Friday, February 25, 2011

Insight : A victory for ASEAN [-Not so fast!]

Thu, 02/24/2011
Rizal Sukma, Jakarta
The Jakarta Post

Where there is a will there is a way. Cambodia and Thailand have proven the universal applicability of this old saying when, on Tuesday, they reiterated their commitment to resolve their ongoing border dispute over the area surrounding the Preah Vhear temple through peaceful means.

After weeks of diplomatic efforts and with goodwill from all members of ASEAN, Cambodia and Thailand agreed to avoid further clashes by inviting Indonesia, as ASEAN’s current chair, to send observers to both sides of the border and engage in subsequent bilateral negotiations to find a permanent solution to the dispute.

The agreement, reached at an informal meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers chaired by Indonesia in Jakarta on Tuesday, clearly deserves special and full appreciation. It should be welcomed as a historic moment for ASEAN, in the words of ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan.

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