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)