Vietnam starts talks on ASEAN membership
JAKARTA (JP): Vietnam began preparations for its admission into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by sending a senior delegation to meet with Secretary General Ajit Singh here yesterday.
"This is a historic occasion because it is the first time that Vietnam and ASEAN officially talked about the issues relating to membership," said Singh following a meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Khoan at the ASEAN Secretariat in South Jakarta.
In a morning meeting which ran till lunch time, the two discussed various issues relating to procedures, rights and responsibilities of Vietnam as a new member.
"From what I can see, Vietnam is taking all the necessary steps to become a member as soon as possible, and I think the adjustment process should not take too long," Singh told The Jakarta Post.
ASEAN, a regional grouping set up in 1967, consists of six- countries -- Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia.
During the ASEAN ministerial meeting in Bangkok last July, members gave their consent to Vietnam's membership in the association.
The next step is for Vietnam to send an official membership application, which according to Vu Khoan will be done by next month.
"If the application comes in by next month then we will start looking at it very seriously and hopefully we can reach a decision by the next summit," Singh said, referring to the ASEAN Summit to be held in Bangkok in December 1995.
Newest member
Alluding to the adjustments Vietnam has to make as the newest member of association, Vu Khoan said his country had taken noticeable measures such as the creation of an ASEAN section in the foreign ministry in Hanoi.
"Vietnam is a late comer but I think it can adjust to the ASEAN spirit," Khoan said while affirming that his country would "accept all basic documents of ASEAN."
Despite remaining confident of Vietnam's ability to adopt the ASEAN way, Singh acknowledges that in some areas Hanoi will lag behind the other fellow members.
"Particularly the economic side where Vietnam would take a little longer to adjust," he said.
As Vu Khoan readily admits, Vietnam's admission to ASEAN is also aimed at improving the economic and the development of infrastructure in his country.
When asked on the likelihood of Laos and Cambodia as new members in the near future, Singh said Laos with its observer status has not indicated when it would apply for membership, while Cambodia is showing keen interest in becoming an observer.
"I shall be going to Phnom Penh later this year to discuss the issue," he said.(mds)