Laos, Cambodia accede to accord

Laos, Cambodia accede to accord

BANGKOK (DPA): Laos and Cambodia acceded to the 1980 European Community-ASEAN Cooperation Agreement on Friday, opening the two desperately poor countries up to further development assistance from the European Community.

European Commissioner for External Affairs Christopher Patten described the inclusion of the two Southeast Asian countries as "a further sign of the durability of the E.U.-ASEAN partnership."

He added, "This relationship has had it's occasional ups and downs, but I think now the relationship is solidly back on track."

Laos was admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 1997, while Cambodia joined in 1999. Both countries applied to accede to the E.C.-ASEAN Cooperation Agreement earlier this year and met with no resistance from European governments.

Myanmar, which also joined ASEAN in 1997, has been blocked from signing the accord, which covers bilateral cooperation in trade, economic and development matters.