ASEAN summit to tackle terrorism, economic woes

ASEAN summit to tackle terrorism, economic woes

Associated Press, Jakarta

Terrorism and fears of a worldwide economic slowdown will top
the agenda when Southeast Asian leaders meet next month, the
region's most senior official said on Wednesday.

"The urgency of the terrorism problem and the issue of
economic competitiveness will mark the next summit," said Rodolfo
Severino, secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN).

Following the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington,
several Southeast Asian leaders have called for increased
regional cooperation in combating terrorist groups within the 10-
nation grouping that will meet in the oil-rich sultanate of
Brunei in November.

They include Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Indonesian
President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"What happened on Sept. 11 has made the world notice this
problem that we have been facing for a long time," Severino said
in an interview at ASEAN's headquarters in Jakarta.

"In the past it has been regarded as a problem of the nations
concerned, but perhaps now the international community will be
willing to do more to help," he said.

Under a Philippine proposal, ASEAN nations would share
intelligence on terrorist activities and keep tighter control
over their borders to stop the movement of weapons and
terrorists.

In Manila, Vice President Teofisto Guingona said the
government had drafted an anti-terrorism declaration which it
will propose for adoption at the Brunei summit to "symbolize
ASEAN solidarity."

"It will be a statement of the things we can do individually
and collectively without need of any new policies," Guingona said
Wednesday.

He pointed out that a declaration is "easier to achieve" than
a formal agreement which would require lengthy legislative
approval in some countries.

Analysts have warned that groups with Afghan mujahedeen
connections have formed a loose network within Malaysia,
Indonesia and the Philippines.

They say the ultimate goal of militant groups is to
destabilize the region and carve out a Muslim homeland.

Severino said the Nov. 5-6 summit will also focus on ways to
forge a closer economic partnership in order to overcome a
looming global recession and challenges posed by tougher
competition from China, India and South America's Mercosur
trading bloc.

ASEAN already plans to create a unified investment zone by
eliminating restrictions on foreign investments, bringing down
tariffs, improving transportation links and streamlining
bureaucratic procedures.

"There is no doubt in people's minds that we have to push
ahead faster with regional economic integration," Severino said.

He noted that several positive developments, such as the
resolution of leadership crises in Indonesia, the Philippines,
and Thailand would also help restore investor confidence.

"It eliminates the element of uncertainty, which investors
abhor," Severino said.

At their annual meeting, ASEAN heads of government will review
progress on infrastructure projects designed to bind together
their economies and those of neighboring countries.

These include a century-old scheme to build a railroad to link
Singapore with southern China and - via the Trans-Siberian
Railway - to Europe.

The line, first proposed by Malaysia's Mahathir in 1995, would
snake through five ASEAN member states and would have branches to
connect it to two more.

Severino said a feasibility study had been completed and the
routes agreed upon.

"The idea now is to have specific projects that would be
embodied in national development plans and (be financed) by
governments, private investors and international institutions,"
he said.