Ministers yet to set informal summit date<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Foreign ministers yesterday discussed
\npreparations for the ASEAN informal summit but have yet to come
\nup with a fixed date.<\/p>\n
ASEAN Secretary-General Dato' Ajit Singh at the end of
\nyesterday's meeting said that there needs to be more discussion
\nbefore a definite date can be set.<\/p>\n
\"The dates have not been fixed really. There are still some
\nquestions because they clash either with national days or
\nbirthdays or other things,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will host an informal summit later this year in
\nJakarta. Apart from the seven members of ASEAN, the three
\nprospective members of the organization -- Cambodia, Laos and
\nMyanmar -- are also expected to attend.<\/p>\n
Separately an ASEAN official revealed that ministers were
\ntalking of the possibility of holding the summit on Dec. 2.
\nHowever the date would clash with the Laotian national day.<\/p>\n
The official who asked not to be named further revealed that
\nthe leaders are expected to have a free flowing discussion in
\ntheir meeting and thus no formal agenda will be presented.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, a general guideline of topics will be prepared
\nwith each country being asked to present their respective \"list
\nof subjects\" about a week in advance.<\/p>\n
Speaking of the just-concluded ministerial meeting, Ajit Singh
\nexpressed his satisfaction of the smooth flow of discussions.<\/p>\n
He said the biggest achievement of the 29th ASEAN Ministerial
\nMeeting is probably the fact that it passed without any
\nsignificant problems or controversies between the ministers.<\/p>\n
He said he is already looking forward to next year's
\nministerial meeting which will be held in Kuala Lumpur and which
\nis expected to be a momentous occasion since it will be welcoming
\ntwo new members -- Cambodia and Laos -- and celebrate the 30th
\nanniversary of ASEAN. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ministers-yet-to-set-informal-summit-date-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}