Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANDARSERIBEGAWAN622
2006-12-07 06:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Cable title:  

EPG RECOMMENDS DISCIPLINARY MECHANISMS IN ASEAN

Tags:  PREL ASEAN BX XE 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHDT RUEHPB
DE RUEHBD #0622 3410649
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 070649Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3642
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000622 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2016
TAGS: PREL ASEAN BX XE
SUBJECT: EPG RECOMMENDS DISCIPLINARY MECHANISMS IN ASEAN
CHARTER

REF: (A) MANILA 4855 (B) BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 609

Classified By: Ambassador Emil Skodon, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000622

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2016
TAGS: PREL ASEAN BX XE
SUBJECT: EPG RECOMMENDS DISCIPLINARY MECHANISMS IN ASEAN
CHARTER

REF: (A) MANILA 4855 (B) BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 609

Classified By: Ambassador Emil Skodon, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) According to a local ASEAN diplomat, the ASEAN
Eminent Persons Group (EPG) which met recently in Brunei (Ref
B) included among its recommendations for the ASEAN Charter a
proposal for monitoring and disciplining the adherence of
ASEAN members to the organization's policy decisions and
agreed timelines. The EPG's stated rationale was a desire to
ensure development of a "culture of commitment" within ASEAN.


2. (C) The EPG reportedly recommended that the charter
establish intra-ASEAN dispute settlement mechanisms for all
fields of ASEAN cooperation along with disciplinary measures
in the case of a serious breach of important ASEAN
objectives, principles, or commitments. One ASEAN diplomatic
colleague told us the word "sanctions" was not used but the
allusion was clear. The EPG proposed that such sanctions
include the suspension of membership and, in extreme cases,
expulsion from ASEAN.


3. (C) Comment: The EPG recommendation does not directly
address ASEAN's long-cherished principle of non-interference
in the internal affairs of its members. If ultimately
adopted in the ASEAN Charter, however, it would at least open
the possibility of giving some much-needed teeth to ASEAN's
collective agreements, including those related to arguably
domestic issues such as controlling forest fires in Indonesia
that produce regional pollution or rectifying a political
situation in Burma that contributes to regional instability.
End Comment.
SKODON