Transcript of Reply by Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo to questions in Parliament, 17 September 2007

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION

Dr Fatimah Lateef: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) in light of Singapore assuming the chairmanship of ASEAN for the next 12 months, what will be our focus and strategies; (b) whether he will provide an update on the process of ASEAN integration, with regard to recent views that the pace of ASEAN integration should not be set by the slowest members; and (c) whether he will provide an update on the drafting of the ASEAN Charter.

REPLY:

Mr Speaker Sir,

1 Singapore assumed the Chairmanship of ASEAN at the end of July and will remain in the seat for a year until July next year. We have a full agenda ahead of us. Foremost is the signing of the ASEAN Charter at the Summit in Singapore this November. We also expect the Leaders then to endorse a Blueprint with clear roadmaps for establishing the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015. Similar blueprints for the Security and Socio-Cultural Communities will be initiated during our Chairmanship, to be ready by the next Summit towards the end of next year.

2 The environment and climate change are also high up on our agenda. For the ASEAN and the East Asia Summits, the theme will be "Energy, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development". We will be initiating practical cooperation projects that can help mitigate some of the effects of environmental degradation in our region and contribute to the global debate on climate change, particularly preparations for the 13th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bali in December this year.

3 We will also work to improve ASEAN's engagement of its Dialogue Partners. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of ASEAN's dialogue relations with the EU and the US, special summits will be held with the EU in November this year and with the US early next year. We will also mark the 10th anniversary of the ASEAN+3 process, which has significantly improved ASEAN's cooperation with China, Japan and Korea. In addition, we will do a review of the ASEAN Regional Forum and see how we can take it to a higher level.

4 Not all issues on our agenda can be resolved within a year. Some should be considered as work in process for which we should add value during our watch. Integration, for example, is a long-term objective. The establishment of the Charter is a major milestone in the ASEAN journey. As we had worked in the past year with the Philippines, the previous Chair, we will work with the Thais, the incoming Chair, to ensure continuity and commonality of purpose.

5 Mr Speaker, Sir, ASEAN has made good progress in its integration efforts because the Leaders share a common view that each of us is better off with a strong ASEAN than without. We have to respond to the rise of China on one side, and India on the other. Greater integration will enhance our competitiveness and strengthen our negotiating position.

6 Yet, ASEAN, however integrated, will not become a union like the EU. We are too diverse in our history, culture and economic development for this to be possible. Recognising this reality, there is a consensus within ASEAN that the pace of integration should not always be determined by the lowest common denominator or the slowest member. Let's move quickly where we can in a practical way. Members who are ready to move first in particular areas should be free to do so, provided the door is left open for others to join when they are ready. We have therefore built in flexibilities for the newer ASEAN members when setting targets, such as the ASEAN-X and the 2+X provisions. Examples of such an approach are the Air Cargo Rights Agreement, the Framework Agreement on Services and the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement.

7 The Charter will be a key instrument in ASEAN's integration efforts. It will make ASEAN a more effective and rules-based organisation. Dr Lateef asked for an update on the drafting of the ASEAN Charter. It is at an advanced stage. The High Level Task Force met last week and will present the final draft to the Foreign Ministers at our coming meeting at the end of this month in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Barring last-minute surprises, we should be able to complete the Charter in time for the Singapore Summit in November. As there is an agreement not to complicate negotiations by revealing details of the Charter at this stage, I ask for Members' indulgence not to be pressed on this.

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Supplementary Question No. 1:

Mdm Halimah Yacob: I do not intend to press the Minister on the specifics of the Charter but I would just like to ask the Minister when he said that the Charter will result in a more rules-based ASEAN, what does that really mean? Because in the same breath, he also said that it will not be akin to the EU with its own sets or common sets of regulations and rules. Does it mean that having the Charter being more rules-based will make it easier for us to resolve common areas of problems such as the haze for instance? Thank you, Sir.

REPLY:

Mr Speaker Sir,

A key element in the Charter will be the establishment of dispute settlement mechanisms, which means that when disputes arise as to the interpretation or implementation of agreements, they will be referred to independent panels who will then rule one way or the other to adjudicate.

When a pattern of such judgements are made, an ASEAN jurisprudence will gradually develop, it will then be very important for countries to ensure that when agreements are made, that lawyers look at those agreements to anticipate how judgements will be made when there are disputes. So this will make ASEAN a more rules-based and hopefully a more predictable organisation.

When I said that we will not become like the EU, it is in the degree of our integration. The EU has its European Court and a European Parliament which legislates on behalf of the whole union. We do not anticipate such developments for ASEAN.

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