US Engages ASEAN (Assoc. of SE Asian Nations) More Seriously
The United States has its first ever ambassador of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and United States affairs, Scot Marciel.
Ambassador Marciel has been with the US State Department since 1985 and was appointed as ambassador to ASEAN in 2008 during a time when many in the region criticized the US' apparent lack of serious engagement with the organization.
Charles McDermid has an interview with Marciel in AsiaTimes.
Here are some excerpts:
ATol:: Did Secretary of State Hillary Clinton give you specific directions for this visit?
SM: First and foremost, Secretary Clinton wants to intensify her engagement in the entire region, including ASEAN. The theme of her trip [to Asia] was that Asia is an indispensable partner, and we want to affirm and echo that in ASEAN. We want to engage and be active; we're exchanging ideas and looking for ideas on how to do that.
ATol: Do you have a message to ASEAN on Myanmar?
SM: That Myanmar is a problem for ASEAN and the region; and that we understand it's a difficult situation because nobody has the influence to bring about change; and we're willing to work with ASEAN to bring about change.
ATol: Do you believe that ASEAN can pressure Myanmar to halt its alleged human-rights abuses and continue on the so-called "roadmap for democracy?"
SM: At this point, no. As I look at Myanmar, they have a military leadership facing problems on the political front, with health care, education, food security. When you have no input from society and your past policies aren't good, realistically the only way to move forward - politically, economically, socially - is to reach out to their own people and opposition.
ATol: What do you tell people - and there are many - who believe Southeast Asia is caught in a US versus China battle for influence?
SM: We don't think so. Countries in this region wisely want good relations with both the US and China. That's fine by us.
Ambassador Marciel has been with the US State Department since 1985 and was appointed as ambassador to ASEAN in 2008 during a time when many in the region criticized the US' apparent lack of serious engagement with the organization.
Charles McDermid has an interview with Marciel in AsiaTimes.
Here are some excerpts:
ATol:: Did Secretary of State Hillary Clinton give you specific directions for this visit?
SM: First and foremost, Secretary Clinton wants to intensify her engagement in the entire region, including ASEAN. The theme of her trip [to Asia] was that Asia is an indispensable partner, and we want to affirm and echo that in ASEAN. We want to engage and be active; we're exchanging ideas and looking for ideas on how to do that.
ATol: Do you have a message to ASEAN on Myanmar?
SM: That Myanmar is a problem for ASEAN and the region; and that we understand it's a difficult situation because nobody has the influence to bring about change; and we're willing to work with ASEAN to bring about change.
ATol: Do you believe that ASEAN can pressure Myanmar to halt its alleged human-rights abuses and continue on the so-called "roadmap for democracy?"
SM: At this point, no. As I look at Myanmar, they have a military leadership facing problems on the political front, with health care, education, food security. When you have no input from society and your past policies aren't good, realistically the only way to move forward - politically, economically, socially - is to reach out to their own people and opposition.
ATol: What do you tell people - and there are many - who believe Southeast Asia is caught in a US versus China battle for influence?
SM: We don't think so. Countries in this region wisely want good relations with both the US and China. That's fine by us.
Comments