ASEAN vows to stand firm against protectionism
THAILAND: Southeast Asian leaders vowed Sunday to stand firm against
protectionism and knit the diverse region into a European Union-style
community by 2015 despite the global economic crisis.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in a statement released
at the conclusion of its 14th annual summit, also called for “bold and
urgent reform of the international financial system” that would take
into account the needs of developing nations.
The summit delegates grappled with the region’s economic woes in the
face of the global crisis but also aimed to highlight ASEAN’s
championship of human rights. Instead, the issue suffered a setback when
military-ruled Myanmar and Cambodia refused to talk to two pro-democracy
activists.
The statement said the leaders “reaffirmed their commitment to
implement measures adopted in the ASEAN Economic Blueprint,” which calls
for economic and some political and security integration by 2015, adding
that the scope for regional cooperation must be expanded.
ASEAN’s goal of forming a single market mainly involves lifting trade
barriers but not, at this point, adopting a common currency. “They
agreed to stand firm against protectionism and to refrain from
introducing and raising new barriers,” the statement said.
Philippine Trade Secretary Peter Favila told The Associated Press
there was reluctance to push ahead with the goal to drop all trade
barriers by 2015. “Some ministers during unofficial discussions on the
sidelines were saying that in the light of the global meltdown of course
the local industries were affected,” he said. “But those are just
sentiments. You know everybody has to follow the leaders’ instructions:
Do it by 2015.”
Summit delegates also worked on the formation of a human rights body,
but critics noted that the body, expected to begin functioning later
this year, would lack power to punish violators such as Myanmar with
expulsion or sanctions. ASEAN has followed a policy of so-called
“engagement” with Myanmar and noninterference in its internal affairs.
Cha-Am, Sunday, AP |
