The ASEAN-United States Enhanced Partnership

Highlights

Ambassador Marciel speaks on Enhanced Engagement between U.S. and Southeast Asia

On September 25, 2008, U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN affairs, Scot Marciel, addressed academics, policy analysis, and officials from the United States and Southeast Asian governments at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. Ambassador Marciel described the two main interests o the United States for the region. First, the United States wants the nations of the Southeast Asia to remain strong and independent; enjoy peace, stability, growing prosperity and greater freedom; and achieve their goals for integration. Ambassador Marciel noted that when nations are making progress in all these areas, everyone benefits, and that most U.S. assistance is devoted to helping these nations and ASEAN as a whole achieve such broadly defined success. Second, the United States is eager to work in partnership with ASEAN region on bilateral, regional and global issues, from promoting commerce to addressing climate change to combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Ambassador Marciel cited the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and State Department funded – ADVANCE program as one of many activities furthering U.S. engagement in Southeast Asia. A video of the remarks delivered by Ambassador Marciel and others at the Center for Strategic International Studies can be seen at:
http://media.csis.org/csistv/?080925_southeast_keynote1

The text of Ambassador Marciel’s speech as prepared for delivery can be read at:
www.state.gov/peap/rls/rm/200809/110494.htm

For more information, contact Andrea Richhart:
richhartai@state.gov

Secretary Rice Meets ASEAN Foreign Ministers

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Singapore Foreign Minister Yeo co-chaired the annual Post Ministerial Conference with the United States on July 23. Foreign Secretary Romulo of the Philippines, Foreign Minister Wirajuda of Indonesia, Foreign Minister Rais of Malaysia, Deputy Prime Minister Banditkul of Thailand, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Khiem of Viet Nam as well as senior officials from other ASEAN member countries attended. In her opening statement, Secretary Rice noted the many interests shared by ASEAN and the U.S. She welcomed the new ASEAN Charter with its principles of democracy, rule of law, good governance, and respect for human rights and freedom. Assuring these principles exist in Burma remains a high priority for the U.S. In other remarks, the Secretary noted that the U.S. is committed to cooperation with ASEAN. The U.S. will continue its support of the Enhanced Partnership announced by the U.S. President and ASEAN leaders in 2005, and the Plan of Action to implement it, which she signed with ASEAN Foreign Ministers in 2006. She noted that this is the last time that she will meet with ASEAN Foreign Ministers as Secretary of State, but added that the United States of America will remain committed to ASEAN and the to the future deepening of relationships between both its very important member countries and ASEAN as a maturing and increasingly integrated organization. Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo welcomed the Secretary and noted that the United States has been a pillar of stability for Southeast Asia. In addition to its long relationship with ASEAN, the U.S has provided security and promoted open markets that have helped the region develop. He noted recent developments in ASEAN-U.S. relations including trade reaching $172 billion last year, the appointment of the Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs, and the creation of the ADVANCE contract to support regional cooperative programs. The Foreign Minister cited disaster management training provided by the U.S. regarding the Incident Command System as especially important and thanked the Secretary for U.S. aid after the Indian Ocean tsunami and Cyclone Nargis without regard to political concern about Burma. Foreign Minister Yeo described the strategic issues facing the region and the role of ASEAN, ASEAN Charter, and ASEAN plans for regional integration. ASEAN hopes that the U.S> will consider accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). In conclusion, the Foreign Minister said that a strong ASEAN is in the strategic interest of the U.S. Foreign Minister Yeo’s comments were reinforced by other ASEAN senior officials who noted the role played by the U.S. in supporting stability and prosperity in the region, cited the importance of the appointment of a U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs, and expressed appreciation for programs under the U.S-ASEAN Enhanced Partnership. Copies of Secretary Rice’s statement is available at:
www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2008/07/107350.htm

U.S. Supports ASEAN Relief Efforts in Burma

When Cyclone Nargis hit Burma on May 2, ASEAN immediately began to mobilize relief for the people of Burma in the form of material contributions and by implementing the ASEAN Standby Arrangements and Standard Operating Procedures for disaster management. To facilitate assistance and work with all parties involved in relief efforts, ASEAN had to establish a fixed presence on the ground in Burma by mid-May. The USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) as well as the USAID and U.S. State Department funded -- ASEAN-US Technical Assistance and Training Facility stepped in quickly to support ASEAN in making the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force office in Rangoon operational. After a formal request from the ASEAN Secretariat, critical equipment was delivered to Rangoon within matter of days. A week later, as ASEAN sought to field its Emergency Rapid Assessment Team (ERAT), the Facility and OFDA provided the assessors and their support office with equipment and material. This timely support contributed to the successful completion of the Post Nargis Joint Assessment led by ASEAN and the United Nations. In thanking U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs, Scot Marciel, ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan said that,“ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat are being put to the test and have to succeed in this humanitarian endeavor to help our friend in need. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.” For more information, contact Tim Buehrer: tbuehrer@nathaninc.com

ASEAN Single Window Pilot Application

Funded by USAID, the ADVANCE ASEAN Single Window (ASW) program demonstrated the first component of the ASEAN Single Window on October 21, 2008 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The pilot application for exchange of Certificates of Origin was demonstrated to representative of ASEAN custom authorities and is expected to be deployed to interested ASEAN Member States by early January. The ASEAN Single Window is a key element of ASEAN’s trade facilitation strategy which is being actively supported by USAID.

ASEAN Embarks on New Era with Fully Ratified Charter

Indonesia’s ratification of the charter on October 21, 2008 means that all ten ASEAN Member States have taken the internal steps necessary to make the charter effective. ASEAN Secretary-General, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, heartily welcomed ratification of the charter by the Indonesian House of Representatives as assuring the entry into force of the Charter before the end of 2008. Dr. Surin affirmed that "history was made when the ASEAN Leaders signed the charter on the 20th of November 2007. When they next meet at the 14th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in December 2008, the Leaders will be able to toast to a new ASEAN era.” He added, “We in ASEAN thank Indonesia and all other ASEAN Member States for their support for and expeditious ratification of the charter.” Indonesia was the final member state to ratify the charter. On October 8, the Philippine Senate approved ratification with only one dissenting vote and Thailand has ratified the charter, though enabling legislation passed by the Thai parliament in September is awaiting signature by the King. The ASEAN Charter will enter into force on the 30th day after all member states submit their instruments of ratification to the ASEAN Secretary-General. Seven member states have done so, and Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand are expected to do so shortly. ASEAN is hoping that the charter will enter into force before the ASEAN Summit in Thailand in December. “ASEAN will be a rules-based, people-oriented and more integrated entity. After the formal entry into force of the Charter, our community-building will shift to a higher gear with full steam forward.” Dr. Surin added, "Given the current financial turmoil around the world, a real prospect of a more integrated and solid ASEAN will be welcomed by the international community." Dr. Surin thanked ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners for their faith and confidence in ASEAN and its people. After the United States appointed Scot Marciel to be the U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan announced that they were appointing ambassadors to work with the ASEAN Secretary-General and the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. “These appointments demonstrate the confidence and goodwill of these countries for ASEAN and its peoples. We certainly appreciate their gesture of goodwill and we expect more Dialogue Partners to follow their lead," said Dr. Surin. For more information contact ASEAN’s Public Information Officer, Linda Lee: Linda@asean.org

Upcoming Events

November 25-26 - 11th ASEAN Center for Energy (ACE) Governing Council Meeting & Special Senior Officials Meeting on Energy in Thailand

December 1-4 - 3rd Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Malaysia

December 4-5 - ASEAN-U.S. Informal Coordinating Mechanism in Singapore

December 4-6 - ASEAN Regional Forum Inter-Sessional Meeting on Disaster Management in Banda Aceh, Indonesia

December 18-19 - ASEAN Consultative Meeting on Regional Cooperation in Pandemic Preparedness and Response in Indonesia