ASEAN leaders informal summit set for Nov. 30
JAKARTA (JP): An informal summit of ASEAN leaders will be held here on Nov. 30, also attended by heads of government from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said yesterday the one-day meeting at the Hilton Hotel would be "very informal." Alatas returned from Harare, Zimbabwe, yesterday.
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) was formed in 1967 and now comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Cambodia and Laos are set to join next year at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Member states are still deliberating the entrance of Myanmar amidst strong international criticism over Yangon's human rights record.
The informal summit is expected to kick-off with discussions between the seven ASEAN leaders, followed by talks later in the afternoon with leaders from the three prospective members.
While in Manila for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in a fortnight, ASEAN ministers will meet on Nov. 20 to discuss preparations for the informal summit.
Despite planned preparatory meetings, a rigid agenda of discussion is not expected. "Topics of discussion would be left to the leaders themselves," Alatas said.
The informal summit is held at least once every three-years between formal summits. It is aimed at drafting directions for ASEAN activities in light of the most recent international developments.
ASEAN leaders last met at the fifth summit in Bangkok in 1995.
Mrs. You Ay, Cambodia's director general for ASEAN affairs, told The Jakarta Post here yesterday that Cambodian leaders attending the summit would discuss topics of individual and mutual concern.
These include Phnom Penh's preparations for membership and common issues such as the Mekong Basin project and Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone treaty.
Workshop
Ay and her delegation were attending a four-day Workshop on the Familiarization of ASEAN for Officials of Cambodia and Laos hosted by Indonesia.
The head of development and analysis bureau at Indonesia's National ASEAN Secretariat, Abdul Nassier, told the Post the workshop was demonstrated Indonesia's commitment, as expressed by President Soeharto during the summit in Bangkok, to helping new members adjust to ASEAN's mechanisms.
The workshop covered a wide range of fields including organizational structure, political and security cooperation, functional cooperation and the ASEAN Free Trade Area (Afta).
"Through this workshop we can understand more about ASEAN and everything linked with ASEAN cooperation," Ay said after the end of the workshop at Century Park Hotel yesterday.
"Particularly the experience of Indonesia in the preparation of joining Afta. It's very important and very sensitive for Cambodia," she added.
Ay, who leads a six person delegation said her country was doing its utmost to give information on ASEAN to the people.
The head of the Laotian delegation, Somphet Khousakoun, explained that a major challenge for his country's membership was avoiding a clash in national and regional interest.
Both Ay and Khousakoun underlined their gratitude and satisfaction for Indonesia's help throughout the workshop. (mds)