Introduction

1.             Let me extend a warm welcome to the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN, and also our foreign guests from Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste, at this opening of the 41^st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, Post Ministerial Conferences and the 15^th ASEAN Regional Forum.

2.             ASEAN has had an eventful year.  Singapore�s Chairmanship coincided with the 40^th anniversary of ASEAN.  This was the occasion of major celebrations across all member countries, which have helped to bring ASEAN closer to our people.  The more our populations understand that ASEAN is relevant to their well-being, the deeper will be their sense of belonging and community, and the more we will be able to achieve in our integration efforts. 

Singapore�s Chairmanship

3.             Now Singapore�s term as Chair is ending.  We have done our best to work with other ASEAN members to put in place processes that will enable successive Chairs to continue to move ASEAN forward.  At this ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, the baton will pass to Thailand.

4.             Two events during Singa­pore�s chairmanship stood out which, I believe, will define ASEAN in the years ahead.   The first was ASEAN�s response after Cyclone Nargis struck Southern Myanmar in May.  The crisis tested ASEAN�s unity.  It forced us to consider what ASEAN meant to Myanmar, and in turn what Myanmar meant to the group.  Fortunately ASEAN responded.  All ten members recognised the responsibilities and obligations of membership. Just as we could not ignore political developments in Myanmar, neither could we stand aside from this humanitarian crisis when so many lives had been lost and many more remained at risk. 

5.             The outcome was a positive one � a realistic and meaningful ASEAN-led process to facilitate an international humanitarian assistance effort.  While many difficulties still lie ahead, ASEAN played an important role in bridging the gap of trust between the Myanmar government and international organisations like the United Nations and World Bank.  ASEAN facilitated the flow of emergency aid to the disaster victims. This tripartite effort between ASEAN, the government of Myanmar and the UN is far from perfect.  But the situation is clearly better than if ASEAN had not intervened to persuade Myanmar to cooperate with the international community.  The Post-Nargis Joint Assessment Report which will be released later today will show that ASEAN had indeed made a contribution.

6.             While the immediate crisis has passed, much remains to be done to sustain recovery and rehabilitation.  The scale of the devastation in the Irrawaddy Delta is immense.  Only the international community will have the capacity for this long-term reconstruction work.  ASEAN therefore welcomes Myanmar�s willingness to continue with the tripartite cooperation.  So long as Myanmar sees a role for ASEAN, we will continue to do our part to foster greater trust and cooperation between the international community and the Myanmar government. 

7.             The other milestone event took place earlier in November last year when we signed the ASEAN Charter.  The Charter creates the institutional framework to make ASEAN a more effective and cohesive organisation, and to realise our vision of a vibrant ASEAN Community. 

8.             One important aspect of this is a rules-based governing framework to improve our record of implementation, which unfortunately has been patchy.  By the tally of our own officials, only about 30 per cent of ASEAN's agreements and commitments have been honoured and implemented.  Hence, it was not surprising that ASEAN did not respond effectively during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.  Today, the global financial system is again facing serious difficulties, because of the problems in the US.  The international trading system is also under stress, with the Doha Round struggling to make progress.  If another test comes, ASEAN must not be found wanting again.

9.             The timely ratification and implementation of the Charter will itself be a signal of ASEAN's resolve.  The internal processes of member countries are different and some will be more difficult than others.  However, the pace of ASEAN integration should not be set by its slowest members, or else all will be held back by the problems of a few.  Hence, ASEAN has decided to press on with the Charter�s implementation without waiting for all ten members to ratify.  At this Ministerial Meeting, ASEAN will start work on two key areas in the Charter � the dispute settlement mechanism and the ASEAN Human Rights Body.  We are also strengthening the ASEAN Secretariat in order to monitor the implementation of agreements and compliance from ASEAN countries.

Keeping ASEAN Relevant

10.        While we work to strengthen ASEAN, we should also not lose sight of our place in the evolving regional and international landscape. 

11.        In recent years, the broader strategic environment has been favourable to Asia. The US continues to exert a decisive benign influence, as the dominant economic and military power in the region.  Within the region, relations among all the key players � China, India and Japan � are stable.  Tensions in potential flashpoints are also easing.  Cross-strait relations are on an upturn following the election of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou.  North Korea�s submission of its nuclear programme declaration has led to the resumption of the Six-Party Talks after a hiatus of nine months.  Singa­pore is privileged to host the first meeting of the foreign ministers of the six countries, on the sidelines of the ARF.

12.        These developments are good for Asia, but they carry broader implications for ASEAN as an organisation.  Because of longstanding tensions and rivalries between the major Asian powers, ASEAN could play a useful role as a neutral platform for regional interactions.  But major power relations are improving, and alternative platforms are emerging, like the Six-Party mechanism and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.  The leaders of China, Japan and South Korea are arranging to hold a trilateral Summit in Japan this September, the first outside an ASEAN setting.  ASEAN cannot take its continued relevance for granted.  If our efforts to achieve faster and deeper integration falter, ASEAN may well be sidelined. 

13.        ASEAN countries generally recognise the need to work together as a group, but there are immediate issues to manage.  Last week, tensions suddenly erupted between Cambodia and Thailand. The situation has escalated dangerously, with troops from both sides faced off on disputed territory near the Preah Vihear temple.  ASEAN could not stand idly by without damaging its credibility.  Last night, the Foreign Ministers discussed this issue.  They secured assurances from Cambodia and Thailand that both sides would exercise utmost restraint and abide by international obligations to resolve the issue amicably.  More importantly, they agreed to place ASEAN�s facilities at the disposal of Cambodia and Thailand, should this be needed for an early resolution to the issue.  This reflects a growing sense that ASEAN is no longer just a �talk-shop�, but a maturing community of nations prepared to act to advance its collective interests.

14.        Besides cross-border issues, several countries are also pre-occupied with pressing domestic concerns.  Thailand and Malaysia have held elections in the last year, but both are still managing unsettled political situations.  General elections will be held next year in Indonesia and in 2010 in the Philippines.  Inevitably, there will be times when some members place higher priority on their own domestic agendas.  But as a region it is vital that we continue to move forward on ASEAN cooperation and integration, even if the pace may sometimes vary.

15.        To support these integration efforts, I am pleased to announce the establishment of an ASEAN Studies Centre within the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) in Singapore.  The Centre will work closely with the ASEAN Secretariat to undertake policy research on ASEAN. It will look at measures to help the organisation grow new capabilities, strengthen its institutions, and enhance cooperation among its members.

16.        By presenting ourselves coherently, ASEAN will be courted by the major powers as an economic partner, and valued as an effective platform for cooperation on larger regional and global issues.  We must achieve this, so that ASEAN will get onto a virtuous cycle of growing prosperity and constructive engagement with our external partners. 

Conclusion

17.        Singapore�s Chairmanship is ending.  But the ASEAN project is just taking off.  Our founding fathers had the foresight and wisdom to establish ASEAN in 1967.  Over the last 40 years, ASEAN has helped to maintain peace and stability in a complex and diverse region.  Our circumstances today may differ, but our destinies remain intertwined.  Let us continue to build an integrated ASEAN Community that will fulfil the aspirations and dreams of our people.