ASEAN ministers gather to discuss new members' entry

ASEAN ministers gather to discuss new members' entry

KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Differences surfaced yesterday as
ASEAN foreign ministers gathered here to tackle the prickly
question of when to admit the troubled nations of Myanmar and
Cambodia into the regional grouping.

But members said they were confident of forging a consensus
today on a date for the elevation of the two countries and Laos
from observer status to full membership in the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said his country wanted
Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos in ASEAN as early as July, when
foreign ministers meet here for annual talks, rather than
December when leaders hold a summit.

Alatas told reporters on arrival for Saturday's ministerial
meeting that it was Jakarta's "position, hope and expectation"
that the two countries and Laos would join the grouping in July.

"Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar fulfill all the criteria ... for
new members, and therefore Indonesia believes there should be no
obstacles to accept them as full members," Alatas said.

But Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon said the
ability of Cambodia to meet commitments to ASEAN economic
agreements, including the planned creation of a free trade area,
was in doubt while seeing no obstacle in the case of Myanmar.

Such agreements may have to be ratified by parliament, and
"these are important considerations," he said. "In this
connection, the case of Cambodia will be discussed ..."

Tension has been mounting in Cambodia between the two main
parties in its shaky ruling coalition, triggering fears of
political unrest which could embarrass ASEAN.

In a report released yesterday, the Study Mission to Cambodia
(SMC), a group of 10 parliamentarians, former diplomats and
academics from ASEAN countries, said the current crisis in
Cambodia "should not be used as a reason for keeping her out of
ASEAN."

"Although the political situation in Cambodia may appear grave
and a cause for concern, the SMC members were of the view it was
not more serious than the situation of some (other) Asian
states."

The SMC is led by Thai MP Sukhumbhand Paribatra. Its
Indonesian member is Sabam Siagian, former ambassador to
Australia and member of board of directors of The Jakarta Post.

The grouping of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam is, meanwhile, under pressure
from the West and human rights groups to shut the door on Burma's
military regime because of alleged widespread abuses.

Myanmarese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has warned
ASEAN that admitting Myanmar might trigger an increase in the
junta's repression of political and human rights.

Alatas said the internal turmoil in Myanmar and Cambodia would
not weigh on their admission.

"We follow these developments but they are developments
internal to a certain country, so we do not believe we have to
interfere by making it a pre-condition or a criteria for
membership," Alatas said.

Thai Foreign Minister Prachuab Chaiyasan, in an interview
televised in Bangkok, said, however, that "their internal
politics are an important factor to consider."

Alatas was hopeful that a consensus would be reached, saying:
"It is my hope and my expectation that we will get a consensus."

Siazon said the Philippines was "quite flexible" on the timing
and that a "definite" decision would be made Saturday.

A Cambodian envoy said his country was ready to join ASEAN in
July itself, adding that the political tension in Phnom Penh
should not be a hurdle.