ASEAN ministers sign dispute-resolution protocol

Hanoi - Foreign ministers of the 10 members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Thursday signed a protocol on dispute resolution that could be used in several ongoing regional conflicts.

The ASEAN ministers are attending the organization's annual summit meeting in Hanoi amidst disagreements over handling human rights issues in Myanmar and several territorial disputes.

In a press release, the organization said the protocol on dispute resolution would help transform ASEAN into a "rules-based organization."

The procedures and terms of reference of the protocol have not been finalized.

The dispute mechanism could be invoked in Thailand's border dispute with Cambodia over an area near the temple at Preah Vihear, which led to armed clashes in 2008 and 2009.

It could also help settle maritime territorial disputes between a number of members states in the South China Sea.

The mechanism is, however, likely to be limited to disputes between ASEAN member states, not internal issues.

Host country Vietnam is seeking to convince ASEAN members to settle their internal disagreements over maritime territory in the South China Sea so that the group can negotiate as a bloc with China, which claims most of the sea for itself.

China has resisted that approach and insists on bilateral negotiations with each country.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/317640,asean-ministers-sign-dispute-resolution-protocol.html.