30th AMM opens with one less member than expected
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat
PETALING JAYA, Malaysia (JP): Less than a month ago many envisioned the start of today's two-day ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) as the dawn of a new era for the organization.
The 30th AMM would have been the first time that all 10 Southeast Asian states would have sat down as members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
But the recent turmoil in Cambodia has forced the grouping to delay Cambodia's admission, and only Laos and Myanmar were admitted yesterday.
"ASEAN remains hopeful that Cambodia can join ASEAN as soon as circumstances permit," said ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Ajit Singh.
With the admission of two new members yesterday, ASEAN now comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam
Members of the Cambodian delegation, represented by Foreign Minister Ung Huot, are still expected to attend the meeting as observers.
While the Cambodian issue is again expected to feature in the meeting, ASEAN ministers will also have a full agenda of 22 items to discuss.
They will have the task of selecting a secretary-general as Ajit Singh ends his five-year term at the end of the year.
Ajit himself is seeking re-election but delegates here tip Philippine Foreign Undersecretary R. Severino to become the next secretary-general.
Both candidates have refused to comment on their respective nominations in an attempt to avoid competition in public.
"Nobody is challenging anybody ... I was nominated by my government," Severino said.
In a typical non-confrontational, ASEAN, way the selection will not be decided by ballot, but rather by consultation through Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas, who communicated with his ASEAN colleagues in private as to their individual choice.
Delegates here said Alatas would inform the ministers at today's meeting as to who had most support and the meeting would then advise one of the candidates to withdraw his nomination.
In an effort to promote better cohesion and recognition among the region's peoples, the AMM will also launch an ASEAN Award.
This is aimed at giving recognition to individuals and organizations for their work in the region which is considered consistent with ASEAN's own objectives.
An ASEAN Foundation is also expected to be launched. Ajit Singh said the it was aimed at helping "promote ASEAN awareness, greater interaction among peoples and widen their participation in ASEAN's activities".
The foundation is most likely to be based in Jakarta and activities will be held in cooperation with the private sector.
Ministers here will also take some time to review preparations for the year-long celebration of ASEAN's 30th anniversary. The celebrations will be officially kicked-off by President Soeharto at an ASEAN reception in Jakarta on Aug. 8.
One of the main events to be discussed is the commemorative summit which will be held in Kuala Lumpur in December. Leaders from China, Japan and South Korea will be invited to attend it.
On the economic side, ministers will discuss the progress of the ASEAN-Mekong Basin Development Cooperation. This project began in 1995 to help spur development in the Mekong Basin area, particularly to help Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
Discussions will also be held on a proposal to convene an ASEAN Roundtable on legal, technical and economic issues arising from advances in multimedia technology.
The AMM will be followed on Sunday by the ASEAN Regional Forum which bring ASEAN and its dialog partners together in a political-security dialog forum. ASEAN will then hold a two-day Post Ministerial Conference starting Monday.