- ASEAN Charter
The ASEAN Charter is a constitution for the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The intention to draft the constitution was formally tabled at the 11thASEAN Summit held in December 2005 inKuala Lumpur ,Malaysia . Ten ASEAN leaders, one each from each member state, called theASEAN Eminent Persons Group has been assigned to produce a draft of the charter.In the 12th ASEAN Summit held in January 2007 in
Cebu , thePhilippines , several basic proposals were made public. Some of the proposals include the removal of non-interference policy that is central to the regional group since its formation in the 1960s, and to set up a human rights body.It was adopted at the 13th ASEAN Summit in November 2007. [ [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-11/22/content_7129449.htm "Indonesian ministers asked to follow up ASEAN summit results"] , "
Xinhua ", November 22, 2007.]Ratification of the Asean Charter
For the 1st Asean Charter to become legally binding, it has been agreed upon that all ten member nations must ratify the Charter before the next ASEAN Summit this December 2008. The Charter will become effective on the 30th day after the 10th "Instrument of Ratification" has been submitted to the ASEAN Secretary-General, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan.
To date, the following countries ratified and submitted the "Instrument of Ratification":
Member State Government Ratification Deposit of Instrument of Ratification Signed by Singapore December 18, 2007 January 7, 2007 Prime Minister Brunei Darussalam January 31, 2008 February 15, 2008 Sultan Malaysia February 14, 2008 February 20 2008 Foreign Minister Laos February 14, 2008 February 20, 2008 Prime Minister Cambodia February 25, 2008 [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/26/content_7674381.htm] April 18, 2008 National Assembly Vietnam March 14, 2008 March 19, 2008 Minister of Foreign Affairs Burma July 21, 2008 July 21, 2008 [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24056268-2703,00.html] Foreign Minister Philippines October 7, 2008 [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/125486/Senate-ratifies-Asean-charter "Philippine Senate ratifies ASEAN Charter"] , October 7, 2008.] [http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=757672] Senate As of October 2008 ,Indonesia , andThailand have yet to endorse the charter, demanding that Burma give firmer commitments to democracy. [ [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24056268-2703,00.html "Burma ratifies ASEAN charter"] , "The Australian", July 21, 2008.] [ [http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/235753,philippine-ratifies-asean-charter.html earthtimes.org, Philippine ratifies ASEAN charter] ] [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/07/08/senate-approves-ratified-asean-charter abs-cbnnews.com, Senate ratifies ASEAN Charter] ]References
External links
* [http://www.aseansec.org/ASEAN-Charter.pdf ASEAN Charter]
* [http://www.iseas.edu.sg/Framing_ASEAN_Charter.pdf Framing the ASEAN charter: an ISEAS perspective]
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