Myanmar becomes ASEAN observer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Myanmar took one step closer to becoming a
\nmember of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) yesterday
\nas it was inducted as an observer of the seven-member
\norganization.<\/p>\n
Myanmar's admission came in the midst of intense Western
\ncriticism over Yangon's human rights record.<\/p>\n
The ceremony was led by Indonesia's Ali Alatas, who spoke on
\nbehalf of the other six ASEAN ministers seated in a line of
\nrattan armchairs on one side, with the Myanmar delegation on the
\nother.<\/p>\n
Alatas noted that Myanmar has been making earnest endeavors to
\nprepare itself for eventual full membership in the ASEAN by the
\nturn of the century.<\/p>\n
\"It is my hope -- which is shared by all members of ASEAN --
\nthat not too long from now, we shall be welcoming Myanmar again,
\nnot as an observer but as a member,\" Alatas added.<\/p>\n
ASEAN comprises of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
\nPhilippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Myanmar, sometime in the near future, is expected to follow in
\nthe footsteps of current observers Cambodia and Laos, who are
\nexpected to join ASEAN next year.<\/p>\n
\"Every step, therefore, that Myanmar takes toward full
\nmembership in ASEAN is also a step toward the fulfillment of that
\nvision,\" Alatas said of the founding fathers' dream of a united
\nSoutheast Asia.<\/p>\n
Myanmar's Foreign Minister, Ohn Gyaw, thanked the seven ASEAN
\nforeign ministers for their \"unanimous support\" in accepting the
\ncountry as an observer and reaffirmed his country's strong desire
\nto integrate itself with the association.<\/p>\n
Myanmar continues to remain in the glare of Western
\ncriticism for its alleged repression of human rights activists.
\nASEAN has also disregarded Western calls and maintained a policy
\nof constructive engagement towards Yangon.<\/p>\n
Myanmarese pro-democracy activist and Nobel laureate Aung San
\nSuu Kyi has written a letter to ASEAN heads of state ahead of the
\nASEAN ministerial meeting calling for economic sanctions against
\nher country as a means of encouraging political changes.<\/p>\n
Later yesterday afternoon, ASEAN ministers, at the start of
\ntheir two-day meeting, highlighted a number of regional and
\nglobal issues as well as various administrative matters of the
\norganization.<\/p>\n
Singapore Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar, at the opening
\nceremony, asserted the need for ASEAN to intensify efforts to get
\ndialog partners to sign the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free
\nZone Treaty.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Alatas said: \"We should now exert our best efforts
\nto ensure the treaty's early entry into force.\"<\/p>\n
He added that since the treaty does not undermine the security
\npolicies of nuclear weapon states, there is no reason they should
\nnot accede to its protocol.<\/p>\n
Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi said ASEAN states
\nthemselves must not delay the ratification of the treaty: \"We
\nmust not let outsiders draw wedges through ASEAN on account of
\ntheir own problems.\"<\/p>\n
Philippine Foreign Minister Domingo L. Siazon, apart from
\nfurther stressing the importance of the nuclear free zone treaty
\nalso focussed on the potential hazards of the overlapping claims
\nin the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
He described it as \"a prominent obstacle\" to the realization
\nof ASEAN's zone of peace, friendship and neutrality.<\/p>\n
\"We urge all to refrain from acts that would raise tensions in
\nthe region and induce a sense of apprehension among neighboring
\ncountries,\" Siazon said.<\/p>\n
The Philippines -- along with Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam --
\nare the four ASEAN members directly involved in the disputes,
\nwhich also includes China and Taiwan.<\/p>\n
The issue of ASEAN's dialog partners also became a topic in
\nthe opening statements and the proceeding meeting.<\/p>\n
Jayakumar, in his address, said that while ASEAN must take it
\nas a complement that so many countries are and want to become
\ndialog partners, it also adds increased responsibility to ASEAN.<\/p>\n
\"To cope with these responsibilities, ASEAN may need a period
\nof consolidation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
At the end of yesterday's meeting, Alatas, without
\nelaborating, told journalists that the ministers had an exchange
\nof views concerning a new criterion for ARF membership.<\/p>\n
He also said the meeting had adopted the annual report of the
\nASEAN Standing Committee, the Senior Officials Meeting, the
\nSecretary-General and the 1996\/97 secretariat budget.<\/p>\n
Other items agreed upon yesterday included discussion on an
\nexpert group meeting concerning the Mekong Basin Development
\nProject.<\/p>\n
Ministers will end their meeting today with a Joint
\nCommunique. (pwn\/rid\/mds)<\/p>\n
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