No date set for Cambodia's ASEAN entry

No date set for Cambodia's ASEAN entry

PHNOM PENH (Agencies): The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Indonesia yesterday denied that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had promised that Cambodia would join the grouping in July.

They said an earlier statement to that effect made by Cambodian Minister of State Sok An, after a meeting between government officials and a visiting Indonesian delegation, had been misunderstood.

They said the timing of Cambodia's admission into the regional grouping -- as well as that of Laos and Myanmar -- was still not certain.

"Clear statements have been made ... that no definite time has been mentioned because the process of getting them into the ASEAN fold is still going on," Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas told reporters on the second day of Soeharto's three-day state visit here.

He added though that "Cambodia enjoys full support and we hope that by July they can realize full membership."

Sok An earlier after discussions between Soeharto and Cambodia's two prime ministers said: "It is confirmed we will be in ASEAN by July".

In November, ASEAN ministers said Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos would all be admitted into the regional forum as full members but did not specify a time.

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

Cambodian Foreign Minister Ung Huot said that while Cambodia is eager to upgrade its ASEAN status from observer to full member, Phnom Penh realized that there were still technical obstacles to overcome in order to join.

"We have been working for two years, we are ready," Ung Huot said. "But we understand consultation is continuing until July when assessments will be made about the country joining ASEAN."

President Soeharto and Cambodia's two prime ministers yesterday held a wide-ranging 90-minute discussion which First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh described as "very good".

Ranariddh was accompanied during discussions yesterday by Second Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The premiers and Soeharto then witnessed the signing of a series of bilateral accords relating to trade, oil and gas exploration and the creation of a joint commission to oversee relations.

Boost

One of the agreements, a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia's state-owned petroleum company Pertamina, is expected to give Cambodia's nascent oil and gas industry a boost.

"The government wants to set up a national oil authority ... to supervise this field," Cambodian Minister of State Sok An told reporters following the signing ceremony, adding that Pertamina would be supplying technical assistance and training to Cambodian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy.

The trade agreement, signed by Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh and Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, is designed in part to redress Phnom Penh's substantial trade deficit with Jakarta, Sok An said.

Alatas also signed an agreement with his Cambodian counterpart Ung Huot that will create a joint commission to oversee bilateral relations, Sok San said.

Soeharto, on his first trip to Cambodia since 1968, said: "I am very happy to be back in Cambodia to strengthen relations after 30 years."

He is scheduled to leave Cambodia later today for Laos and Myanmar.