ASEAN-India summit modalities to be worked out

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, NOV. 18. Modalities for a summit meeting between the Association of South- East Asian Nations and India will be worked out in the next few months between ASEAN and Indian officials.

According to sources, there will first be internal discussions among ASEAN officials and then the issue will be thrashed out with Indian officials at a meeting in Malaysia at the end of January or February.

A decision to hold a separate ASEAN-India summit was taken by South-East Asian leaders at their November 5-6 meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. ASEAN officials were reluctant to announce a firm decision in Bandar Seri Begawan without having talked to the Indian side. However, in response to questions, the Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, had no hesitation in confirming that ASEAN leaders favoured a separate meeting.

In all likelihood, the summit will take place as per the current format of ASEAN-1 meetings which currently involve China, Japan, and South Korea. India, according to sources, will be added on to this format.

The next ASEAN ``working summit'', as it is now called (the distinction between formal and informal summits having been abolished), will be held in Cambodia in November. That gives enough time for officials of ASEAN and India to work out the details of the summit meeting.

There is little doubt that the ASEAN decision will mean greater Indian interaction with South-East Asia. Whether this remains at the level of words or moves into concrete cooperation projects remains to be seen.

But, the opportunity now exists for both ASEAN and India to interact at the level of Head of Government - elevating the dialogue from the Foreign Minister tier.

Currently, India interacts with ASEAN as dialogue partner in the annual ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and, of course, in the ASEAN- driven ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

In the recent past, top Indian officials have pressed hard for a separate ASEAN-India interaction at summit level. For instance, they have told this correspondent - India now has a summit-level, annual interaction with the European Union - so why not with ASEAN?

Since India was interested in such a meeting, New Delhi's well- wishers within the regional grouping have advanced its case and the final green light was given at the summit in Brunei earlier this month. Now, the ball is in the court of ASEAN officials and India to make the summit-level interaction worthwhile.

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