Myanmar issue may come up in ASEAN summit
Myanmar issue may come up in ASEAN summit
MANILA (JP): Indonesia played down yesterday the highly
debated issue of Myanmar's early accession to the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), saying there were no special
priorities for the upcoming summit.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas maintained that the
agenda of the meeting would be extremely loose and the main
objective is to give leaders the opportunity to exchange views on
the most recent developments.
However he conceded that Myanmar's membership maybe brought
up. "Its possible, but it all depends on the heads of government
themselves," he said.
"There are no special priority issues because the most
important thing is the heads of government have the chance to
look at the implementation of the decisions agreed to during the
fifth summit," Alatas said.
ASEAN heads of government are scheduled to hold a one-day
informal summit here on Saturday.
The decision to hold an informal summit was made in December
during the fifth ASEAN summit in Bangkok.
Apart from the ASEAN members -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia,
the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- leaders from
the three prospective members -- Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar --
have also been invited to attend.
While there is consensus on Myanmar's eventual membership,
many have raised concerns about whether it should be admitted
next year with Cambodia and Laos.
Speaking to journalists after reporting to President Soeharto
on preparations for the one-day informal summit, Alatas conceded
there were differences in ASEAN on the timing of Yangon's entry.
"You can read it yourself. There have been open statements
made by the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore, so its not a
secret," he said.
Because of the informal nature of the summit, leaders were
only given an indicative list of topics by their ministers which
may or may not be taken up.
However "hot" topics such as next month's World Trade
Organization meeting in Singapore and the progress of the
Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone treaty maybe brought
up.
Being an informal summit, Alatas says no one should expect
concrete decisions, except on possible instructions to ministers.
The meetings will be held at the Lagoon Tower of the Hilton
Hotel.
Separately yesterday, ASEAN Secretary General Dato Ajit Singh
said leaders of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar before participating
in the afternoon session with other ASEAN heads of state, will
first visit the ASEAN Secretariat.
During the short visit, the three leaders will be briefed on
the workings of ASEAN.
Meanwhile Indonesian Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said
President Soeharto went to the Hilton Hotel yesterday to inspect
preparations for the informal summit.
"The President was satisfied with the preparations," he said.
Moerdiono also said that Laotian Premier Khamtay Siphandone,
who arrived here yesterday for a bilateral visit before the
informal summit, will hold talks with Soeharto this morning.
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