ASEAN flexibility

ASEAN's foreign ministers have taken a decision that will compel the organization to stay busy with Cambodia. In their meeting in Singapore on Monday, the foreign ministers agreed to continue their efforts to try to find a solution to the Cambodian problem. The question of recognizing Ung Huot as first prime minister was reportedly not discussed, and neither was that of Cambodia's entry into ASEAN.

Actually, it is difficult to conceive that those two issues were left entirely undiscussed. What appears to have been the case is that the foreign ministers agreed not to express any views on the matter whatsoever, either in a formal document or in a press statement, as any such comments would have been ill-timed at this present stage.

Until a general election is held in Cambodia next year, there will still be time for ASEAN to try to make its initiatives. Any initiatives, however, must be carefully presented lest Cambodia feels that ASEAN is intervening in its domestic affairs.

The problem of bring stability to Cambodia has many dimensions. In its drive to ensure stability and economic progress in the region, ASEAN is once again being tested as it tries to bring the feuding factions to the negotiating table.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta