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| Burma to dominate Asean summit | Burma to dominate Asean summit |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The annual summit meeting of foreign ministers from the 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) begins on Monday in Singapore. | The annual summit meeting of foreign ministers from the 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) begins on Monday in Singapore. |
| They will address some large challenges for the 40-year-old association, among them the issue of Burma's membership. | They will address some large challenges for the 40-year-old association, among them the issue of Burma's membership. |
| The summit will release a full assessment of the relief effort following the cyclone two months ago, which has been co-ordinated by Asean. | The summit will release a full assessment of the relief effort following the cyclone two months ago, which has been co-ordinated by Asean. |
| It also provides a rare forum in which regional powers can meet. | It also provides a rare forum in which regional powers can meet. |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is scheduled to meet her North Korean counterpart, the first time such a senior-level meeting has taken place for six years. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is scheduled to meet her North Korean counterpart, the first time such a senior-level meeting has taken place for six years. |
| 'Emboldened' group | 'Emboldened' group |
| Expectations of Asean summits have sunk so low in recent years, the association may suddenly be in danger of exceeding them. | |
| A new Secretary General, Surin Pitsuwan - an outstanding former Thai foreign minister - has breathed new energy into this regional bloc - and even in dealing with its most controversial member, Burma, Asean can finally boast an achievement. | A new Secretary General, Surin Pitsuwan - an outstanding former Thai foreign minister - has breathed new energy into this regional bloc - and even in dealing with its most controversial member, Burma, Asean can finally boast an achievement. |
| Its offer to mediate after the cyclone disaster two months ago was greeted with huge scepticism. | Its offer to mediate after the cyclone disaster two months ago was greeted with huge scepticism. |
| But Asean's long history of conciliation towards the Burmese military government may have helped it bridge the yawning mistrust between the generals and the international donor community. | But Asean's long history of conciliation towards the Burmese military government may have helped it bridge the yawning mistrust between the generals and the international donor community. |
| Its comprehensive report on the relief effort will show that most of the post-cyclone needs were, in the end, met. | Its comprehensive report on the relief effort will show that most of the post-cyclone needs were, in the end, met. |
| Emboldened, Asean is grappling with other regional challenges - a new disaster response plan, food security initiatives, even a new charter, which supposedly enshrines respect for human rights, and is expected to be signed by all members - even Burma - by the end of the year. | Emboldened, Asean is grappling with other regional challenges - a new disaster response plan, food security initiatives, even a new charter, which supposedly enshrines respect for human rights, and is expected to be signed by all members - even Burma - by the end of the year. |
| But the rationale for this association has always been less about what it does, than what it aims to prevent - conflict among its 10 member states, and domination by regional powers like the United States, China and India. | But the rationale for this association has always been less about what it does, than what it aims to prevent - conflict among its 10 member states, and domination by regional powers like the United States, China and India. |
| And bigger regional issues on the sidelines of this summit - notably a meeting of Foreign Ministers from the six parties to the North Korean nuclear talks - are still likely to overshadow anything that Asean itself announces. | And bigger regional issues on the sidelines of this summit - notably a meeting of Foreign Ministers from the six parties to the North Korean nuclear talks - are still likely to overshadow anything that Asean itself announces. |