| |
| |
![]() |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the ASEAN summit in Singapore has achieved significant steps forward for the 10-member grouping.
One of the biggest milestones is the signing of the ASEAN Charter which lays out the organisation's aspirations. But the charter still has to be ratified by member states.
The goal is to have it ratified by the next summit in Bangkok.
Mr Lee said, "I think some of the countries may have to work to hit that target because the ratification process depends on the legislatures.
"Some of the legislatures do not always ratify everything the executive puts before them. I think Mrs Arroyo has said she may have difficulties there; maybe one or two others (as well)."
ASEAN has also endorsed an economic community blueprint with a target date of 2015.
Mr Lee said a 100 per cent free trade environment may be hard to achieve, but he believes that in seven years’ time, there will be substantial liberalisation in areas such as goods and services, investments and movement of people.
The Myanmar issue has also taken centre stage in this summit. ASEAN has made its position clear on the issue that Myanmar cannot go back to the status quo.
The group is not in favour of sanctions or taking Myanmar out of ASEAN. Instead, it is encouraging Myanmar to work towards national reconciliation.
"National reconciliation means opening of meaningful dialogue with Aung San Su Kyi and the NLD (National League for Democracy); (it) means releasing political detainees, including Aung San Su Kyi; (it) means moving forward to achieve a peaceful transition to democracy and to address the economic hardships of the population of Myanmar," said PM Lee.
"There's no ambiguity in what needs to be done in the view of most of the ASEAN leaders. Myanmar has explained that (its) approach is a seven-step roadmap. That is the way their government sees it," he added.
The ASEAN meeting extends beyond the 10 member countries with a chance to renew relations with other states.
The ASEAN Plus Three partnership of China, Japan and Korea is celebrating its 10th anniversary. ASEAN is also negotiating free trade deals with China, India, Japan and Korea. - CNA/ac
|
