U.S. supports ASEAN's efforts for economic integration: Envoy

Veeramalla Anjaiah and Lilian Budianto ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 05/12/2008 10:51 AM  |  World

WELCOME RECEPTION: WELCOME RECEPTION: India’s ambassador-designate to Indonesia (JP/Veeramalla Anjaiah)

Is the United States really unhappy with ASEAN after it was not allowed to join the East Asian Summit process in 2005? No, not at all, says the first U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs Scot A. Marciel.

"There is no unhappiness on the part of the U.S.," Ambassador Marciel told journalists in Jakarta recently.

He said the United States was very happy about recent positive moves like the signing of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Charter and planning for regional economic integration.

Marciel, who is also the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state, was in Jakarta to meet ASEAN chief Surin Pitsuwan and other Indonesian officials.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has previously snubbed some important ASEAN meetings. President George W. Bush, meanwhile, has not been a frequent visitor to Southeast Asia, a dynamic region with a lot of potential.

"It's true (Secretary) Rice has a couple of times been unable to attend the ASEAN meetings, which she regrets," Marciel said.

"It's not because she is unhappy with ASEAN. Sometimes events develop into emergencies. You have to address (them)."

He hopes Rice will attend ASEAN meetings in July in Singapore.

But he immediately said many senior U.S. officials visit the region.

"We had a series of high-level visits back and forth. The Secretary of Health was just here and in Singapore and Vietnam. The Secretary of Defense was also here. U.S. Trade Representative (Susan C. Schwab) was in Bali," Marciel said.

In 2005, ASEAN countries along with China, Japan and South Korea admitted India, Australia and New Zealand into the East Asia Summit (EAS) process. The last three are not geographically located in the East Asian region.

While the U.S. expressed its interest to join the EAS, ASEAN and others countries didn't invite the U.S. simply because Washington didn't sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), ASEAN's non-aggression pact. Signing the TAC is a prerequisite to joining the group of more than 3 billion people.

The U.S. and Britain are the only nuclear powers in the world not to have signed the TAC -- although Britain said in 2007 that it would sign the treaty by the end of 2008.

When asked about U.S. plans to sign the TAC, Marciel said the United States was "working on that".

"Many times we were first and sometimes we are last," Marciel said.

His own role is a first, as the United States, an ASEAN dialogue partner, is the first country to appoint an ambassador to the organization. Even ASEAN member countries are yet to appoint their ambassadors to the ASEAN Secretariat as part of the ASEAN Charter.

While commenting about his appointment, Marciel commended the U.S. administration's decision.

"It (the appointment) is a positive in U.S. relations with ASEAN.

"We already have a very good relationship with ASEAN. We have already been doing a lot of work with ASEAN as an institution. We want to do more," Marciel said.

Dialogue between the United States and ASEAN began in 1977 in Manila. Both adopted an Enhanced Partnership Agreement in July 2006.

The superpower has become a key source of capital, technology and talent, as well as a key market for ASEAN member countries.

"It (Southeast Asia) is a very important region for us. ASEAN is our fifth largest export market," Marciel said.

In 2007, the United States exported goods to ASEAN worth $61 billion. The U.S. foreign direct investment in ASEAN countries was $99 billion in 2006.

Marciel said ASEAN was trying to play a larger role and set high goals and standards.

"The U.S. supports ASEAN's goals -- economic integration, building a political and security pillar, building a socio-cultural pillar.

"We have already more than 100 different projects with ASEAN," Marciel said.

The United States, Marciel said, has been helping the ASEAN Secretariat and member countries in health, education, economic aspects, environmental issues and capacity building.

"Our assistance for ASEAN's efforts is $7.5 million for this year," he said.

During his tenure as an ambassador to ASEAN, Marciel plans to increase the United State's emphasis on ASEAN matters.

"My main mission is to expand our areas of cooperation with ASEAN," Marciel said.

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