ASEAN leaders informal summit set for Nov. 30
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)