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Samakomlao -> Samakomlao Main -> General -> ASEAN leaders sign landmark charter- Soon we will have ASEAN like EU
Post Info TOPIC: ASEAN leaders sign landmark charter- Soon we will have ASEAN like EU
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ASEAN leaders sign landmark charter- Soon we will have ASEAN like EU
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SINGAPORE: ASEAN leaders meeting in Singapore have signed a landmark charter which will transform the grouping into a more effective and cohesive organisation with a rules-based governing framework.

The signing came at the end of summit talks among the bloc's 10 leaders on Tuesday.

The document sets out principles and rules for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the first time and creates a human rights body, but does not spell out what authority the body will have.

In a nutshell, the ASEAN Charter is all about giving the grouping a stronger and collective voice in the international body and ensuring plans endorsed by its leaders are effectively implemented according to timelines spelt out.

So the charter calls for the setting up of ASEAN Community Councils covering areas of political and security, economic and socio-cultural spheres.

They will ensure the implementation of decisions of the summit, coordinate the work of the different sectors and submit reports to the ministers and leaders.

The offices of the secretary general and the ASEAN secretariat have also been strengthened. There will now be four deputy secretaries general to assist the ASEAN chief.

In addition, each ASEAN member state will now appoint a permanent representative to the grouping with the rank of ambassador to be based in Jakarta.

But the provision in the ASEAN Charter, which has caught the attention of many, is the setting up an ASEAN human rights body.

While the charter does make mention of it, there are no further details as the terms of reference for the human rights body have been left to the ASEAN foreign ministers to work out.

As for resolving disputes, if a matter remains unresolved, then the charter states that it shall be referred to the ASEAN summit for its decision.

The charter also recommends that the summit be held twice annually so that leaders have more time to talk about ASEAN-related matters.

During the main summit each year, time is also set aside for discussions with the dialogue partners and the East Asia summit, leaving little time for an ASEAN family meeting.

ASEAN governments have one year to ratify the charter. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. - CNA/ir

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/312646/1/.html

 



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Anonymous

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Not all countries in europe become the member of EU, for example Sweden

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Anonymous

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Yes, you are right. Here also, Timor is not the member of ASEAN.

But EU means European Union.

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Anonymous

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What will the Charter do for ASEAN?

 

According to a report presented in The Straits Times, 8 August 2007 by Tommy Koh, Walter Woon, Andrew Tan and Chan Sze-Wei, the ASEAN Charter is a piece of paper. Without political will, it will remain only a piece of paper like so many constitutions of countries. However, with political will, the ASEAN Charter will be a living document. It has the potential to transform ASEAN into stronger, more united and effective orgasation. How will it do so?

 

First, it will make ASEAN a more rules-based organization. The “ASEAN WAY” of relying on networking, consultation, mutual accommodation and consensus will not be done away with. It will be supplemented by a new culture of adherence to rules.

 

Second, it will strengthen ASEAN’s institutions. Compared to other regional organizations, ASEAN has a deficit of strong and effective institutions capable of responding to regional challenges, such as the financial crisis of 1997, the haze and Avian flu.

 

Third, it will grow a culture of taking our obligations seriously. In the past, only about 30 percent of ASEAN’s agreements were implemented. A system of compliance of monitoring and, most importantly, a system of compulsory dispute-settlement for non-compliance that will apply to all ASEAN agreements will be put in place.

 

Fourth, it will streamline ASEAN’s cumbersome and uncoordinated organizational structure as well as its decision-making process. Each ASEAN country will appoint a Permanent Representative to ASEAN based in Jakarta. The proliferation of sectoral  ministerial meetings will be grouped into three clusters, reflecting the three pillars of ASEAN integration: economics, security and socio-cultural cooperation.

 

Fifth, the Secretariat will be empowered. The Secretary-General will be assisted by four deputy secretaries-general.

 

Sixth, the Charter will both deepen and widen the integration of ASEAN.  ASEAN has to integrate more rapidly into one economic community of 570 million people so that it could compete more effectively with other gigantic economies.

 

Seventh, the Charter will ensure that ASEAN will continue to occupy the driver’s seat in regional forums, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN+3 and the East Asia Summit.

 

Eighth, it is hope of the High Level Task Force that the Charter, its principles and objectives will resonate with the people of ASEAN, young and old, elite and humble folk, private and civil society.

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Anonymous

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It's good news, Laos soon will have its own human right. That means Laos has to be more transparent and democratic, no doubt.
 

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