ASEAN draft communique in progress
ASEAN draft communique in progress
JAKARTA (JP): Senior officials of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) began finalizing the draft of the joint
communique to be issued at a ministerial meeting here this
weekend.
The chairman of the senior officials meeting, Indonesia's
Izhar Ibrahim, said yesterday that delegates at their afternoon
session had begun combining the document's two sections -- the
political and non-political copies -- into a single draft for
adoption by the ministers.
Izhar would not reveal the contents of the communique, but
said the political section contained "traditional subjects" of
political cooperation, along with topics pertaining to both
regional and global issues.
The senior officials gathered yesterday for the opening day of
a two-day meeting to prepare for Saturday's ASEAN Ministerial
Meeting.
The ministerial meeting will conclude on Sunday with the
adoption of a joint communique which covers a variety of
political and economic issues.
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Separately, delegates revealed that the joint communique will
note their acceptance of applications from Cambodia and Laos as
new members and Myanmar as an observer in ASEAN.
Cambodia and Laos have stated their desire to formally join
ASEAN next year.
No mention of the domestic political situation in Myanmar will
be made in the communique. Izhar earlier said "there is no
mention of the internal issue of Myanmar".
The focus on Myanmar is expected to continue as ministers host
the ASEAN Regional Forum here (ARF) on Tuesday. The ARF is a
consultative forum which brings together ASEAN and their various
dialog partners such as Australia, Canada and the United States.
ASEAN has continued to maintain a constructive engagement with
Myanmar, despite the West's strong criticism of Yangon's human
rights record.
On the progress of the ARF, the communique is expected to note
the ministers' satisfaction at its progress and stress that ASEAN
must continue to be the driving force in the 21-member forum.
Ministers are also expected to underline the need to establish
a criteria for new ASEAN dialog partners.
Other regional issues likely to be contained in the communique
are the overlapping claims in the South China Sea and calls for
the resumption of talks between Seoul and Pyongyang. Reference
will also be made to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development
Organization (KEDO).
Izhar said that Indonesia, for the second consecutive year,
will contribute US$325,000 to KEDO. He added that other ASEAN
members have also expressed interest in contributing.
On global issues, the communique will likely continue to
stress ASEAN's concern for disarmament and nuclear non-
proliferation. Reference will also be made to the importance of
concluding the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which is now under
negotiation.
Another delegate at the meeting said that ASEAN ministers will
also underline the importance of functional cooperation, as did
their leaders in last year's summit in Bangkok.
ASEAN ministers are expected to promote cooperation that
highlights the environment, culture, science and technology and
social development.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas will address the senior
officials at their closing session today.
Several foreign ministers are also scheduled to begin arriving
today for Saturday's ministerial meeting.
Brunei's Mohammad Bolkiah is scheduled to arrive this morning,
while the Cambodian, Laotian and Myanmarese foreign ministers are
expected to arrive later this afternoon. (mds)