ASEAN to discuss Myanmar's membership

ASEAN to discuss Myanmar's membership

JAKARTA (JP): Senior officials of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) begin a two-day meeting in Kuala Lumpur
today with Myanmar's membership as a hot topic on the agenda.

Indonesian foreign ministry officials revealed yesterday that
they expect frank discussions on the topic, including the
political implications for ASEAN of having Myanmar in its ranks
in the very near future.

Myanmar formally applied to join the association in August. If
there are no "technical difficulties" it could be admitted with
Cambodia and Laos during the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Kuala
Lumpur next year.

ASEAN comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Indonesian delegation to the meeting will be headed by
ASEAN Director General Rahardjo Djamtomo. Also attending is ASEAN
Secretary General Dato' Ajit Singh.

The meeting is part of a series of ASEAN Standing Committee
meetings held in preparation of next year's ministerial meeting.

While officials are upbeat that Myanmar's entry would realize
the dream of an association encompassing all 10 southeast Asian
states, observers have pointed to Yangon's human rights record as
a point of concern which could weaken ASEAN's prestige.

ASEAN officials said yesterday that the talks will include the
administrative implications of expanding ASEAN and the funding
for programs to help the new members.

Among the programs that ASEAN has launched to help Vietnam,
which only joined in 1995, is English training for its officials.

Foreign ministry officials said here yesterday that they
expect a serious discussion on the various concerns expressed
over ASEAN's growing membership.

They pointed out that while Myanmar's admittance is definite,
the timing and problems of a swift admittance will have to be
examined.

Last week during an informal get together during the opening
session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, ASEAN
foreign ministers aired possible questions on how and when Yangon
should be admitted.

The ASEAN Standing Committee will be followed on Saturday by
the first ever dialog meeting between ASEAN and the United
Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The UNDP is a non-country dialog partner of ASEAN.

UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Assistant
Administrator Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific Nay Htun
is scheduled to attended the meeting.

ASEAN officials said yesterday that the talks will include a
review of joint programs and an evaluation of future cooperation
and collaboration between the two organizations. (mds)