ASEAN officials wrap up summit topics

ASEAN officials wrap up summit topics

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali

The ninth Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting
kicked off on Wednesday with senior officials from all 10 member
countries opening final discussions on issues to be brought up at
the upcoming Summit.

Preparing the final draft statement, the Bali Concord II, the
officials had agreed on most of the major points of the
statement, especially in regards the ASEAN Security Community,
the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Social and Cultural
Community.

Although the Myanmar issue, in particular the release of pro-
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, remains a burning issue,
Indonesia is certain that it will not sideline the major issues
of the Summit.

Heads of state of the 10 ASEAN members are expected to gather
in Bali from Oct. 7 to Oct. 8 to attend the grouping's annual
summit.

Indonesian ministry of foreign affairs director general for
Asia, Pacific and Africa Makarim Wibisono said on Wednesday that
most points had been cleared by senior ASEAN officials.

"There are only few minor details in the statement that remain
to be discussed further," Makarim said upon arrival to the resort
island.

The draft will be finalized during the ASEAN ministerial
meeting on Oct. 5, ahead of the Summit.

The Bali Concord II is to act as the new blueprint for the
establishment of a more prosperous, just and secure Southeast
Asian region, and is to be effective until 2020, Foreign Minister
Hassan Wirayuda said.

Aside from the Concord, the ongoing meeting is also to issue
several vital documents, such as the ASEAN-China strategic
partnership, the ASEAN-India declaration on terrorism and the
ASEAN-Japan cooperation.

During the Summit, India and China are expected to sign their
ascension to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), which is
to provide the basis of good conduct for all countries bound
under the agreement.

According to the tentative schedule provided on Wednesday,
Brunei Darussalam is to sign its inclusion under the agreement of
information exchange and establishment of communication
procedures.

The agreement was first signed in 2002 between Indonesia,
Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Cambodia later joined the
agreement, which requires that all participating countries share
intelligence information.

Aside from the Summit, Indonesia will also host the first
ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in the history of the
grouping. The business summit is to act as a forum for the ASEAN
business community to seek potential regional opportunities.

The business summit is set to begin on Oct. 6 and will be
opened by President Megawati Soekarnoputri. A few other heads of
state, such as Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and Japanese
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, will also address the meeting.

Also on Oct. 6, Megawati is scheduled to attend the
ministerial meeting between Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia,
Malaysia and the Philippines on economic cooperation.