ASEAN FMs take stock of summit progress at retreat in S'pore
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 19 February 2008 1936 hrs

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SINGAPORE : It has been two months since leaders from ASEAN member countries signed milestone documents such as the ASEAN Charter and the ASEAN Economic Blueprint.

Now, ASEAN foreign ministers are gathering in Singapore for an informal retreat.

Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo played host to his counterparts, on board a cruise, to kick off discussions.

Singapore currently chairs the ASEAN Standing Committee.

Talks at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat will take place over the next two days at the Sentosa Resort.

Topping the agenda is a progress report of the implementation process of the economic blueprint. The document aims to lead the grouping towards an ASEAN Economic Community by 2015.

The 10 foreign ministers are also expected to exchange updates on how their governments are ratifying the ASEAN Charter.

ASEAN leaders hope that the ratification process will be completed and the charter enforced in time for the next leaders' summit in Bangkok.

Separately, observers expect this retreat to be a good opportunity for the ministers to get an update on the democracy process in Myanmar.

Myanmar had recently announced that it would hold a national referendum on a new constitution in May 2008 and general elections in 2010. - CNA /ls