" Acid Test" for ASEAN (article fr

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Subject: " Acid Test" for ASEAN (article fr Indian News paper)

Myanmar's entry an " acid test" for ASEAN

By V.Jaynath

SANGAPOORE, Aug. 6: The economic, political and security implication of
an enlarged ASEAN and a united Southeast Asia, ultimately covering all
10 countries, was the focus on the second and last day of the round
table on ASEAN here on Tuesday. Participants agreed that the line
dividing these crucial spheres was rather then because prosperity and
growth in the past had been made possible by a peaceful and stable
environment. Politics and economics were also closely intertwined in any
process of decision making.

With this on mind, speakers addressed the concerns arising out of the
entry of Laos and Myanmar into the entry fold last month and the entry
of Cambodia, sooner than later. Though the problems in Cambodia receive
a lot of attention because it was already engaging ASEAN attention, the
speakers did not overlook the challenges posed by the admission of
Myanmar. Some called it " acid test4 for the image and credibility of
ASEAN, so carefully build up trally-planned and controlled economy
towards major reforms so that it could integrate first with the region
and then global economy. The danger but also the inevitability of a "two
tier " or a " twin track "approach with two levels of economies was also
underlined.

Prof. Jusuf Wanandi, Chairman, Center for Strategic and International
Studies in Jakarta, described the ASEAN Region Forum as the vehicle
promoted by ASEAN to address regional security and political issues.
With the end of the cold world, attention had turned to engaging China
and her part of the region, politically and economically. 

All the major players in the world were now part of the ARF with all the
dialogue partners invited to joy in these annual discussions. They
included the U.S., E.U., India, Japan and Russia among others. Prof.
Wanandi noted " India will only have an impact on the strategic
development of Asia pacific in the longer term, although she has shown
an eagernees and political will to be involved." He urged " this is
constrained by her economic policies and her obsession with Pakistan.
But it can also be argued that she needs the involvement in this part of
the region partly to overcome that obsession. India is a great country
in her own right and is developing fast and therefore will have a
greater impact on the region in the future.

This recognition, he explained was the basis for India's acceptance as a
dialogue partner of ASEAN and participant in the ARF. She was expected
to be invited to the second ASEAN (Asia Europe Meeting) in the U.K. in
1998. On Russia, he said it would be concentrating on her domestic
developments in the medium term. But being Eurasian power, Russia
foreign policy had changed from an alignment with the West towards
looking more for her national interests in the former USSR States, South
Asia and West Asia. She would pay more attention to East Asia in the
future. Since NATO expansion was going against Russia's will, it would
obviously strengthen cooperation with East Asia, especially China.
Europe and East Asia, Prof. Wanandi said, " have rediscovered each other
" and the ASEAN process would strengthen their cooperation and dialogue.
 
    From THE HINDU newspaper on 07/ 08/ 97.