Bangkok asks to delay EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting
Bangkok asks to delay EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting
BANGKOK (AFP): A landmark ASEAN-EU ministerial meeting due to
be held next month in Laos may have to be postponed because of
the poor level of EU representation indicated so far, the Thai
foreign ministry said on Friday.
The meeting, to be held in the Lao capital Vientaine on
December 11-12, is to be the first since relations between the
two blocs cooled over the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations's decision to admit Myanmar as a member in 1997.
"This is a ministerial meeting, but if too many ministers are
not able to come and instead send their deputies or ambassadors,
then it is no longer a ministerial meeting," a senior official
said.
So far, French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine has confirmed
he will be a no-show and will instead send his deputy Charles
Josselin who is in charge of overseas cooperation.
France holds the rotating EU presidency and Vedrine's presence
is required at a crucial EU summit in Nice which coincides with
the Vientiane meeting. It is expected the summit will keep other
ministers away.
The Bangkok Post said on Thursday that Britain and Denmark --
among Europe's staunchest opponents of the Myanmar regime -- were
also not expected to send their foreign ministers.
"We do not yet know how many minister from the EU's 15 nations
can or cannot attend and we hope to gain more information next
week," the official added, adding it would consult with Laos when
all the responses were in.
"If things are not ready we will have to consider whether or
not to go ahead with the meeting."
As ASEAN coordinator last year, Thailand was charged with
restoring ministerial-level relations with the EU. The blocs last
met at that level in Singapore three years ago.
The Nation newspaper said Thailand was upset that Laos and
Malaysia were pushing for a postponement over the European no-
shows.
"We have worked really hard to have this bloc-to-bloc
meeting," it quoted an official as saying. "This is very
insulting."