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)