ASEAN-U.S. antiterrorism declaration ready to sign

ASEAN-U.S. antiterrorism declaration ready to sign

Reuters, Bandar Seri Begawan

Officials from Southeast Asian nations on Saturday agreed a joint declaration on counter terrorism to be signed with the United States next week as the centerpiece of a regional forum on security and defense.

Indonesia's senior official Makarim Wibisono said the wording had been finalized and all the ASEAN members were committed, scotching reports Indonesia had any difficulty signing the joint declaration with Washington.

"We are going along with that. There is some adjustment of the wording, it is very normal. I think everybody is on board," he told reporters on Saturday.

The 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations -- some confronting terrorist threat from Islamic militants -- will host that ASEAN Regional Forum on July 31.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell will attend, along with foreign ministers from 11 others countries, including Russia and China, plus the European Union.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Makarim said the declaration would focus on efforts to build up the capability of security forces in the region to combat terrorism, cooperate in operations and track and block the flow of terrorist funds.

He dismissed ideas that the document could provide a foot in the door for U.S. troops in Southeast Asia in same way that the Philippines had invited U.S. military advisers to help track down Abu Sayyaf guerrillas.

"This is not (about) dealing with terrorism with the deployment of troops. It is dealing with terrorism with all aspects," he said.