East Asia Summit in S'pore may issue Myanmar statement
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 16 November 2007 2325 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Leaders meeting at the East Asian Summit (EAS) in Singapore may issue a statement to support UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari's role in Myanmar.

This is according to Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo, who met the local media ahead of the summit.

Mr Yeo said the statement would also support the process of national reconciliation and call on the Myanmar government to give a deadline to achieve democracy.

The minister believes that this way, there would be fewer chances for Myanmar to backslide after the end of the ASEAN and East Asia Summits.

Mr Yeo said there is reason to be optimistic about the future of ASEAN.

But he acknowledged that there are problems, including how ASEAN is handling the Myanmar issue.

The minister, however, pointed out that good progress has been made so far through the efforts of Dr Gambari.

Mr Yeo said: "Off the Summit, countries will gear up for their positions but if they don't maintain that pressure for forward movement, then there could be backsliding, which would be bad for the people of Myanmar, it would be bad for us in Southeast Asia. So, if we have a good solid position in the EAS, then that enhances our position for the future."

Mr Yeo also gave his assessment on his recent visits and discussions with the foreign ministers of China, Japan and India.

He said: "Each had its own perspective...But if we coordinate and act together, I believe we can play a helpful role in the process of national reconciliation in Myanmar. This was put in a very forthright way by (India's) Minister Pranab Mukerjee. He said it can't just be India and China, it has to be India-China and ASEAN together, and I believe there is a common understanding to make that effort."

Turning to the ASEAN Charter, Mr Yeo said that one subject which came up for much discussion was the setting up of a human rights body as details were still being worked out.

"I don't quite know what will be the positions we will eventually agree upon, given the positions of the newer member states. I'm not sure if we will have teeth but it will certainly have a tongue. It will certainly have moral influence," he said.

Once the ASEAN Charter is signed by the leaders at the Summit in Singapore, there will be a one-year period for ASEAN governments to ratify the document.

Singapore hopes that the Charter's provisions will become effective in time for the leaders to meet for the Bangkok Summit.

Minister Yeo believes that as ASEAN internalises its values and aspirations, the younger generation will feel more committed to ASEAN and its goals. - CNA/ir