CIA The World Factbook

Yuli Ismartono: What is this ASEAN 100 Leadership Forum about and how are you involved in it?

Surin Pitsuwan: It's an initiative of a group of people led by Mr. Timothy Ong of Brunei, who is a well-known businessman in the ASEAN region. His idea is that ASEAN needs to have an informal, open, candid dialogue among various sectors of the ASEAN constituency. And in this case, he would like to have a young, new, upcoming people in various fields coming together and talk about the problems of ASEAN, the future of ASEAN, the potential of ASEAN.

YI: You spoke about the difficulties of integration. Have we reached the level of the European Community?

Surin Pitsuwan: Not quite, we are different. Certainly the pace is not as quick and fast and probably the process is not quite as binding, as legalistic as the European Union. But the ASEAN membership is very different from the EU membership. We started off with five, and became six, eight, and finally 10. This was the dream of the ASEAN founders 40 years ago, that all countries of Southeast Asia should come together. But they also realized that all countries of Southeast Asia then and now, would not be the same: different religions, cultures, political structure and different economic systems. All these things make it very difficult to for us to become a solid, integrated whole. Integration is going slowly. But the region is attractive enough for people to keep coming back. India has a special relationship with ASEAN, and so has China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Russia, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. But our attraction in terms of foreign direct investment has increased quite impressively. Our combined GDP is growing quite fast, right now to the tune of US$ 730 billion plus a year, 500 strong markets. We are between the rise of China and India, and we serve as a fulcrum.

YI: Despite problems like Myanmar?

Surin Pitsuwan: Definitely. I was the first to suggest six or seven years ago, that we needed to discuss some of these difficult issues more openly among ourselves. But I was told then that the ASEAN way was to go slow. But now, what I have suggested a few years ago -- flexible engagement -- is being practiced. And it's working. Myanmar decided to relinquish the 2006 chair after Malaysia, when it should have been theirs. But it decided for the good of the grouping to step aside and let the Philippines take over. And that, I think, reflects a certain sense of realization that the group is not quite fully satisfied and happy with things.

YI: Will there be changes in Myanmar?

Surin Pitsuwan: I think so, if we continue to work together. There are also signs that it's not only governments that are now working together on Myanmar, but the parliamentarians as well. The NGOs are also working together. I think we have to be patient. The fact that we decided to expand must also be regarded as a willingness to accommodate, to be patient.

YI: Can ASEAN ever play the role of mediator in global and Asian conflicts?

Surin Pitsuwan: I think the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is a very unique forum. It's supposed to be ASEAN-driven but the membership comes from all over the world. I think it's a unique forum that could be used more effectively. In 2002, I was in the chair of the ASEAN Standing Committee, which also included the ARF. We were successful in convincing North Korea to come into the forum. And I think the issue of the Koreas, is most suitable, most ideal for the ARF to take up. The ARF could come up with a special envoy for the Korean Peninsula. This would not be threatening, not intrusive and in a way, not partisan to the issue.

YI: What about home-grown problems like terrorism, which seems to be the biggest obstruction to ASEAN's efforts at reaching peace and prosperity?

Surin Pitsuwan: I think you have to look at the cultural, economic and social roots of the problem. A lot of people in our region are still living in poverty, illiteracy, being affected by diseases, lack of opportunities. People are frustrated. And religion -- Islam in particular -- is a very potent symbolic recourse to articulate the frustration. I think, rather than relying on force alone in solving the problem, as a grouping we should be thinking about human resources development, creating employment opportunities, exchanging personnel and youth in order to appreciate each others' problems. If we could put more emphasis on education, on science and technology, on preparing people for a globalizing future, we will begin to address the problem.

YI: As a Muslim, how do you see the negative image of Islam being projected around the world and how can this be rectified?

Surin Pitsuwan: I am worried. I think it contributes to the sense of marginalization, of victimization that a lot of these people have already been suffering. So, it is up to the leadership of ASEAN, of the Muslim countries, to come together and try to first, make a very strong commitment to work and to help, and to facilitate any progress that would deny the opportunity to slip into a hopelessness, a bitterness that would lead to violence. Various countries and governments in the region -- Indonesia, Malaysia -- have been trying to do just that. But we need to do more, thru the voice of moderation, the relevant Islamic view of modernity. In Malaysia they call it Islamic hadari. In Pakistan it's 'enlightened moderation.' I think a rational approach to life within the Islamic worldview would be helpful and things are moving in the right direction here in Indonesia, talking about creating moderate leadership, the correct view of life in a modern world, the need for modern and secular education, at the same time try to keep tradition, the religious education going for our youth, our younger generation.