ASEAN to sign dispute settlement agreement

Lilian Budianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 03/26/2010 1:20 PM

ASEAN member states will sign a dispute settlement mechanism during the regional grouping's summit on April 9-11 in Hanoi.

The mechanism is aimed at resolving disputes resulting from different interpretation on the ASEAN Charter and its instrument, Ade Padmo, Foreign Ministry's director for ASEAN political and security cooperation, said Friday.

"There are three options to settle dispute, namely: mediation, conciliation, good offices and arbitrary," he said, adding that third parties could be involved in the dispute settlement upon approval of the disputed parties.

Ade said that some pending issues, including sanctions for non-compliance, would be negotiated further after the signing.

The summit will also inaugurate the guideline of Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), dubbed ASEAN peace treaty.

"The guideline will allow countries with substantial relations with ASEAN to accede to TAC," Ade said.