ASEAN flexibility

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