Estrada urges ASEAN to discuss problems freely

Estrada urges ASEAN to discuss problems freely

MANILA (Reuters): Philippine President Joseph Estrada asked the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries on Wednesday to discuss their problems freely and find solutions to restore the region's financial health.

Estrada also urged the United States to pour more funds to the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to contain the financial crisis.

"Let us open to one another and freely and candidly exchange views no matter how controversial the issues are," Estrada said in a speech at the opening ceremony in Manila of the 30th ASEAN economic ministers meeting.

"Only by being open can we truly appreciate what unites or divides us," he added. "Only by talking freely and candidly can we rise, build and prosper together."

ASEAN has had a long-standing policy of non-interference. Controversial issues such as human rights in Myanmar are either ignored or treated with circumspection.

The Philippines and Thailand had been pressing for a franker approach to discussing regional problems following a year-long regional financial crisis that resulted in rising unemployment and shrinking economies.

Estrada made the appeal just days after saying Filipinos should sympathize with the plight of sacked former Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, who has been detained by Malaysian police for alleged corruption and sodomy. Anwar denies all accusations.

But Estrada, who considers Anwar a personal friend, did not mention Anwar or Malaysia in his speech.

ASEAN members attending Wednesday's meeting studiously avoided the subject of Anwar, who appeared in court recently with a neck brace and black eye.

"That subject wasn't discussed at this meeting," Rudolfo Severino, ASEAN's secretary-general told Reuters.

Philippine Trade and Industry secretary Jose Pardo told Reuters both he and Estrada have conveyed their concern about Anwar to the Malaysian government.

And Pardo described the pro-reform Anwar as "a friend". "It was a personal expression of concern by the president, a personal expression of concern over a friend," Pardo said of Estrada's message to Malaysia.

But he stressed that Estrada will still attend the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) in Kuala Lumpur in mid- November, and emphasized that Malaysia remains very much a part of ASEAN, a 31-year old group dedicated to this region's stability and development.

In his speech on Wednesday, Estrada also asked the United States to pour more resources into helping countries severely affected by the economic upheaval.

"It is now clear that the resources of these institutions, particularly the IMF, are frighteningly insufficient," he said.

"It is our hope that the countries which are in a position to do so, especially the United States, will soon make available their share in the capitalization of the IMF and lend support for increasing funds of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank."

ASEAN countries, on their own, must also continue to take appropriate measures to put their houses back in order, Estrada said.

"Let us resolve to work together to restore financial stability by reforming and strengthening our respective banking systems," he said.

Estrada said ASEAN countries must also maintain internationally viable foreign exchange rates.

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