A growing ASEAN

Some skeptical comments notwithstanding, it seems that the attention that has been given by international observers and by the region's media to the just-concluded ASEAN foreign ministers conference in Bangkok is not totally unjustified. The various statements of recognition that have been voiced in the West, for example, can surely be regarded as a valid indication that ASEAN -- the Association of Southeast Asian Nations -- is now on its way to becoming a truly constructive regional force that is not to be overlooked.

Considering the import of the principles agreed on by the foreign ministers of the six ASEAN member states, it is probably not too farfetched for us to say that this most recent meeting in Bangkok has been one of the more meaningful of the ASEAN meetings in the past few years and one that fits well the post-Cold War mood that is at present pervading the globe.

One of the most widely publicized byproducts of this week's Bangkok meeting, no doubt, was the establishment of the first- ever ASEAN Regional Forum. Surely, it was no mean feat to bring together the foreign ministers of 17 countries and the European Union for a frank and open discussion regarding the measures that could be taken to reduce the potential for conflicts in the Southeast Asian and Asia-Pacific regions.

As the Japanese foreign minister, Yohei Kono, said, awareness is growing of the importance of a region-wide political and security dialog in increasing the transparency of each country's policy and the sense of mutual reassurance in the Asia-Pacific region.

All this clearly proves that, in the 27th year of its existence, ASEAN is maturing as a regional organization aimed at stabilizing the region through economic and cultural cooperation. It is also clear that it is now becoming increasingly aware of its wider global responsibilities. And certainly the time seems to be right. Formed in 1967, the organization groups Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, as well as Indonesia. Some of those countries are now recognized as being among the fastest growing economies in the world.

Given such a growth and considering the political climate now prevailing in the region and in the world, surely ASEAN's wish to expand its territory to include the whole of Southeast Asia by incorporating the four countries of Indochina would appear reasonable. At this stage, Vietnam appears to be certain to become a member in the not too distant future. How long it will take for the others -- Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma) -- to join will of course depend on whether, or how soon, the problems that stand in the way can be resolved.

Having said all this, however, it is only fair to point out that an abundance of obstacles are still there to be resolved before ASEAN can become a "true" regional organization in the sense, for example, of the European Community. One reason is the diversity of historical backgrounds and economic as well as national interests among the present member countries themselves.

Also, the potential for real conflict which some of those differences hold is certainly not to be overlooked. In fact, it is probably this conflict potential that has led to what many observers see as a kind of arms race now going on among some of the six ASEAN countries.

The question is, all those factors considered, whether there is a real future for ASEAN as a regional cooperation organization. We are confident that there is. We believe that all the differences and the complications with which ASEAN sees itself confronted at present are part of the natural process of growth. Naturally, it will take considerable wisdom and statesmanship on the part of the leaders of all the six member states concerned to overcome the existing handicaps. Given their performance over the past decades, however, we are confident that such statesmanship will not be lacking.