RI backs ASEAN expansion this year

RI backs ASEAN expansion this year

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia gave its backing yesterday to the
admission of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar into the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, saying that all three
had fulfilled the technical requirements for membership.

Speaking to journalists at Bina Graha presidential office
yesterday, Alatas rejected speculation there were any criteria
which could hamper entry.

"Our (Indonesia's) hope is that they will be accepted as full
members this year. Indonesia believes all the requirements have
been met," Alatas said.

Alatas was speaking after reporting to President Soeharto on
his plans to attend a special meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers
in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

The meeting in Kuala Lumpur was called to determine the timing
of the three prospective members' entry.

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

Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar have all applied for membership but
the exact timing of their admission remains uncertain. The most
likely dates are either during the annual ASEAN Ministerial
Meeting in July or the commemorative summit in December. Both
events will be held in Kuala Lumpur.

During an informal summit here last year, ASEAN leaders agreed
to admit the three simultaneously.

The European Union and the United States have condemned
Myanmar for its suppression of the pro-democracy movement and
urged ASEAN to delay Yangon's entry.

In the latest clampdown, Myanmar's ruling junta reportedly
detained several hundred supporters of opposition leader Aung San
Suu Kyi.

ASEAN has brushed aside these concerns arguing that it does
not interfere in its neighbors' domestic affairs.

Alatas dismissed Western demands to delay Myanmar's membership
yesterday, arguing that domestic issues does not impinge on
consideration for membership.

"We shall hold firm in our view that we will be the ones who
decide the entry of a new member based on the technical criteria
which ASEAN agreed to from the beginning.

"ASEAN has its own criteria, its own guidelines for accepting
new members and this will be our measure. So Indonesia's position
remains the same, this is what we have to hold on to and based on
that yardstick we hope a consensus can be reached for the three
countries to join ASEAN this year," he said.

In Tokyo Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto yesterday
warned that Myanmar's expected entry into ASEAN could be
interpreted as a gesture of support for Yangon's military regime.

"We do not want to meddle in the process of eventually giving
the green light to ASEAN membership for Burma (Myanmar), Laos and
Cambodia," Hashimoto told reporters. "But we would not like
Burma's entry to be seen as a pardon for the military regime."

In response to Hashimoto's remarks, Malaysian Foreign Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that membership acceptance was ASEAN's
prerogative.

"As far as we are concerned, the decision to admit Myanmar
will be entirely ASEAN's decision. I think friends of ASEAN have
recognized this point and many countries have said so," Abdullah
said in Kuala Lumpur.

"Whatever decision ASEAN is going to make, they will respect
the decision because it is a regional matter ... it concerns our
own association," he added.

Apart from membership, Saturday's meeting in Kuala Lumpur will
also discuss administrative matters such as the creation of a
second deputy secretary-general at the ASEAN secretariat, and the
adoption of a new flag and logo.

One of the two candidates for the deputy secretary-general
post is Indonesian diplomat Roy Inkiriwang who recently returned
from a posting in New York. The other candidate is from
Thailand. (mds)

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