Cambodia unlikely to join ASEAN this week: Alatas

Cambodia unlikely to join ASEAN this week: Alatas

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas expressed
skepticism yesterday that Cambodia would officially join the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this week during
the regional grouping's annual ministerial meeting.

"I think the time factor makes Cambodia's admission
impossible, because we will receive Laos and Myanmar as full
members on July 23," Alatas said after receiving New Zealand's
Foreign Minister Don McKinnon.

Laos and Myanmar will officially join ASEAN at a special
ceremony tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur, the day before the
organization's foreign ministers hold their annual meeting. ASEAN
currently comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Cambodia's admission to ASEAN was postponed following the
ouster of First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh by co-
Premier Hun Sen in a bloody takeover on July 5.

Cambodia, however, retains its observer status at the meeting
and has the right to address the association. Press reports said
yesterday that Cambodia's Foreign Minister Ung Huot would attend
the meeting.

Alatas said ASEAN would not take any new initiative to assist
the Phnom Penh government find a solution to its problems because
Hun Sen had clearly told the Association not to interfere in
Cambodia's internal affairs.

"One of the clashing parties does not want our assistance, and
that's final," Alatas said.

He did not rule out, however, the possibility of giving
Cambodia full-member status later this year, such as when ASEAN
celebrates its 30th anniversary on Aug. 8 or at the ASEAN
informal summit in Kuala Lumpur in December.

"I hope the situation in Cambodia will make it possible (for
them) to join us at the summit," he said.

Stressing ASEAN's intention not to interfere in Cambodia's
internal affairs, as accused by Hun Sen, Alatas said:

" We do not mean to interfere. But there are drastic changes
happening in Cambodia. Armed conflicts are involved and people
have been killed," he said.

He said ASEAN had the right to take certain measures when
regional security and stability could be affected by its
neighbor's political turmoil.

"ASEAN has the right to judge whether Cambodia has the
credibility to exercise its rights and obligations as a full
member," Alatas said.

Postponement

Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was quoted by
Reuters as saying yesterday that the postponement of Cambodia's
ASEAN membership was merely a temporary setback

"I see this merely as a temporary setback," Abdullah told an
ASEAN congress of diplomats, academics and businessmen.

"I look forward to Cambodia joining the ASEAN family in the
near future once the problems are resolved."

Ranariddh was in Singapore yesterday lobbying for support
among ASEAN members. He denounced Hun Sen at the weekend for
rejecting ASEAN's peace efforts.

"In rejecting ASEAN mediation, I think Hun Sen is isolating
Cambodia by himself," Ranariddh told reporters in Bangkok. "Now
I'm really afraid we'll again have civil war in my country."
Ranariddh does not plan to go to Kuala Lumpur for the ASEAN
meetings.

AFP, quoting Cambodian officials and sources, reported from
Phnom Penh yesterday that troops loyal to Ranariddh have launched
a counter-attack on a former northern base but failed to
recapture it from rival forces.

About 20,000 Cambodian villagers were massing at a town near
the border with Thailand following the latest fighting, the Thai
military said. (06)

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