Foreign ministers of the Association of South-East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) started meeting in Singapore Thursday with the aim of early
ratification of a landmark charter giving the organization a legal framework.
ASEAN's charter, signed by the leaders of its 10 member countries in December,
seeks to commit them to promoting human rights and democratic ideals and
transforming ASEAN into a legal entity to give it greater influence in the
international community.
It requires ratification by all members. Ratification from Thailand, Myanmar,
the Philippines and Indonesia is still outstanding.
Complete ratification was set for December, but ASEAN Secretary General Surin
Pitsuwan said he hoped for full ratification next month.
"ASEAN cannot rest on its laurels," said Simon Tay, chairman of the
Singapore Institute of International Affairs. "Delivering on promises must
now be key."
"One litmus test will be ratification," Tay said, adding that the
charter promised a "more efficient ASEAN."
The foreign ministers were scheduled to meet with a high-level group of experts
to address legal issues relating to the charter, including dispute settlement
mechanisms, a statement from Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
They are also to meet with another high-level panel that is drafting the
framework for a human rights body for ASEAN, whose members are Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam.
A review of ongoing efforts to create an EU-style economic community within
ASEAN by 2015 and a report by the group overseeing relief work in Myanmar after
Cyclone Nargis are also on the agenda.
Comprised of representatives from Myanmar, ASEAN and the United Nations, the
group was created as a political compromise after international condemnation
over the military junta's initial refusal to admit foreign aid workers.
ASEAN managed to persuade Myanmar to open up, more than two weeks after the May
cyclone struck, but only to small teams of workers.
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has said her country would not
ratify the charter if Myanmar refuses to release opposition leader and Nobel
Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Singapore, which now holds the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN, is hosting
back-to-back, top-level meetings through July 24, when the chairmanship passes
to Thailand.
After the foreign ministers meet, they are to hold bilateral meetings with
other foreign ministers and representatives from ASEAN's dialogue partners
Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, South Korea, the European Union, New
Zealand, Russia and the United States.
"The free trade agreements with China, India, Japan, Korea, the EU,
Australia and New Zealand will be discussed," the ministry said with the
participants "expected to explore ways to further intensify
cooperation."
At the ASEAN Regional Forum, the region's foremost security gathering, North
Korea said that on July 24, it would sign the group's non-aggression treaty
promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes.
The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation covers ASEAN members and some of the major
powers.
ASEAN analysts said the signing reflected Pyongyang's willingness to resolve
the international dispute over its nuclear programme amicably, dpa reported.
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