Nation : Hosting Asean meet is art

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

The Nation:July 15,1998
REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE: Hosting Asean meet is art in itself

Calling it whatever one desires, but playing host to an Asean meeting, be
it at ministerial or summit levels, is no joke. It is an art in itself
which requires meticulous preparations as the host inevitably has to blend
cleverly its own priorities, or some would say hidden agenda, with those of
the grouping. 

In the 31-year history, host nations have played important roles in shaping
agendas and policies that Asean has taken up and subsequently implemented
and still practised. They have made Asean the organisation it is known
today. 

Asean members take turns alphabetically to host their annual meetings and
their summits. When meetings were hosted by such leading members as
Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, major
decisions were expected. 

As the first host, Thailand helped establish Asean and shaped the Bangkok
Declaration. As a broker for the reconciliation process among Indonesia,
the Philippines and Malaysia at the time, Thailand was in an excellent
position to do so. 

When Asean signed the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (Zopfan)
Declaration in November 1971, it very much reflected the conviction of the
host, Malaysia, that the best way to safeguard Southeast Asia was to
prevent the region from outside interference and strengthen the all-around
cooperation within the member countries. 

By the time Asean leaders met for the first time in 1976 in Bali --
appropriately selected as Indonesia is the group's biggest country -- to
sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia, the
region had undergone radical political changes, especially in former
Indochinese countries. 

TAC committed Asean members to mutual respect for one another's
sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, the peaceful settlement
of intra-regional disputes and effective cooperation. These principles have
been the main pillar for all Asean cooperative efforts. 

In 1992, Asean leaders launched the Asean Free Trade Area in Singapore, the
region's most advanced free trade country. Later the same year, Manila
hosted the 25th Asean meeting when another historic but much less known
document was signed, the Declaration of the South China Sea. Ironically,
three years later, the declaration would be the main instrument the
Philippines used in its territorial dispute with China over the Mischief
Reef in February 1995. 

Now it is considered a key mechanism to settle the overlapping claims in
the South China Sea. Also, it has incrementally led to a thaw in ties
between China and the Philippines and Asean as a whole. 

As host of the 26th Asean meeting, Singapore singlehandedly shaped the
future Asean security cooperation with the major powers. The only
region-wide security dialogue, popularly known as the Asean Regional Forum,
was Singapore's creation with Asean's endorsement. 

During the fifth summit in Bangkok in December 1995, the host worked very
hard to ensure the participation of all Southeast Asian leaders. For the
first time, they were able to meet under one roof. It was the prelude of
coming together of the region and the tumultuous changes that would sweep
the region two years later. 

But the host failed to realise the People's Council that would make the
group more down-to-earth and become less an elitist organisation with
broader citizen groups' participation from member countries. 

While the enlargement with diverse members shows Asean resiliency, it also
exposes the grouping to uncertainties and has affected its ties with
dialogue countries especially the European Union and the United States. The
admissions of Brunei in 1984, Vietnam in 1995 and Laos last year were not
problematic. But in the case of Burma, it was a different ball game. Asean
is still feeling the pinch of its decision. 

As host of the commemorative summit to celebrate the 30th anniversary of
Asean, it was an open secret that Malaysia, with strong support from
Indonesia under then president Suharto, was the main driving force to bring
in the pariah nation, much to the chagrin of Thailand which opposed the
membership. 

Doubtless, when Manila hosts the 31st Asean meeting later this month, it
has a unique responsibility and role to play. The country's preference for
democracy and open society are well-known and there is somewhere the host
will adhere the philosophy and principles. 

In a way, it helps to have the Philippines as the host because this year's
agenda includes assessment of the region's financial crisis and the
framework for ''flexible engagement''. Both issues are also dear to the
host. 

For Thailand, which has proposed the review of Asean's non-interference
principle and called for franker and broader dialogue among members,
Manila's quick and unqualified support is a blessing. It helps set the tone
of the meeting and what to be expected out of the discussions which would
reflect on the joint communique. 

Without an enthusiastic host, it is difficult to envisage any fruitful
discussion on these controversial subjects. The host can and will have the
prerogative to direct the discussions that it deems most suitable for the
group -- the outcome of which could affect the standing of Asean and its
relevancy in the 21st century. 

BY KAVI CHONGKITTAVORN 

The Nation