Fostering cooperation
Fostering cooperation
Contrary to what some observers may have anticipated, the two-
day encounter between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
and European Union foreign ministers ended Friday in Singapore on
a note of goodwill and optimism for the future, differences
notwithstanding. Instead of confrontation over the contentious
issue of human rights and politics, a mood of compromise and
mutual accommodation between the two regional blocks prevailed,
judging by the 19-point Joint Declaration marking the end of the
meeting.
To quote S. Jayakumar, Singapore's foreign minister who co-
chaired the conference together with his Dutch colleague Hans van
Mierlo: "The ministers had frank and substantive discussions on
several issues which I've not seen before. In some ways, it was a
path-breaking meeting. I am very happy with the progress we have
made."
This, unfortunately, does not obscure the fact that not all of
the obstacles towards unimpaired relations between the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European
Union (EU) have been cleared away. On the contrary, the absence
of a new cooperation agreement to replace the one conceived in
1980, for which ASEAN has been pushing, is a clear indication
that principle differences between the two sides remain.
The Europeans insist that clauses dealing with human rights
must be included in any new agreement. The ASEAN countries, for
their part, contend that the ASEAN-EU forum is not appropriate
for the discussion of politics or human rights. The contradiction
emerged with even greater clarity during the first-ever Asia-
Europe Meeting, an extended Asian-European cooperation forum
which, apart from the EU and the seven ASEAN countries -- Brunei,
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam -- also included China, Japan and South Korea.
French Foreign Minister Herve, for example, told reporters
that he considered a political dialogue one of the essential
dimensions of the forum, established in May in Bangkok by 25
Asian and European heads of state and government. His Austrian
counterpart, Wolfgang Schussel, argued that without "political
dialogue", Asia and Europe, two of the world's economic and trade
giants, would be "reduced to dwarves on the political ground". On
the other hand, one cannot lightly dismiss ASEAN's position that
allowing political issues to dominate the forum would turn it
into a United Nations and thereby make it redundant.
Given the distinctly incongruous points of view that are at
present setting the two sides apart -- and the compelling
circumstances that prevail in some ASEAN countries -- it seems
highly improbable that full rapport can be accomplished between
ASEAN and the EU in the foreseeable future. In its vagueness,
even the upbeat tone of the joint ASEAN-EU declaration cannot
hide the fact that the main stumbling blocks remain.
At the same time, however, it should be remembered that the
spirit of compromise and accommodation which emanates from the
declaration points to the fact that both sides realize the
importance of stepping up cooperation as two of the world's major
regional blocks. This realization, surely, is reason for
confidence that the basis for stepped-up cooperation is intact.
In time, hopefully, improved circumstances will make it possible
for both sides to move forward so concrete steps can be taken to
promote the well-being of the millions living in these two major
regions of the world.
Contrary to what some observers may have anticipated, the two-
day encounter between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
and European Union foreign ministers ended Friday in Singapore on
a note of goodwill and optimism for the future, differences
notwithstanding. Instead of confrontation over the contentious
issue of human rights and politics, a mood of compromise and
mutual accommodation between the two regional blocks prevailed,
judging by the 19-point Joint Declaration marking the end of the
meeting.
To quote S. Jayakumar, Singapore's foreign minister who co-
chaired the conference together with his Dutch colleague Hans van
Mierlo: "The ministers had frank and substantive discussions on
several issues which I've not seen before. In some ways, it was a
path-breaking meeting. I am very happy with the progress we have
made."
This, unfortunately, does not obscure the fact that not all of
the obstacles towards unimpaired relations between the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European
Union (EU) have been cleared away. On the contrary, the absence
of a new cooperation agreement to replace the one conceived in
1980, for which ASEAN has been pushing, is a clear indication
that principle differences between the two sides remain.
The Europeans insist that clauses dealing with human rights
must be included in any new agreement. The ASEAN countries, for
their part, contend that the ASEAN-EU forum is not appropriate
for the discussion of politics or human rights. The contradiction
emerged with even greater clarity during the first-ever Asia-
Europe Meeting, an extended Asian-European cooperation forum
which, apart from the EU and the seven ASEAN countries -- Brunei,
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam -- also included China, Japan and South Korea.
French Foreign Minister Herve, for example, told reporters
that he considered a political dialogue one of the essential
dimensions of the forum, established in May in Bangkok by 25
Asian and European heads of state and government. His Austrian
counterpart, Wolfgang Schussel, argued that without "political
dialogue", Asia and Europe, two of the world's economic and trade
giants, would be "reduced to dwarves on the political ground". On
the other hand, one cannot lightly dismiss ASEAN's position that
allowing political issues to dominate the forum would turn it
into a United Nations and thereby make it redundant.
Given the distinctly incongruous points of view that are at
present setting the two sides apart -- and the compelling
circumstances that prevail in some ASEAN countries -- it seems
highly improbable that full rapport can be accomplished between
ASEAN and the EU in the foreseeable future. In its vagueness,
even the upbeat tone of the joint ASEAN-EU declaration cannot
hide the fact that the main stumbling blocks remain.
At the same time, however, it should be remembered that the
spirit of compromise and accommodation which emanates from the
declaration points to the fact that both sides realize the
importance of stepping up cooperation as two of the world's major
regional blocks. This realization, surely, is reason for
confidence that the basis for stepped-up cooperation is intact.
In time, hopefully, improved circumstances will make it possible
for both sides to move forward so concrete steps can be taken to
promote the well-being of the millions living in these two major
regions of the world.