Laos, Cambodia to be given extra time in AFTA accord

Laos, Cambodia to be given extra time in AFTA accord

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) will most likely allow both Laos and Cambodia more time
to implement the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) agreement upon
their admission into the association next year.

After a consultative meeting with Laos, Thai Foreign Minister
Amnuay Viravan, representing ASEAN, suggested that ASEAN give
extra time to Laos and Cambodia in terms of AFTA implementation.

"We usually make some allowances for some of the least-
developed countries. We had already given some extra three years
to the Republic of Vietnam as a new member of ASEAN and AFTA,"
Viravan said.

Upon its admission into ASEAN last year, Vietnam was given
until 2006 to open its market to AFTA, three years after the
original date of the AFTA.

Both Lao and Cambodian foreign ministers stressed yesterday
that they still need some help from ASEAN and other friendly
countries to make more preparations to joint the grouping next
year.

During their consultative meetings with ASEAN, they stressed
that, despite the association's supports and assistance, they
still need more help, especially in the areas of human resources
development.

Toward becoming full members of ASEAN, Laos was accorded
observer status in ASEAN in 1992 and Cambodia in July last year.
The ASEAN Standing Committee's Working Group on the Membership of
Cambodia and Laos have endorsed the entrance of the two countries
into ASEAN as full members next year.

"This is indeed a momentous step, one that will bring us
closer to the vision of the founding fathers of ASEAN that all 10
countries of Southeast Asia will one day live together in peace,
harmony and cooperation," Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ali Alatas said at the consultative meeting with Cambodia.

He suggested that Cambodia proceed expeditiously with its
national reconstruction as well as its endeavors at social and
economic development.

"As Cambodia is an integral part of Southeast Asia, every
success that it achieves in its drive for national resilience
also redounds to the resilience of the region...," Alatas noted.

Minister Ung Huot said that Phnom Penh was working hard to
ensure security and political stability in the country but could
not achieve this overnight.

"It would be wishful thinking to imagine that law and order
could be restored overnight after such a cruel tragedy decimated
Cambodia those long 23 years," Huot said at the ASEAN-Cambodia
consultative meeting.

"It would be wishful thinking too, to imagine that democratic
institutions could be built and operate efficiently overnight,"
he continued.

He cited democracy building in Britain, France and the United
States, in which he said democracy goes hand in hand with the
development of human resources, education, health and economy.

Alatas, representing ASEAN, called on the international
community to continue assisting Cambodia, "not only as a matter
of moral obligation but also as a matter of enlightened self-
interest".

ASEAN currently groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (rid)