ASEAN Leaders Sign ASEAN Charter - The Official Media Release by ASEAN

Well, one development can be that if consensus cannot be achieved the matter can be referred to the ASEAN Summit (happens 2 times a year) for a decision. Maybe, after this there will be an ASEAN position on Burma, the happenings in Southern Thailand, etc... Before this, the biggest FLAW in ASEAN was that the decision making is by way of consensus - and as such even when there is a gross human rights violations in one of the member states of ASEAN, there can never be a consensus and as such ASEAN cannot make a stance or take a position. Likewise, when it comes to trade agreements, like the WTO - ASEAN could not take a collective position. Now, it is permissible for "ASEAN minus X" but that also depends on consensus. Will it work. To be an effective regional grouping - it must be able to also act as such where it matters. Interestingly, the signing of the ASEAN Charter by the ASEAN leaders of the 10 ASEAN member states will not bring the Charter into force --- (only a P.R. exercise after all ????) -- it comes into force only after all ten(10) member state sign and submit their "instrument of ratification". ........ "After its signing, the Charter will have to be ratified (or formally accepted to be bound) in every Member State. It will come into force on the 30th day after the deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification (or instrument of acceptance) with the Secretary-General of ASEAN." Media Release ASEAN Leaders Sign ASEAN Charter

Singapore, 20 November 2007 The ASEAN Charter was signed today, 20 November 2007, by the Leaders of the 10 ASEAN Member States at the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore. It comes as ASEAN celebrates its 40th anniversary of its founding in 1967. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ASEAN CHARTER For the first time after 40 years of regional cooperation, ASEAN Member States have codified organic Southeast Asian diplomacy, listed key principles and purposes of ASEAN. The Charter represents a momentous occasion for ASEAN Member States to reiterate their commitment to community-building in ASEAN, as can be seen in the Preamble, and to reposition ASEAN to better meet challenges of the 21st century with new and improved ASEAN structure, as shown in Chapter IV. ASEAN Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong says that “the ASEAN Charter will serve the organisation well in three interrelated ways, such as, formally accord ASEAN legal personality, establish greater institutional accountability and compliance system, and reinforce the perception of ASEAN as a serious regional player in the future of the Asia Pacific region”. HISTORIC AGREEMENT The ASEAN Charter is, therefore, an historic agreement among the ten Member States to establish the legal and institutional framework for ASEAN as the premier inter-governmental organization of the region. There are 13 Chapters, 55 Articles, and 4 annexes in the ASEAN Charter. It was drafted by the High Level Task Force on the Drafting of the ASEAN Charter, consisting of one representative from each of the 10 Member States. After its signing, the Charter will have to be ratified (or formally accepted to be bound) in every Member State. It will come into force on the 30th day after the deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification (or instrument of acceptance) with the Secretary-General of ASEAN. After that, the Charter will be registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations. PEOPLE-ORIENTED ASEAN ASEAN is moving from being State-centric to be more people-oriented. At least 10 of the 15 stated purposes of ASEAN in Chapter I concern the livelihood and well-being of peoples in ASEAN. DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS Adherence to democratic values, and respects for human rights and fundamental freedoms are stipulated in three separate places in the Charter : the Preamble, the Purposes, and the Principles. This is to emphasize that all ASEAN Member States share the same aspiration and common desire to promote democracy, human rights, fundamental freedoms, rule of law, and good governance. ASEAN Human Rights Body The Charter calls for the establishment of an ASEAN human rights body as a new organ of ASEAN. This is a new and important commitment in ASEAN as far as promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of peoples in ASEAN are concerned. The terms of reference for the ASEAN human rights body shall be determined by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting. ADDITIONAL PRINCIPLES The Charter includes these two among the key principles of ASEAN : “shared commitment and collective responsibility in enhancing regional peace, security and prosperity“ and “enhanced consultations on matters seriously affecting the common interest of ASEAN”. LEGAL PERSONALITY In Chapter II, ASEAN Member States confer on ASEAN a legal personality, which is separate from theirs. Details of what ASEAN can or cannot do with its legal personality will be discussed and stated in a supplementary protocol after the signing of the Charter. MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA The membership criteria are stated in Chapter III, Article 6. IMPROVED STRUCTURE There are interesting institutional changes that the ASEAN Charter will bring about include. See details in the attachment. Essentially, the improved structure will enable ASEAN to improve coordination, ensure prompt implementation of decisions and agreements, and speedy response to new opportunities and challenges. Important changes include : Convening ASEAN Summit twice a year, instead of once a year ASEAN Foreign Ministers to serve as the ASEAN Coordinating Council Single Chairmanship for key high-level ASEAN bodies Appointment of Member States’ Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, to form a Committee of Permanent Representatives, in Jakarta Establishment of an ASEAN human rights body ENTITIES ASSOCIATED WITH ASEAN Chapter V of the Charter concerns engagement with entities associated with ASEAN. Five categories of these entities are listed in Annex 2. First on the list is the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), which is the key partner in government of ASEAN. The Secretary-General of ASEAN is in charge of updating the list, upon the recommendation of the Committee of Permanent Representatives in Jakarta. CONSULTATION AND CONSENSUS The Charter reaffirms as “a basic principle” decision-making in ASEAN by consultation and consensus. Where consensus cannot be achieved, the ASEAN Summit may decide on how a specific decision can be made. If there is a serious breach of the Charter or non-compliance, the matter will be referred to the ASEAN Summit for decision. FLEXIBLE PARTICIPATION IN ECONOMIC SCHEMES The Charter permits flexible participation in the implementation of economic commitments in ASEAN, including the use of the ASEAN Minus X formula where there is a consensus to do so. Under the ASEAN Minus X formula, a Member State may opt out from certain economic schemes that it is not yet ready to participate, although it has taken part in determining and approving such economic schemes in the first place. NEW DISPUTE SETTLEMENT MODALITIES ASEAN may establish new dispute settlement mechanisms where necessary. Disputes in the ASEAN Economic Community may be referred to the 2004 ASEAN Protocol on Enhanced Dispute Settlement Mechanism for some solution. The ASEAN Chairman and the Secretary-General of ASEAN can be requested to provide good offices, conciliation or mediation in a dispute. This is a new initiative in ASEAN. Unresolved disputes shall be referred to the ASEAN Summit for its decision. SINGLE CHAIRMANSHIP Chair of the ASEAN Summit will be the same Chair of other key ASEAN bodies, including the three Community Councils, the ASEAN Coordinating Council, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM), as well as their respective Senior Officials Meetings (SOMs), and also the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, to be established in Jakarta. It is possible that the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM) may also be included under the Single ASEAN Chairmanship. The ASEAN Chairmanship will start on 1 January and end on 31 December. ENGLISH AS THE WORKING LANGUAGE OF ASEAN The Charter reaffirms that English is the working language of ASEAN. (This is one of the few things that ASEAN has outdone the European Union, where every official EU document must be written in at least three languages.) ASEAN IDENTITY Under Chapter XI, the following will add to the creation of ASEAN identity: ASEAN Motto : “One Vision, One Identity, One Community” ASEAN flag ASEAN emblem ASEAN Day : 8 August ASEAN anthem (there shall be one) (Two more things that ASEAN has outdone the EU : ASEAN will have the motto and anthem; whereas the EU has already abandoned its earlier plan to adopt “United in Diversity” as the European motto, and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy as the European anthem.) ACCREDITATION OF AMBASSADORS TO ASEAN States that are Dialogue Partners of ASEAN and relevant inter-governmental organizations, such as the EU, may appoint and accredit Ambassadors to ASEAN. But there is no Jakarta residency requirement for these Ambassadors to ASEAN. ABOUT ASEAN: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by the five founding Member States, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined on 8 January 1984, Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999. The ASEAN region has a population of about 567.5 million, a total area of 4.5 million square kilometres, a combined gross domestic product of over US$1 trillion, and a total foreign trade of over US$ 1.4 trillion. The ASEAN Secretariat is in Jakarta. It was established in 1976, 10 years after the organization was founded. Its homepage is at www.aseansec.org The five-year term of the incumbent Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Ong Keng Yong from Singapore, will end on 31 December 2007. He will be succeeded by H.E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, a former Foreign Minister of Thailand.

Interesting Changes to the ASEAN Institutional Framework

The ASEAN Charter will introduce the following institutional changes to ASEAN: ASEAN will, for the first time after 40 years of existence, be conferred with a legal personality of an Inter-Governmental Organization. Details will have to be worked out in a supplementary protocol. ASEAN Leaders shall meet (at least) twice a year : one among themselves to focus on ASEAN Community affairs; the other (the usual one) will include meetings with Dialogue Partners in ASEAN+1 (with China, Japan, RoK, India), ASEAN+3, and EAS. Three ASEAN Community Councils shall be established ASEAN Political and Security Community (APSC) Council [with 5 Sectoral Ministerial Bodies] ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council [12 ] ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council [12 ] ASEAN Foreign Ministers will form the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) to assist ASEAN Leaders in preparing for Summits, with support from SG and ASEC. The ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM of Foreign Ministers) will be renamed as “ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting” and will be one of the four Sectoral Ministerial Bodies of the APSC Council. They will continue to participate in the ARF. And they will also be Members of the SEANWFZ Commission (SEANWFZ is the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone. The Treaty on SEANWFZ was signed in Bangkok on 15 December 1995.) Single ASEAN Chairmanship Chair of the ASEAN Summit will be the same Chair of other key ASEAN bodies, including the three Community Councils, the ACC, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM), as well as their respective Senior Officials Meetings (SOMs), and also the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN [to be established in Jakarta]. The ASEAN Chairmanship will start on 1 January and end on 31 December.It is possible that the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM) may also be included under the Single ASEAN Chairmanship. Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN Each Member State shall appoint a Permanent Representative to ASEAN (ASEAN PR), who will reside in Jakarta. Collectively the ASEAN PRs shall form the Committee of Permanent Representatives. Essentially the new Committee will take over many of the regional functions of the ASEAN Standing Committee (ASC), including external relations, supervising the ASEAN Secretariat, etc. Dialogue Partners and “relevant inter-governmental organizations” may appoint and accredit Ambassadors to ASEAN (but no residency requirement). Article 46 reads : “Non-ASEAN Member States and relevant inter-governmental organisations may appoint and accredit Ambassadors to ASEAN. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting shall decide on such accreditation.” ASEAN human rights body It will be a new organ of ASEAN. The TOR will have to be formulated after the signing of the Charter, and approved by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting. ASEAN Foundation The ASEAN Foundation, which is located in Jakarta, will be accountable to the Secretary-General of ASEAN. (It used to be directly supervised by the Board of Trustees, consisting mainly of ASEAN Ambassadors to Indonesia in Jakarta.) ASEAN Committees in Third Countries and International Organisations The important role of the ACTC is reaffirmed in Article 43 of Chapter XII : External Relations. ASEAN National Secretariats Article 13 of Chapter IV reaffirms the role of the ASEAN National Secretariats in serving as “the national focal Point”. Decision-Making will continue to be based principally on consultation and consensus (Article 20, Chapter VII: Decision-Making) “1. As a basic principle, decision-making in ASEAN shall be based on consultation and consensus.” “2. Where consensus cannot be achieved, the ASEAN Summit may decide how a specific decision can be made.” “3. Nothing in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall affect the modes of decision-making as contained in the relevant ASEAN legal instruments.” “4. In the case of a serious breach of the Charter or non-compliance, the matter shall be referred to the ASEAN Summit for decision.” As advised by the ASEAN Economic Ministers, flexible participation is permissible under Article 21: Implementation and Procedure, Paragraph 2, which reads: “2. In the implementation of economic commitments, a formula for flexible participation, including the ASEAN Minus X formula, may be applied where there is a consensus to do so.” English is reaffirmed as the working language of ASEAN in Article 34, Chapter X : Administration and Procedure. Under Chapter XI, the following will add to the creation of ASEAN identity: ASEAN Motto : “One Vision, One Identity, One Community” ASEAN flag ASEAN emblem ASEAN Day : 8 August ASEAN anthem (there shall be one) Enhanced Mandate and Role of the Secretary-General of ASEAN The Secretary-General of ASEAN will have enhanced mandate and role in : Monitoring progress of implementation of Summit decisions and ASEAN agreements; Ensuring compliance with economic commitments, especially those in the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint; Reporting to the ASEAN Summit on important issues requiring decision by ASEA N Leaders; Interpreting the ASEAN Charter if and when requested; Interacting with Entities Associated with ASEAN; Representing ASEAN’s views in meetings with external parties; Advancing the interest of ASEAN and its legal personality. 4 Deputy Secretaries-General (DSGs) 2 DSGs from the usual national nomination under the alphabetical order, serving a one 3-year term. 2 other DSGs from open recruitment, whose 3-year term may be renewed by another 3-year. However, these 4 DSGs and the SG will have to come from 5 different Member States – to ensure equitable distribution of the senior posts. Each of the three ASEAN Community Councils will be served by one of the DSGs. The fourth DSG may concentrate on ASEC affairs and narrowing the development gap among ASEAN Member States. No change to the equal sharing of the contribution to the annual operating budget of the ASEAN Secretariat. In the current financial year, ASEC has been given US$9.05 million. Thus each Member State contributes US$905,000 to the budget. The ASEAN Secretariat staff now consists of SG, 2 DSGs (from Cambodia and Indonesia—Lao PDR and Myanmar are next in line to nominate theirs), 60 openly-recruited staff from 9 Member States (none from Brunei Darussalam), and about 200 support staff (almost all are Indonesians).