Singapore ratifies new ASEAN charter

JAKARTA, Jan 7, 2008 (AFP) — Singapore became the first ASEAN member on Monday to formally complete its ratification of the political and economic group's new landmark charter aimed at transforming the bloc.

Singapore handed over its "instrument of ratification" to former Thai foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan, who accepted it in his first official act as secretary general at the ASEAN secretariat in the Indonesian capital.

Surin assumed the top post at the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, taking over from Singapore's Ong Keng Yong, during the same ceremony.

"The charter is a crucial milestone in ASEAN's history," Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo said in a letter to Surin, referring to the pact signed by members in November last year.

"It is crucial that we maintain the momentum in taking ASEAN into its next phase of development," he added.

The charter aims to commit the region's disparate nations to promote human rights and democratic ideals and sets out the principles and rules for members.

It also transforms ASEAN, 40 years after its creation, into a legal entity, which will give the group greater clout in international negotiations.

The charter was the result of a long, controversial drafting process that saw some of the strong recommendations from ASEAN elder statesmen watered down or dropped, including provisions on member sanctions and expulsion.

However, the charter commits ASEAN members "to strengthen democracy, enhance good governance and the rule of law, and to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms."

It also requires members to keep the region free of nuclear weapons, ease poverty, protect the environment and work toward an integrated market that allows for free flow of goods, services, investments and professionals.

"I think it's going to be good news all over ASEAN and all over the international community that a member of ASEAN has already committed itself to the... charter," Surin told a press briefing after the ceremony.

He said that he would be lobbying leaders of other members to join Singapore and had already had an audience in Hanoi where he made his "first appeal to an ASEAN leader".

Surin said ASEAN wanted to celebrate adopting the charter in November in Thailand in the same place outside the resort town of Pattaya where the bloc's original declaration was signed in 1967.

"They want to repeat that august gathering, but this time it will be 10 countries rather than five," he said.

The charter will come into effect 30 days after the 10th member informs ASEAN that it has been ratified domestically.

ASEAN's original five members were Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam joined later.