KL continues push for new secretariat in wider ASEAN
KL continues push for new secretariat in wider ASEAN
Jasbant Singh, Associated Press, Bandar Seri Begawan
Malaysia fought off an effort by Singapore and Indonesia to kill
its proposal to host a new secretariat for a regional grouping
comprising ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea, officials said on
Sunday.
The diplomatic battles were fought behind closed doors during
two days of meetings by senior officials ahead of this week's
meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations.
Malaysia has proposed hosting a secretariat for the evolving
relationship between ASEAN and the Northeast Asian powers, known
as ASEAN Plus Three, an embryonic version of Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad's dream of an East Asian union.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Indonesia, which currently hosts the ASEAN secretariat, and
Singapore, which has a citizen running the secretariat for the
next five years, opposed Malaysia's proposal but were
unsuccessful in inserting wording into a draft statement that
would have effectively killed it, diplomats said on condition of
anonymity.
The statement, which will be submitted to foreign ministers
for final approval, pledged "to further strengthen ASEAN Plus
Three cooperation."
"In this context, we noted the need to strengthen the ASEAN
secretariat in Jakarta and Malaysia's offer to host the ASEAN
Plus Three secretariat in Kuala Lumpur," said the draft
communique, made available to The Associated Press.
Opponents unsuccessfully sought to insert language stating
that the Kuala Lumpur secretariat had been rejected, diplomats
said. Singapore and Indonesia said a new secretariat would weaken
the existing headquarters in Jakarta.
Singaporean officials were not immediately available for
comment.
Singapore's Ong Keng Yong is set to take over as ASEAN
secretary general from Philippine diplomat Rodolfo Severino for a
five-year term. The draft communique said all 10 foreign
ministers endorse him.
An ASEAN diplomat said the inclusion of Malaysia's proposal in
the communique would pave the way for detailed discussions on the
idea at the summit of ASEAN leaders in Cambodia in November.
ASEAN has been meeting with the Northeast Asian powers since
its 30th anniversary summit in 1997. Mahathir, one of Asia's
longest-serving leaders, proposed institutionalizing the
arrangement several years ago.
The proposal debated this week envisions an ASEAN Plus Three
secretariat that would deal only with trade and political ties
with China, Japan and South Korea, leaving unchanged the
functions of the existing ASEAN headquarters.
Mahathir has long advocated closer integration between East
Asian countries to counterbalance the economic and political
power of the United States and European Union.
The foreign ministers meeting precedes a conference between
ASEAN and 13 other nations with security interests in the Asia-
Pacific area. These include the United States, Australia, China,
Japan, Russia and the European Union.