US to Look Into ASEAN Treaty

Sumber :

VIVAnews - The United States is ready to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) that the Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) constituted. Therefore, the United States formed a special team to look into the Treaty prior to signing TAC, said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a press conference with Secretary-General of ASEAN Surin Pitsuwan on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Clinton did not mention how long the United States will study the TAC. However, Clinton uttered United States' intention to take part in the Treaty.

Enacted during the 1976 ASEAN Summit, TAC is a rule of conduct to solve matters in Southeast Asia. It aims at promoting perpetual peace, everlasting amity and cooperation among their people of the member countries, which would contribute to their strength, solidarity and closer relationship. 

The Treaty was initially signed by 10 ASEAN members. Within the last few years, such countries as China, India, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea, Russia, Australia and New Zealand has signed the Treaty as well.

In the last eight years, the United States under the Bush administration has been reluctant to sign the TAC. Nevertheless, it is hoped that with Barack Obama elected as US President, the United States would start to change.

Clinton said she was upset that the United States has not been more serious about Southeast Asia. She went on to say that the United States must set out new attitudes in order to deal with global security, financial crisis, climate change and Human Rights.

Pitsuwan responded positively over the United States' intention on the TAC. He also viewed that Clinton's presence at the ASEAN Secretariat and her expected presence in the next ASEAN meetings will represent a new era of US diplomacy. 

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Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono