TRANSCRIPT OF DOORSTOP INTERVIEW BY MINISTER GEORGE YEO AFTER THE APEC 20TH ANNIVERSARY HIGH-LEVEL SYMPOSIUM ON 10 NOVEMBER 2009 AT 1700HRS
Question: (inaudible)
Minister: ...determined by the policy towards Myanmar. This is a breakthrough because previous attempts at hosting a Summit meeting was prevented because of the Myanmar issue.
Question: It was a Myanmar official who said that Aung San Suu Kyi may be released for the elections. How do you view this?
Minister: I am not familiar with that report.
Question: Have you heard anything about this one?
Minister: No, I am not familiar with that report.
Question: Minister, what issues regarding Myanmar will be discussed during the US-ASEAN Summit?
Minister: The US is now in direct talks with Myanmar. Not all of it is publicised but I think it will be interesting to watch how the US-ASEAN Summit will progress in this issue because I am sure it will be raised.
Question: Do you expect bilateral relations to remain - Myanmar and .....
Minister: I have no idea.
Question: Not formal bilateral but during the meeting, will there be.....
Minister: I have no idea.
Question: Just one last question on Cambodia.
Minister: Is it all about Myanmar.
Question: No, no - Cambodia, Thailand.....
(Laughter)
Question: Is that a worrying thing for ASEAN?
Minister: Yes, we are very concerned about it and we hope that both sides will reconcile and find a way to resolve their problems.
Question: Minister, when you say we, do you mean ASEAN or Singapore?
Minister: Singapore. We have issued a statement and ASEAN as well. Surin has written a letter to all of us - the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and I have replied, associating myself with his concern and with his call for both parties to find a way to resolve their problems.
Question: Some might say that Cambodia is violating the ASEAN Charter by interfering in another country's affairs.
Minister: I don't want to comment on that.
Question: Minister, just a question on APEC.
Minister: Where are you from?
Question: I'm from Reuters. How does APEC fit in, or how does the East Asia economic forum as proposed by Japan and the Asia-Pacific Community fit into this APEC architecture?
Minister: No, we have regional groupings at different levels, we have ASEAN, we have ASEAN+1 ASEAN+3, ASEAN+6, but APEC is really the premier organisation, the one which is the most important, binding the two halves of the Pacific together.
Question: Minister, the ASEAN-US...
Minister: Where are you from?
Question: From Nikkei. The US-ASEAN Summit, do you think there would be any talk on free trade area agreement?
Minister: I think we will be talking about how we can facilitate the trade and investments between US and ASEAN.
Question: Any FTAs? Will this be leading to an FTA?
Minister: Ah no, I think that is too early. Thank you.
Question: Sir, there is this brewing conflict now in Cambodia and Thailand because of the...
Minister: It is something of great concern to us and I spoke to Surin, the [ASEAN] Secretary-General, called me up two days ago, and I told him that we are very concerned about this bilateral problem between two fraternal members of ASEAN and we hope that they will find a way to reconcile and to act with restraint. I think that's very important.
Question: What is ASEAN's recommendation for them to follow?
Minister: This is principally a bilateral problem and we are all concerned in ASEAN. Naturally if they want to evoke ASEAN facilities, we will be very happy to accommodate but they have not yet done so.
Question: Minister, this dispute has dragged on for some time now and will ASEAN intervene to help to ease the tension between the neighbours?
Minister: Well it's been discussed at ASEAN meetings before but unless they ask, ASEAN cannot offer its facilities.
Question: Any reaction of this skirmish this morning between North and South Korea....
Minister: I'm not familiar with this.
Question: Okay, what about this upcoming summit between the US and the ASEAN leaders happening on Sunday?
Minister: This is a breakthrough because in the past Myanmar was always a sticky issue. But this time round, Myanmar is only an issue but which will not hold back the progress of US-ASEAN agenda.
Question: But how big a deal is the Summit? It's the first time its happening and basically what is the major significance of this?
Minister: This is very important and the fact of the meeting itself, it shows the US...the greater US engagement of ASEAN as a region.
Question: Sir, what is Singapore looking to achieve at APEC this year? Under the broad points or as the host nation at the cross roads of...
Minister: Ten of the twenty APEC leaders were at Pittsburgh, so importing the Pittsburgh agenda into APEC and carrying it from here to subsequent G20 meetings will be an important part of our work here, the reform of the financial system and making sure that we fight protectionism, keeping the global trade agenda open [and] giving a push to Doha. Then there are specific projects in ASEAN to bind the region together through various measures to increase capacity, to reduce restrictions to trade, to increase cooperation, people-to-people links and so on.
Question: Is there any sign that the new US engagement approach to Myanmar will eventually lead to Aung San Suu Kyi and the other detainees.
Minister: I am not privy to what goes on in their private consultations.
Question: The Chinese President Mr Hu will visit Singapore. Will Singapore sign some agreement with China?
Minister: Yes there will be a number of agreements which will be signed when he is here. It is a very important visit, the first by a Chinese leader in 15 years and we are looking forward to it and we are giving it high importance. Thank you very much.
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