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Singapore will work closely and support Indonesia in fulfilling its ambitious agenda and its priorities as Asean Chair, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan in Parliament on Feb. 27.
Singapore also urged Asean member states and external partners to support and assist Timor-Leste in its accession to Asean membership through an objective, criteria-based roadmap, he said.
He was addressing questions by Members of Parliament (MPs) Gan Thiam Poh, Gerald Giam, Seah Kian Peng, on Asean-related issues during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)'s Committee of Supply debate.
Supporting Indonesia as ASEAN Chair this year
As Asean Chair this year, Vivian said that Indonesia has an ambitious agenda to step up Asean integration in key areas such as the green economy and digital fields.
He noted that the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement promotes its economic integration and growth.
"Singapore will also work closely with and support Indonesia in fulfilling its priorities as (Asean) Chair", Vivian added.
Vivian also reiterated Singapore's commitment to assisting Timor-Leste in its accession to ASEAN membership, which is to
be achieved through an objective, criteria-based roadmap.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reaffirmed Singapore’s in principle support for Timor-Leste’s Asean membership during Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta's first-ever state visit to Singapore last December.
Timor-Leste has been given in-principle support to become Asean's 11th member during a summit in November last year.
Asean's decision making
Vivian also addressed Workers' Party MP Gerald Giam's cut on whether Asean is looking at alternative options of decision making, when consensus is hindered.
In response, Vivian said that the "need for consensus is a design feature, not a bug, precisely because of the great diversity within Asean".
Nevertheless, the Asean Charter does provide for decision making at the leaders’ level, even if there are profound political problems in a member state, he said.
Vivian mentioned the example of Myanmar, where Asean has not allowed the coup to "paralyse" Asean or hold the rest of the countries hostage.
"Deeply disappointed" with the lack of progress on Five-Point Consensus regarding Myanmar
In response to MP Seah Kian Peng's cut on the outlook in Myanmar and Asean's role, Vivian said that "Singapore and Asean remain deeply disappointed with the lack of progress in the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus".
Vivian noted that the situation remains grave in Myanmar, but the solution must involve national reconciliation amongst all domestic stakeholders.
This will not be easy to achieve, he said.
Top photo from Vivian Balakrishnan Facebook.