'Trade key to ASEAN ties'<\/p>\n
CANBERRA: Australia has defended its stand against signing a
\nnon-aggression pact with Southeast Asian nations, saying on
\nMonday that the treaty would conflict with military obligations
\nto the United States.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister John Howard is the first Australian prime
\nminister to be invited to a meeting of Association of South East
\nAsian Nations, which is set in Laos to endorse formal talks on a
\nfree trade deal with Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n
But Howard's refusal to sign a new ASEAN non-aggression treaty
\nand comments that Australia reserved the right to make pre-
\nemptive strikes on militant groups in other countries have
\nprompted some regional leaders to suggest Australia should be
\nexcluded from future summits.<\/p>\n
Howard said the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation -- which
\nprevents ASEAN nations from interfering in the internal matters
\nof other member nations -- had nothing to do with Australia's
\nsubstantial trade relations with ASEAN members.<\/p>\n
\"Once again it is the substance of the trade relationship that
\nmatters rather than formal documents and formal processes,\"
\nHoward told reporters in Sydney before leaving for Vientiane.<\/p>\n
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the treaty would
\nconflict with Australia's obligations to the U.S. under the key
\nANZUS military alliance.<\/p>\n
The ANZUS treaty commits Australia and the U.S. to come to
\neach other's aid in the event of attack. Australia invoked the
\nANZUS alliance for the first time to offer Washington help in the
\nwar on terror after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.<\/p>\n
Downer said the ASEAN amity treaty contained a provision for
\ngovernments to abstain from collective defense to serve the
\ninterests of one of the major powers.<\/p>\n
Australia's two-way merchandise trade with ASEAN members is
\nworth about A$32.8 billion (US$26 billion) a year, while trade in
\nservices totals A$10.2 billion. -- Reuters<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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