Transcript of Minister George Yeo’s Doorstop Interview with Singapore Journalists at the Asean Foreign Ministers ' Retreat, 20 April 2006, Ubud, Bali

Minister George Yeo: The Ministers spoke lengthily and in a heartfelt way. No decisions were made on Myanmar. Syed Hamid briefed us on his recent visit to Yangon. He did not meet some of the people that he asked to meet. The visit was not quite satisfactory and this point was emphatically conveyed to the Myanmar Foreign Minister. Some of us felt that given the complexity of their domestic situation, it may be better if we take a step back and give the Myanmar people more space to resolve the internal problems and to achieve national reconciliation. The others felt that this would be too standoffish and that where we could, we should try to engage them and help them move forward, to the extent that this is within our power. We noted the successful visit of the Indonesian President to Myanmar, just before Syed Hamid's visit and the willingness of the Indonesians to be of assistance to the Myanmar government. No particular decision was taken. We appealed to the Myanmar Foreign Minister to be more forthcoming. We reiterated the ASEAN position that they should keep to their roadmap to democracy and to release Aung San Suu Kyi. It was a good meeting on Myanmar and we said the things that we had to say.

On the East Asia Summit (EAS), it's become very clear to all of us that this is a new grouping with importance to the future of Asia. It's important for ASEAN to stay in the driver's seat and when the Leaders expressed the desire that it be a Leaders' led summit, the Foreign Ministers felt that it should be an ASEAN Leaders-led summit and we should think of ways to operationalise this. And this is not arrogance. In fact this is the position which is most comfortable to all the participants, that if ASEAN is in the driver's seat then everybody can be relaxed that the vehicle won't be driven in a strange direction. We talked about the importance of ASEAN helping to develop the agenda and it gaining momentum.

We discussed also whether we should expand the membership of the EAS. Many points of views were expressed. Some of us felt that it is best if there was a moratorium on membership, at least for the next few years while we deepen the agenda of the meeting and develop some confidence. We are fully aware of the importance of the re-emergence of China and India on the global stage and for ASEAN to make sure that in this new Asia, we have a good position, we provide a bridge, and that we safeguard interest of our peoples.

We welcomed the interest of the French in acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) and asked officials to look at how we can do this in a ceremonial way -- whether this should be done when the Foreign Ministers meet in Kuala Lumpur in July or whether it should be done in a more emphatic way when the Leaders meet in Cebu. But the officials will now discuss how this should best be done but we welcome warmly the decision by the French government to accede to the TAC.

On the whole it was a very good meeting. Syed Hamid chaired the retreat in a very relaxed and effortless way, enabling all of us to speak without feeling hurried or under pressure, and Pak Hassan provided a setting which was very difficult to equal. So even as we spoke, it was as if the insects around us were in full attention.

Q: What was the reaction of the Myanmar Minister when Syed Hamid reported on the trip?

He listened very seriously and said that he would report back to Yangon the views expressed by the Ministers. He did not try to counter what we said, but he expressed hope that we would continue to act in solidarity with Myanmar and understand the difficulties that they face. Their problem is this, that every time ASEAN is involved, ASEAN becomes politicised internally. This creates unnecessary complications.

Q: Has Syed Hamid tabled a report on that, or is he very angry about this, or was there just a verbal discussion?

Oh no, Syed Hamid is ever the diplomat. He showed no anger. He said there were positive developments in Myanmar which the Myanmar government should do a better job of publicising. It was very balanced.

Q: Was the question of ASEAN integration on the agenda this time round?

Very much. We had good interactions, running slightly over an hour with the Eminent Persons' Group (EPG). There was a collective impatience at the speed at which ASEAN was moving. There was a strong wish expressed by all of us that the Secretariat should be strengthened, follow-up should be improved, and that we need a stronger structure and better mechanisms to achieve our internal coordination. We are awaiting eagerly the report of the EPG. We encouraged them to give proposals outside the box, and we said, look, we are quite prepared to be shocked by their proposals, and we welcome ideas which are bold and visionary in the words of our leaders. I would say that the momentum is there, and I suspect that by the time we meet in Cebu some decisions will be taken.

Q: Is there a roadmap, or is this premature?

It's a little premature because the EPG have had 3 meetings. They will be going to the EU, some of them, in order to understand more deeply the history of European integration and to see where in that history we can draw lessons, both positive and negative lessons for ourselves. I would say that among them there is good camaraderie and a sense that they are collectively involved in proposing ideas which would have far-reaching importance for the future of ASEAN. There was also a strong feeling that national parliaments should increasingly be drawn into the decision-making process so they can be supportive of what ASEAN means to the man in street.

Q: Is the common currency still far down the road?

That was not discussed.

Q: Is there a deadline for the Charter?

Well, the EPG will put up their report to the Leaders in Cebu at the end of the year. Next year the meeting will be in Singapore. There is the hope that by next year the Charter can be drawn up. I am not sure if it can be drawn up so quickly. If it can be, to have it drawn up and approved on the 40th Anniversary of ASEAN, would be a very good birthday present and auspicious. Thank you.

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