Remarks to the media by Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo following the ASEAN FMs' retreat on 11 April 2005 in Cebu, Philippines

East Asia Summit (EAS)

"ASEAN has agreed that the first EAS in KL at the end of the year will involve ASEAN, the +3 countries (China, Japan and Korea) as well as countries that fulfil certain criteria. These criteria are:

• Substantive relations with ASEAN

• Full Dialogue Partner status

• Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC)

India obviously qualifies on all 3 counts and it will be included in the first EAS. We hope that Australia and New Zealand, which presently have not acceded to the TAC, will agree to the TAC in the coming months. If so, we would welcome them to the EAS in KL.

The Foreign Ministers will decide upon and formalize the membership of the first EAS during the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane in July.

The FMs also agreed that ASEAN alone will decide the future members of all subsequent EASs. This is to ensure that ASEAN remains in the drivers' seat of the EAS process.

Myanmar's Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2006

This issue was discussed during an extended coffee break. It was conducted as an intimate and private discussion among close family members on a sensitive matter.

ASEAN ministers expressed their frank views on the issue. We re-affirmed that ASEAN cannot interfere in the domestic affairs of Myanmar. Indeed, whatever steps Myanmar decides to take, it will be the Myanmars themselves who will bear the consequences, be they good or bad. On ASEAN's part, there is great reluctance to take away Myanmar's Chairmanship as this will set a bad precedent. However, ASEAN is in danger of being dragged into Myanmar's internal politics because of the Chairmanship issue which in turn could complicate Myanmar's internal political situation. It would be best to decouple the 2 issues.

The Myanmar Foreign Minister listened carefully and said that he would convey these views back to Yangon. We realise that this is a tough decision for Myanmar to make. We hope that the Myanmars would make the decision on this soon.

I am not unhopeful. During PM Lee's recent visit to Myanmar, he had met with the top Myanmar leadership. They had expressed to PM Lee that Myanmar was not a "selfish" country and would take into account ASEAN's views and consider ASEAN's interests.

ASEAN Charter

The Foreign Ministers agreed that the establishment of the ASEAN Charter was an important process that needed top-down leadership. They decided that the ASEAN Charter could be guided by an Eminent Persons Group, which could comprise distinguished personalities such as Ali Alatas and Anand Panyarachun. These people have seen ASEAN evolve and know what the challenges are. The EPG would take a long-term view and come up with recommendations for the ASEAN leaders to consider." 

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
11 APRIL 2005