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.