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SINGAPORE : The ASEAN Charter could come into effect by late-2008, at the group's next annual summit.
This is according to Ambassador-at-Large, Professor Tommy Koh.
Professor Koh is the Chairman of the High Level Task Force which drafted the Charter.
ASEAN leaders are expected to sign it at the ASEAN Summit in Singapore this month.
The Charter is largely seen as the group's constitution, which will turn the "ad-hoc" association into a "rules-based" one.
All eyes will be on ASEAN leaders when they meet at the group's 13th Summit in Singapore.
All of them are expected to sign the ASEAN Charter.
Professor Koh said, "The ASEAN charter is popular in all 10 member states. And I do not foresee any serious lobbying by any group hostile to the charter. So I'm hopeful that by the ASEAN Summit in 2008 in Bangkok, that it will come into force."
When that happens, the function of ASEAN is set to change, 40 years after the group was formed.
Professor Koh said, "It has a potential to enable ASEAN to in a sense reinvent itself at 40 and make itself a more dynamic, more cohesive, more united and more rules-based organisation.
"For example, there's a institutional deficit that our institutions are not strong enough, that we've tended to do things through informal arrangements, networking, relationships. One of the things the Charter could do is that it could create a system which compels us to take our commitments and agreements more seriously."
Professor Koh added that during the process of drafting the Charter, the most contentious issue had been whether to set up an ASEAN Human Rights body.
But now that this has been resolved, the current concern is what if some ASEAN members do not comply with the Charter's provisions?
Professor Koh said, "We have a whole chapter of the Charter devoted to dispute settlement. Beginning with consultations, negotiations and the use of the good offices of the Secretary-General or the Chair. If that doesn't resolve a dispute, then it could go on to a dispute settlement mechanism."
The ASEAN Charter was put together within about nine months.
The key now is not just for the Charter to remain on paper but to make it work.
Professor Koh said the Charter serves the interest of all 10 ASEAN members.
So he is optimistic that all the countries would be committed to see it through. - CNA/ms
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