PRESS STATEMENT THE FIRST INFORMAL

[freeburma@xxxxxxx]

Subject: PRESS STATEMENT THE FIRST INFORMAL MEETING OF ASEAN

Attn: Free Burma Activists
Re: PRESS STATEMENT THE FIRST INFORMAL MEETING OF ASEAN

(Note:  For those who want to keep an eye on what ASEAN has done, check
their website 
at (http://www.asean.or.id/); I will also keep on checking anything new
on ASEAN-Burma.)

Zaw Zaw
------

                             PRESS STATEMENT
                  THE FIRST INFORMAL MEETING OF THE
                    HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OF ASEAN
                        JAKARTA, 30 NOVEMBER 1996


   1.The First Informal Meeting of the Heads of Government of ASEAN was
held in Jakarta,
Indonesia on the thirtieth of November 1996. This Meeting was a
follow-up of the decision adopted by the Fifth ASEAN Summit that took
place in Bangkok, Thailand in December 1995. 

   2.The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Mr. Soeharto, President of the
Republic of Indonesia and consisted of two sessions. The morning session
was attended by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan dan
Yang di-Pertuan Brunei Darussalam; The Honourable Dato' Seri Dr.
Mahathir bin Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia; His Excellency Mr.
Fidel V. Ramos, President of the Republic of the Philippines; His
Excellency Mr. Goh Chok Tong, Prime Minister of the Republic of
Singapore; His Excellency Dr. Amnuay Viravan, Deputy Prime Minister of
the Kingdom of Thailand; and His Excellency Mr. Vo Van Kiet, Prime
Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The afternoon session was
joined by His Royal Highness Norodom Ranariddh and His Excellency Mr.
Hun Sen, First and Second Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia
respectively; His Excellency Mr. Khamtay Siphandone; Prime Minister of
the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and His Excellency Senior General
Than Shwe; Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council and
Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar. 

     In assessing the development and progress relating to ASEAN affairs
since the Fifth Summit in Bangkok, the Heads of Government of ASEAN
expressed their satisfaction with the implementation of various
decisions taken at the Summit. They were of the view that these
encouraging achievements have contributed to a greater commitment of
countries in Southeast Asia to strengthen their cooperation in various
fields towards the enhancement of peace, stability and prosperity in
Southeast Asia. However, the Heads of Government of ASEAN agreed that
efforts should be continued and strengthened to complete the remaining
tasks which have been undertaken in pursuit of the objectives of ASEAN. 

   3.The Heads of Government of ASEAN discussed three clusters of
topics, namely the issues relating to ASEAN, regional issues, and
international issues of common concern to the ASEAN countries. 

   4.The Heads of Government of ASEAN agreed to celebrate the 30th
Anniversary of ASEAN
in Malaysia in 1997 on the occasion of the Second ASEAN Informal Summit.
In this regard, they agreed to develop ideas on the establishment of
ASEAN Foundation to promote
ASEAN awareness, people-to-people contact through scholarships,
fellowships and other
exchanges. The Heads of Government of ASEAN believed that the
establishment of such a
foundation would further improve the quality of life of its peoples
through human resources development. 

   5.The Heads of Government reaffirmed their strong commitment to the
speedy realization of an ASEAN comprising all ten Southeast Asian
countries. They agreed that Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar be admitted as
ASEAN members simultaneously. To this end, they agreed to request the
relevant ASEAN bodies to continue with the necessary technical and
procedural steps. As to the actual timing of the admission of the three
countries, this will be announced in due time. In the mean time, as in
the case of Cambodia and Laos, Myanmar will be participating in ASEAN
activities. 

   6.The Heads of Government agreed to expedite the ratification of the
Treaty on the
SEANWFZ and requested the relevant ASEAN Body to finalize the revision
of its Protocol by the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN. 

   7.While recognizing the importance of ASEAN-EU relations which have
developed over the past two decades, the ASEAN Heads of Government noted
with increasing concern the   efforts of one member country of the EU to
introduce extraneous issues such as the question of East Timor in the
economic cooperation and interaction between ASEAN and the EU. They
believed that the introduction of such an extraneous issue would only
lead to
unwarranted aggravation in ASEAN-EU relations, while at the same time
jeopardizing the
tripartite process on East Timor presently taking place under the
auspices of the UN
Secretary-General. The Heads of Government reiterated their full support
for the Indonesian position on East Timor and rejected the introduction
of such an extraneous issue into ASEAN-EU relations by a certain member
of EU. 

   8.The Heads of Government exchanged views on the proposed ASEAN
Vision beyond 2003.
Taking into account that by that time ASEAN Free Trade Area would come
into being, they requested the Ministers to develop an ASEAN Vision
toward 2020 and submit their report to the Second ASEAN Informal Summit
to be held concurrently with the celebration of the 30th ASEAN
Anniversary. 

   9.On the ASEAN Common Time Zone, the Heads of Government agreed to
review the matter
during the period of 2000-2003. 

  10.The Heads of Government also discussed regional matters such as the
ASEAN-Mekong
Basin Development Cooperation, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the
South China Sea. 

  11.The ASEAN Heads of Government endorsed the Basic Framework of the
ASEAN-Mekong
Basin Development Cooperation as adopted by the Ministerial Meeting in
Kuala Lumpur in June 1996. They reaffirmed their commitment to this
initiative. They expressed the view that the realization of such a
development cooperation would promote the economic integration and
interconnection between economies of the ASEAN and the non-ASEAN Mekong
Riparian States. 

  12.The ASEAN Heads of Government reaffirmed their commitment to seek
an early peaceful
solution to the overlapping claims in the South China Sea in accordance
with the provisions of the TAC, the ASEAN Declaration on the South China
Sea of 1992 as well as international law, including the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982. 

  13.The Heads of Government agreed to request the economic ministers to
develop the possibility of ASEAN cooperation on the facilitation of
goods in transit. 

  14.On transnational issues, the Heads of Government agreed to request
the relevant ASEAN body to study the possibility of regional cooperation
on criminal matters including extradition. 

  15.In the afternoon session, the Chairman informed the Heads of
Government of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar on the relevant issues
discussed during the morning session. The Heads of Government of the Ten
Southeast Asian countries also exchanged views on various issues of
common interest, especially the ASEAN-Mekong Basin Development
Cooperation. 


------end.