Cambodia to apply for ASEAN seat this week<\/p>\n
PHNOM PENH (AFP): Cambodian Foreign Minister Ung Huot is to
\nleave Phnom Penh for Jakarta tomorrow to deliver his country's
\nformal application for full membership in the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN), foreign ministry officials said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Ung Huot will present the application to Indonesian Foreign
\nMinister Ali Alatas, also the chairman of the ASEAN steering
\ncommittee, either tomorrow or Wednesday, according to Hor
\nSothuon, a foreign ministry spokesman.<\/p>\n
"The main objective of his visit is to deliver the application
\nfor full membership in ASEAN," Hor Sothuon said.<\/p>\n
Cambodia became an observer member of the regional economic
\ngrouping last year and hopes to be accepted as a full member in
\n1997.<\/p>\n
Ung Huot's trip to Indonesia comes just over a month after a
\nFebruary visit to Phnom Penh of a senior ASEAN delegation which
\nwas sent to assess Cambodia's readiness for full membership.<\/p>\n
While citing several concerns -- most notably a lack of
\ntrained personnel to fill bureaucratic positions the organization
\nrequires -- the delegation said it welcomed Cambodia's
\napplication for membership and would do what it could do to speed
\nits entry.<\/p>\n
Several ASEAN countries have already offered and begun
\ntraining future Cambodian ASEAN employees in English-language,
\nmanagement and diplomacy courses.<\/p>\n
In addition, several members of the delegation said they might
\nbe willing to consider waiving or reducing entry requirements,
\nwhich include a substantial membership fee and the presence of
\ndiplomatic missions in all member countries.<\/p>\n
But some diplomats and observers have cautioned that even with
\ntraining assistance from ASEAN members and potentially reduced
\nentry requirements, Cambodia might still not be able to be an
\neffective full member of the group for several years.<\/p>\n
"I'm not really sure if they know exactly what they are
\ngetting into and what full membership will entail," said one
\nwestern diplomat. "It will be very expensive and I'm not sure the
\ngovernment can afford it at the moment."<\/p>\n
But Cambodian officials are determined to proceed, saying the
\nbenefits of membership outweigh the monetary liabilities.<\/p>\n
"The government's decision is to join by 1997," Hor Sothuon
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
\nSingapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodia and Laos are currently
\nobserver members.<\/p>\n
After presenting the application in Jakarta, Ung Huot is to
\ntravel to Thailand for official meetings with Thai Foreign
\nMinister Kasem Kasemsri.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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