Major partners vow to send senior envoys to ASEAN

BY Tony Hotland and Kornelius Purba , The Jakarta Post , Singapore Thu, 07/24/2008 10:41 AM Headlines Singapore's restrictions on the movement of journalists covering the ASEAN annual meeting here led to several incidents, but those at the meeting were, as in previous years, preoccupied with the promises and pledges of aid from their guests. Although in previous years the colleagues of ASEAN foreign ministers from major trading partner countries usually promised more aid or offered their hosts a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) -- after scolding them for failing to stop the brutality of the Myanmar junta -- this year, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand pleased ASEAN in the U.S. way: They offered their senior diplomats as their special representatives to the regional group. Japan also promised more funds to strengthen the regional organization. ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan proudly announced here on the sidelines of the Post Ministerial Conferences that China, Japan and Australia have promised to appoint special ambassadors to the organization, describing that as a reflection of the growing power and influence of ASEAN in the international community. Washington has appointed Scot A. Marciel as its ambassador to ASEAN, on top of his main duty as deputy assistant secretary for Southeast Asian affairs. A senior Indonesian diplomat who asked not be named, because he was not authorized to speak, said New Zealand has also made similar pledge. On Wednesday, ASEAN foreign ministers held bilateral talks with their guests, including with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and ministers from Russia, China, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, North Korea, Pakistan and New Zealand. The Six Party Talks -- South Korea, North Korea, China, Japan, the United States and Russia -- were also held to discuss the North Korean nuclear issue. But journalists could not get enough information about the meetings, because the Singapore government imposed severe restrictions on their movements. Journalists were only allowed to wait in the lobby of the Shangri-La hotel and only had the opportunity to ask questions when delegates passed by. There were several incidents here during the meeting where some senior delegates were outnumbered by journalists desperate for information. A small child was nearly trampled in the media scrum, according to the Singaporean government. The Singaporean government blamed the journalists for the incident, but still did not increase access for the press. On Thursday, ASEAN will hold the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). The meeting will be attended by civilian diplomats and military personnel from the ARF members. The ASEAN meeting started Sunday and will end Thursday.