28-29.<\/p>\n
ASEAN groups Brunei, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar,
\nSingapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. Its dialogue
\npartners include the United States, the European Union, Japan,
\nRussia, Australia, Canada, China, India, South Korea, New
\nZealand, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n
With a parliamentary election scheduled in Cambodia for July
\n26, ASEAN diplomats have said free, fair and credible polls there
\nwill speed up the country's admission into the regional grouping.<\/p>\n
ASEAN wants to issue a strong statement condemning the series
\nof nuclear tests carried out by India and Pakistan earlier this
\nyear. On the eve of the talks, however, India launched another
\ncampaign to convince members to tone down the proposal.<\/p>\n
\"One or two ASEAN countries do not want to specifically
\nmention India and Pakistan,\" said a high-ranking foreign affairs
\nofficial.<\/p>\n
In a switch from ASEAN's usual practice of refraining from
\nnaming countries, the text calls on India and Pakistan to resolve
\ntheir dispute \"through peaceful dialogue\" and urges both nations
\nto sign the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and
\nthe Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban treaty \"without delay\".<\/p>\n
Baja said he has asked the Pakistani ambassador to the
\nPhilippines to be ready in case the ASEAN foreign ministers agree
\nto a proposal from Japan for Pakistan's presence. Pakistan is not
\na dialog partner.<\/p>\n
The idea of \"agreeing to disagree\" has touched off so much
\nrancor the proposal may not even make it to the formal agenda,
\nsaid sources close to the talks.<\/p>\n
While the Philippines and Thailand maintain ASEAN is mature
\nenough to abolish its so-called non-interference policy, Myanmar
\nand Indonesia fiercely oppose any change weakening the taboo on
\nintervention and interference in each other's affairs.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-countries-meet-to-discuss-tough-issues-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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