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. (mds)

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