RESULTS OF RECENT ASEAN SUMMIT IN STEP WITH GVN'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000128 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL VM SUBJECT: RESULTS OF RECENT ASEAN SUMMIT IN STEP WITH GVN'S PRIORITIES HANOI 00000128 001.2 OF 002 Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On January 18, MFA ASEAN Department Deputy Director Vu Ho briefed Poloff on the recently concluded ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Cebu. For the GVN, key accomplishments were progress on establishing an ASEAN community and adopting an ASEAN charter, the ASEAN Counterterrorism Convention and the statement on the protection of migrant workers. Concerning Burma, the GVN supports the ASEAN approach, but maintains its non-interference policy. The main priority of the East Asia Summit was energy security, while the content of other multilateral and bilateral meetings was short on substantive results. End summary. ASEAN Community -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Vu Ho highlighted five areas in which substantial progress was made during the ASEAN Summit. First, concerning the establishment of an ASEAN Community, the deadline has been moved ahead five years, and 2015 is now the target for creating a regional community based on three pillars: security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation. There is a threefold reason for the accelerated timetable: to increase ASEAN countries' competitiveness in the global market more quickly; to address the fast rise of India and China; and to advance the integration of the ASEAN economies. ASEAN Charter -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The second major outcome of the summit was the decision to complete an ASEAN charter by the end of 2007 with the aim of strengthening cooperation among the member states, the Deputy Director continued. A high-level task force will be assembled to complete the work in time for approval by national leaders at the next ASEAN Summit. Vu Ho identified three key issues that remain unresolved. First, concerning decision-making within the organization, the current consensus basis will be replaced by a more flexible "tier" system that will allow members to opt out of ASEAN policies that they do not support. Second, for the first time, the ASEAN charter will include a mechanism for sanctions and expulsion of members. Vu Ho acknowledged that this would be difficult to formulate as the organization does not currently have a procedure for expelling member states. The remaining issue involves operational details such as how the organization's secretariat will operate and terms and conditions for future expansion. Counterterrorism -------------- ¶4. (SBU) According to Vu Ho, the ASEAN Counterterrorism Convention (CT Convention) was an initiative of the Philippines and Indonesia. The idea was first raised at the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting in August, and the CT Convention was drafted quickly in November at an experts' working group meeting in Bali. It borrows heavily from a number of UN Counterterrorism Conventions and is a first step towards building the ASEAN security community envisaged in the Vientiane Action Plan. Its purpose is to provide a framework for ASEAN to deal with terrorism in the region and included 13-14 cooperative measures. Concerning the prospects for ratification by the National Assembly, the Deputy Director said the GVN views the CT Convention favorably, and following a review by Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security, the convention will be submitted to the National Assembly during its spring 2007 session for ratification. Migrant Workers Protection -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The ASEAN statement on the protection of migrant workers was supported by the GVN, especially the provisions addressing the rights of migrant workers with families, migrant workers who have lost their identity papers and migrant workers who are victims of natural disasters. Our contact said the basic principle of the statement is respect for human dignity. Finally, there was an ASEAN statement on a "sharing and caring society" that encourages more people-to-people contacts, especially among youth and the elderly. Burma -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The ASEAN approach to the situation in Burma was the subject of "intensive talks," according to Vu Ho. While he said the GVN does not support "interference" in the internal affairs of another country, the GVN agrees with the ASEAN approach to encourage changes in the situation in Burma, with the hope that Burma will continue on a path toward a better future for its people. While Burma's fate should be decided by the Burmese people, the GVN also agreed with the approach of encouraging Burma to work with the international community in the interest of reconciliation. Finally, HANOI 00000128 002.2 OF 002 Vu Ho said ASEAN will "assist" Burma to achieve it goal. While reaching agreement on a Burma statement was difficult at the ASEAN ministerial meeting in July, the language in the ASEAN Summit chairman's statement was the choice of the host country and not subject to negotiation, Vu Ho explained. EAS, ASEAN Plus One Meetings -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Concerning the East Asia Summit (EAS),Vu Ho noted that the main priority and focus of attention was energy security. He characterized the EAS statement expressing concern about the DPRK's nuclear test as "routine, rather than a breakthrough in this matter." In his view, it was adopted perfunctorily, after which the group moved on to other matters. As to the formation of an East Asia Community, Vu Ho said serious discussion will have to await the third or fourth EAS. ¶8. (SBU) As for the ASEAN Plus One meetings with China, Japan, South Korea and India, Vu Ho indicated there were no tangible results. Because of the October ASEAN-China Summit in Nanning, there was little new business to conduct, and meetings involving China were mostly ceremonial and aimed at confirming the agreements reached at Nanning. In addition, Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dzung had a courtesy call on his Indian counterpart, their first meeting. Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem met with both his Indian and South Korean counterparts to discuss regional cooperation. There was also a Cambodia-Laos-Burma-Vietnam summit meeting, at the initiative of the Laotians, held because of the lack of occasions for these leaders to meet as a group. The Japanese Foreign Minister met with this group, but without any concrete result, according to Vu Ho. MARINE