Cambodia to attend ASEAN meeting

Cambodia to attend ASEAN meeting

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Cambodia has taken preliminary steps to
join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and will
attend an upcoming meeting of the group as an observer, a top
Malaysian official said yesterday.

The Cambodian National Assembly had ratified the ASEAN Treaty
of Amity and Cooperation on July 2, Malaysian Foreign Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told reporters after talks with visiting
Cambodian Second Premier Hun Sen.

"The move taken by Cambodia to ratify the treaty is a first
step to being a member of ASEAN," Abdullah said. The treaty
provides for mutual respect of national sovereignty and
territorial integrity and includes a pledge to solve disputes
peacefully.

He said Cambodia would attend the ASEAN meeting in Brunei
later this month.