21 July 2009
Clinton Attends Southeast Asian Regional Forum in Thailand
Secretary of state aims to enhance U.S. relations with ASEAN nations
Washington – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is focusing on improving relations between the United States and Southeast Asia during her visit to Thailand as she leads the U.S. delegation to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Post-Ministerial Conference and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
The 16th annual ASEAN Regional Forum, being held in Phuket, Thailand, includes the foreign ministers of 10 ASEAN member countries, as well as representatives of 17 dialogue partners from other Asian countries, the United States, the European Union and Russia. Clinton traveled to Bangkok for bilateral meetings with her Thai counterparts prior to attending the ASEAN gathering.
HISTORY OF ASEAN
ASEAN was founded in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, and grew to include Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Burma and Cambodia. Its goals are to accelerate economic growth and cultural development in Southeast Asia, to promote peace and stability through rule of law and adherence to the United Nations Charter, and to collaborate on matters of common interest, according to the 1967 Bangkok Declaration.
The first ASEAN Regional Forum was held in 1994 to address security issues affecting Southeast Asia, including transnational crime, terrorism and nuclear proliferation. ASEAN leaders established a three-stage approach to maintaining peace in the region: building mutual trust and confidence among members; preventing disputes and conflicts; and developing methods to resolve conflicts. Member countries and dialogue partners discuss measures to enhance peace in the region.
In addition to security, ASEAN has economic and socio-economic initiatives. The group is working to implement a free trade area, boost tourism and improve agriculture, as well as wage campaigns to promote social welfare, health and education. ASEAN also participates in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the East Asia Summit, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the East Asia-Latin American Forum (EALAF), and the ASEAN-Russia Summit. ASEAN was granted observer status at the U.N. General Assembly in 2006.
Decisionmaking among ASEAN member countries is characterized by consensus, noninterference and avoidance of confrontation. This method is called “the ASEAN way.” The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, a pact adopted by ASEAN in 1976, does not allow member countries to interfere in the internal affairs of another country, and mandates that all disputes must be resolved peacefully.
REGIONAL FORUM TODAY
The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held its first disaster-relief exercise May 4 through May 8 in the Philippines, simulating the delivery of humanitarian relief following a fictitious super-typhoon. The Voluntary Demonstration of Response (ARF-VDR) was co-sponsored by the United States and the Philippines, and 14 countries from the Asia-Pacific region contributed. Multinational teams of engineers and doctors also dug wells, constructed water tanks and treated patients.
“I think what we saw [in the ARF-VDR] are great examples of cooperation on humanitarian grounds from member countries,” Scot Marciel, deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs and ambassador for ASEAN affairs, said at a press briefing in Washington July 15. “It’s important that we build on this, and for those of us in the ASEAN Regional Forum, our challenge now is to take the next major step forward and not sit back.”
ASEAN foreign ministers held meetings July 19 through July 21. Then in several meetings on July 22, representatives from each dialogue partner will discuss regional security with ASEAN member countries. All dialogue partners and member countries will participate in the ASEAN Regional Forum on July 23, which likely will cover a wide range of issues, including climate change, disaster relief, pandemic influenza, North Korea and Burma, Marciel said.
Clinton will meet with the foreign ministers of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand to discuss issues that affect the Mekong River region, possibly the first time a U.S. secretary of state has met with all of those countries’ leaders at once, Marciel said. Clinton also will participate in multilateral meetings with ASEAN member countries that will focus on the U.S.-ASEAN relationship, Marciel added.
The United States is intent on improving its relationship with ASEAN member countries, Marciel said. “We want to see ASEAN succeed,” he said. “It’s in our interest for the countries of Southeast Asia to further integrate and to grow stronger.”
Secretary Clinton is expected to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia on July 22, joining 24 other countries that already have signed the treaty.
The schedule of the ASEAN meetings is available on the organization’s Web site.
