Mon, Dec 12, 2005 - Page 4 News List

ASEAN summit opens in Malaysia

THREAT The member nations, who are meeting before the first East Asian summit starts on Wednesday, have promised measures to control the spread of avian flu

AP , KUALA LUMPUR

Given Washington's policy of reserving the right to attack a country that it sees as a threat, the US seems unlikely to sign the treaty, which also stresses noninterference in the internal affairs of signatories.

At a leadership forum in Malaysia earlier this year, former US Secretary of State Colin Powell noted that Washington gets "a little bit uneasy" whenever it sees organizations being formed with even a partial agenda to "push back and isolate the United States."

The annual summit also comes at a time when ASEAN is facing a crisis of reputation over fellow member Myanmar's glacial pace of democratic reforms.

ASEAN members are also unhappy about the continued house arrest of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi by the country's military junta.

The frustrations of Myanmar's ASEAN colleagues, under pressure from the US and Europe to bring the junta in line, have been made clear to Myanmar, Ong, the ASEAN official said.

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