RESTRICTED
030156 MDLIAN 0709
THESE ISSUES. COMING ONLY SIX MONTHS AFTER THE MANILA ASEAN SUMMIT, THIS MEETING LEFT THE MINISTERS LITTLE ELSE OF SUBSTANCE TO DISCUSS (THE POST-MEETING PRESS CONFERENCE ATTRACTED REMARKABLY LITTLE PRESS ATTENTION HERE). OTHER ISSUES OF INTEREST ARE REPORTED
BELOW.
ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO THE PHILIPPINES
11
4.
IN HIS OPENING STATEMEMT, PHILIPPINES FM MANGLAPUS EMPHASISED THE NECESSITY FOR THE PHILIPPINES TO GENERATE NEW FUNDS TO MEET ITS DEBT-SERVICING OBLIGATIONS AND EXPRESSED SPECIAL THANKS TO SINGAPORE FM DHANABALAN FOR HIS EFFORTS TO MOBILISE INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FINAL COMMUNIQUE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE EFFORTS OF THE PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT TO REVITALISE THE ECONOMY, AND CALLED UPON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IITO CONSIDER THE IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF A POLYSECTORAL PROGRAMME FOR ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE OFFICIALS COMMENTED THAT ASEAN FMS WOULD RAISE THIS ISSUE INFORMALLY WITH ASEAN DIALOGUE PARTNERS IN THE POST MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE WHICH WILL BE HELD FOR THE REST OF THIS WEEK. IN PRESS INTERVIEWS BEFORE THE AMM, THAI OFFICIALS WERE AT PAINS TO POINT OUT THAT THIS ASEAN INITIATIVE TO MOBILISE HELP FOR THE PHILIPPINES SHOULD IN NO WAY BE SEEN AS ERODING THE PRINCIPLE OF NON-INTERFERENCE BY ASEAN
MEMBERS IN EACH OTHERS' INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ISSUES
5. THE JOINT COMMUNIQUE EXPRESSED FAMILIAR CONCERNS ABOUT DEBT, PROTECTIONISM AND COMMODITIES. IT NOTED THAT ASEAN ECONOMIC CONCERNS HAD BEEN OUTLINED IN A MEMORANDUM PRESENTED TO THE TORONTO S UM MIT AND WELCOMED THE DESIRE EXPRESSED AT THE TORONTO SUMMIT TO ACHIEVE SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS ON THE URUGUAY ROUND MID-TERM REVIEW IN DECEMBER, AND THE TORONTO SUMMIT'S SUPPORT OF A FRAMEWORK APPROACH TO ELIMINATE SUBSIDIES AND OTHER MEASURES AFFECTING
AGRICULTURAL TRADE.
·
INTRA-ASEAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION
6.
PRONOUNCEMENTS ON THIS SUBJECT WERE LARGELY CEREMONIAL, AND A MOUNTED TO A RE-AFFIRMATION OF THE VARIOUS AGREEMENTS REACHED AT THE MANILA SUMMIT. THE COMMUNIQUE WELCOMED THE PROGRESS THAT HAD BEEN MADE TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING IMPROVED PREFERENTIAL TRADING ARRANGEMENTS AND INDUSTRIAL JOINT VENTURES IN THE RELEVANT SECTORAL A SEAN COMMITTEES, BUT DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY SPECIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS.
2
PAGE RESTRICTED