ASEAN Social Culture Community

US President Barack Obama is scheduled to attend the ASEAN-US and East Asian summits in Bali, November 17-19, 2011.

President Obama would attend the ASEAN-US Summit on November 18, 2011 and the East Asian Summit (EAS) on November 19, 2011, which would take place in conjunction with h the 19th ASEAN Summit, Foreign Ministry spokesman Michael Tene said at a press conference here on Friday. Read More

A bloody border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia looks set to dominate an ASEAN summit in Indonesia this weekend, casting doubt on the bloc's rhetoric about regional integration by 2015.

Analysts and diplomats said the fighting, which has left at least 18 people dead since April 22, is expected to be a key topic at the two-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta from Saturday.

Current ASEAN chair Indonesia has been leading mediation efforts, but although the fighting has eased the situation remains tense and deadly firefights break out almost daily.

"The Thai-Cambodia border dispute poses a definite challenge to ASEAN's credibility and its objective of creating an ASEAN Community by 2015," said Professor Carl Thayer of the University of New South Wales in Australia.

"ASEAN's failure to broker a political solution will have a very negative impact on ASEAN's credibility as a viable regional organisation," he told AFP.

But Thayer said Indonesia can use the opportunity to play a "continuing proactive diplomatic role" while other ASEAN states can pressure Bangkok and Phnom Penh to negotiate a settlement.

A diplomatic source said ASEAN leaders would call on Bangkok and Phnom Penh to resolve the conflict, which has displaced 85,000 civilians on both sides.

The warring neighbours agreed at a special ASEAN ministerial meeting in Jakarta in February to accept Indonesian military observers at the border.

At the time, ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan hailed the agreement as a "historic day" for the 10-nation bloc, but more than two months and a lot more fighting later, the observers remain in Jakarta.

"You must give credit to what ASEAN is trying to do," Surin told AFP on Wednesday, adding that February's meeting of foreign ministers and his personal mediation efforts were unprecedented for the trade-focused grouping.

"We are, I think, turning a page. We are making a giant leap forward by taking those steps. It's not going to be easy, it's not going to be resolved tomorrow."

A diplomatic briefing paper for one summit participant said ASEAN risked putting its "community-building efforts in jeopardy" if it fails to respond adequately to such bilateral disputes.

The paper said intra-regional clashes would not go well for "ASEAN's peace and stability or its credibility". How it responds is a "litmus test" for ASEAN's "ability to contribute to international peace and security", it added.

US-based Southeast Asia specialist Ernest Bower said the Thailand-Cambodia conflict "undercuts the ASEAN leaders' vision for regional integration by 2015".

ASEAN, which groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, is aiming for an integrated community by 2015 covering economic, cultural, political and security ties.

Bower cautioned the bloc against using the Thai-Cambodia spat as an excuse for slow progress on "hard issues key to real economic integration".

"The conflict also belies ASEAN's hope of projecting a cohesive region to potential international investors," said Bower, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

ASEAN members are bound by a Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, which forbids the threat or the actual use of force in intra-regional disputes.

The bloc's first charter, or constitution, which came into force with much fanfare in 2008, has provisions for settling rows which are being sorely tested by the ongoing border spat.

"What ASEAN does now will impact on its role in dispute settlement among its members for a long time to come," Thayer said.

ASEAN's hands are often tied by its core principle of non-interference in members' domestic affairs, which means the group can only intervene with the consent of the involved parties.

In the Thai-Cambodia dispute, "ASEAN has to walk on eggshells" so as not to be seen as interfering, Thayer said. --- Source

Asean leaders eye 'one community' by 2015 ; Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed yesterday to work on coordinated action on various global issues of common interest and concern, enhance cooperation against human trafficking in the region and establish an ASEAN institute for peace and reconciliation.

The joint statement on the ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations, also this year’s theme of the summit, endeavors ASEAN to have a common platform on various issues by 2022, separate from the goal to reach an ASEAN Community by 2015.

In a statement, leaders agreed to work together to accelerate the undertakings towards an ASEAN Community by 2015 and achieve a common platform for ASEAN beyond 2015 in Southeast Asia.

President Aquino and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said they were optimistic about the goal as they stressed the need for ASEAN to step up and expedite its work to reach its goal of promoting peace, stability and economic competitiveness in the region.

However, the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and the Myanmar issue raised doubts on whether the goal to have one ASEAN community could be achieved.

The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute occupied the most part of the ASEAN leaders’ plenary session on the first day, surprising the delegates as it put the other issues on the sidelines, according to Philippine officials at the meeting.

“As part of the wider community of nations, ASEAN is confronted with the dynamics of the 21st century challenges, where issues have become more complex, multi-faceted, transnational, increasingly interlinked and interdependent,” said the ASEAN leaders’ in a joint statement

They agreed to work on an enhanced capacity to contribute and respond to key global issues of common interest and concern, which would benefit all ASEAN member-countries. --- Source

Thai, Cambodian PMs agree to meet at ASEAN summit; Indonesia’s State Secretary Sudi Silalahi says President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will host the meeting with prime ministers Hun Sen of Cambodia and Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand.

Officials say the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to meet with Indonesia’s president to try to halt deadly clashes along their disputed border.

The planned three—way meeting on Sunday marks a step forward in resolving the recurring conflict. Thailand has previously rejected outside mediation, saying the matter must be settled between it and Cambodia.

The issue has threatened to dominate a summit of Southeast Asian leaders in Jakarta this weekend.

Indonesia’s State Secretary Sudi Silalahi says President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will host the meeting with prime ministers Hun Sen of Cambodia and Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand.

The border clashes have killed more than a dozen in recent weeks and forced nearly 100,000 villagers to flee. --- Source

ASEAN to agree to give Myanmar chairmanship in 2014 ; Southeast Asian leaders on Sunday will agree on Sunday to allow Myanmar to chair the 10-member ASEAN group in 2014, a draft statement seen by Reuters said, a move likely to spur protests from Western nations and rights groups.

Myanmar held elections earlier this year to switch from military to civilian rule, leading the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to push the United States and Europe to drop sanctions against it.

But many observers dismissed the election as a sham that has kept the generals in power behind the scenes.

"(We) consented to the proposal of Myanmar that it would host the ASEAN summits in 2014, in view of its firm commitment and dedication to implement the ASEAN community building as well as to ASEAN solidarity," said the draft statement to be released on Sunday.

The draft added that ASEAN leaders supported the "steady progress and political developments in Myanmar" after it held general elections and formed a new government in March, calling the ballot "successful".

ASEAN has in the past, along with Western nations, called on Myanmar to include pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in any political solution, and so the decision appears to be a change of stance. --- Read More

Fifteenth ASEAN Summit ~ SUMMIT OVERVIEW : At the 15th Annual ASEAN Summit held October 2009 in Thailand, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers agreed that the theme for the 40th Anniversary of ASEAN and for ASEAN Summit held in 2007 in Singapore would be, “One ASEAN at the Heart of Dynamic Asia”.

This theme contains key elements of ASEAN’s common aspirations. First, “One ASEAN” captures the idea of the ASEAN’s goal towards closer integration and one ASEAN Community. Second “at the heart” contains the idea of ASEAN’s centrality and ASEAN being in the driver’s seat of the evolving regional architecture. Third, “Dynamic Asia” describes the economic renaissance that is taking place in Asia. On the whole, the theme provides a fresh, optimistic and forward looking view of ASEAN as an organization. This overarching theme will be reflected in the initiatives which will be undertaken by the Singapore Chairmanship of ASEAN.

At the 16th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting held in July 2007 in Manila, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers also welcomed Singapore’s proposal, as the Chair of ASEAN to focus on “Energy, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development as a key theme of discussions at the upcoming 13th ASEAN Summit and its related meetings in Singapore held in November 2007. In line with this theme, we look forward to the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Environmental Sustainability to be signed at the 13th ASEAN Summit and a proposal to work on a Singapore Declaration on the Environment to be issued at the 3rd East Asia Summit.

The logo identity is inspired by the ‘padi stalk’, distinctive of ASEAN’s brand heritage. The rice grains symbolize the diversity of the ten ASEAN member-countries.The graphics depict an open, flexible and vibrant spirit that personifies the spirit of ASEAN.The red ribbon stylized in the letter “a” embodies the essence of ASEAN’s binding spirit and unity. Projecting outwards, the identity exemplifies how ASEAN reaches out to the region in an open and inclusive manner. Red, yellow, orange and blue are chosen as they reflect the colors of ASEAN. Contemporary and elegant, the logo’s personality exudes warmth that reflects Singapore’s hospitality, as well as strength and growth that reinforces the theme of One ASEAN at the Heart of Dynamic Asia.