Reuter: ASEAN Meeting Concluded Aft

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Subject: Reuter: ASEAN Meeting Concluded After Avoiding Controversy Over Burma

 ASEAN Meeting Concluded After Avoiding Controversy Over Burma

  By Ian MacKenzie
     JAKARTA, July 21 (Reuter) - ASEAN foreign ministers, ending their
two-day annual meeting on Sunday, will issue a carefully crafted communique
reflecting consensus on issues facing the region and avoiding controversy
over Burma, diplomats said.
     "The emphasis is on consensus and avoiding confrontation, which has
been the hallmark of the organisation over the past 29 years," one diplomat
said.
     The seven-member ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) gave a
red-carpet welcome to Burma as an observer and eventual member despite
criticism in the West of Rangoon's human rights policies.
     "We are all looking forward to working closely with Myanmar (Burma) in
the building of a community of Southeast Asian nations imbued with the
spirit of peace, cooperation and solidarity," Indonesian Foreign Minister
Ali Alatas said in formally welcoming Burma.
     Laos and Cambodia are both due to join ASEAN as full members next
year, leaving only Burma of the 10 Southeast Asian nations still formally
outside the fold.
     The other ASEAN members are Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand,
Vietnam, Philippines and Brunei. Papua New Guinea is an observer as it is
not regarded as a part of Southeast Asia.
     Diplomatic sources expected the strongest language to be reserved for
the issue of territorial claims in the South China Sea, where China upset
other litoral states by declaring sovereignty over a vastly-increased area
in May. The key issue centres on potential oil and gas reserves beneath
scattered island groups in the sea.
     The sources said the foreign ministers were expected to express
concern over the situation in the South China Sea and reiterate the need
for crisis management and a code of conduct to lay the foundations for
long-term stability in the area.
     Alatas said Indonesia was still awaiting an answer from China on
questions put by Jakarta on Beijing's territorial claim. Chinese Foreign
Minister Qian Qichen was arriving in Jakarta on Sunday to attend the Asean
Regional Forum (ARF) being enlarged to 21 this week with the inclusion of
India and Burma.
     Other geopolitical issues covered included the Korean peninsula, the
need for a resumption of dialogue between the two Koreas and the peace
process in the Middle East and Bosnia.
     The ministers were also expected to emphasise the importance they
placed on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in promoting international
peace and security and an end to testing of nuclear weapons.
     Burma, the Korean peninsula and the nuclear issue were all due to come
up at the third annual ASEAN Regional Forum this week with the
participation of representatives of leading nations, including the United
States, China, Russia and the European Union.
  REUTER
KT
ISBDA