Asean given grade C for its handling of Burma

 Since Burma is expected to top the agenda during the Asean Ministerial Meeting (AMM), Yeo compared the organisation to a class in school in his evaluation.

"We feared the worst initially, but it turned out not to be an F grading," Yeo said.

"Certainly not an A or B, but I would say on the whole, with Asean's assistance and Asean taking the lead in bringing humanitarian assistance into Myanmar (Burma), we could give ourselves a C grading."

Yeo's comments were released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Singapore is the chairman of the 10-member Asean. The rotating chairmanship passes to Thailand on July 24.

Asean senior officials began meeting in Singapore on Thursday with the ministerial session starting on Sunday.

Yeo has no qualms about turning over the chairmanship to Thailand where Noppadon Pattama, who was to attend the meeting, quit his post last week over a court ruling. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Sahas Bandidieul will represent the country instead.

"There is a strong institution in the foreign ministry," Yeo said. "Even though a new foreign minister has not yet been appointed, I have no doubt that there will be someone there to take over from us and that steady hands will take over the chairmanship."

Burma's military junta initially blocked the free-flow of international aid and aid workers, triggering international condemnation. Despite what some saw as a slow response at first, Asean acquitted itself well, persuading Burma's 's junta to allow foreign aid into the country, Yeo said.

The cyclone in early May and aftermath left 138,000 people dead or missing.

In the wake of the calamity, Asean held a meeting in Singapore and pushed through a tri-partite mechanism including the grouping, the United Nations and Burmese government that essentially created a "diplomatic umbrella" under which an emergency relief operation could operate.

"Progress is not as much as I would like on the political side," Yeo noted.

Amid ongoing criticism of Asean's effectiveness and doubts cast about its aim to form a single market by 2015, Yeo defended Asean's goals.

All the member countries benefited from a strong Asean, he said, Even Myanmar had shown that it wanted to remain a member of the "Asean family," despite being condemned by Asean for its violent crackdown on pro-democracy street protests in Rangoon last September.

 "Even though they know that whenever they come, they get an earful from the other family members, they still turn up and they do not want to be excluded," said Yeo.

 Asean includes Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Burma.

 The ministers are aiming for early ratification of a landmark charter transforming the organisation into a legal entity with greater clout in international affairs.

 Asean's charter, signed by the leaders of its member countries in December, also seeks to commit them to promoting human rights, democratic ideals and sets out rules for members.

 It requires ratification by all members. Ratification from Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia is still outstanding.

 Human rights groups and Western governments have criticised its lack of sanctions or time element for its creation of a human rights body.

 "The decision to adopt the 'Asean Way,' which prioritizes agreement by consensus and the adoption of the lowest common denominator, means that its claim to become an increasingly rules-based organisation will remain just that," said Barry Desker, dean of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

 Complete ratification of the charter was set for December, but top Asean officials expect it to be accomplished next month.

 Following the ministerial meeting, bilateral sessions are to be held with other foreign ministers and representatives from Asean's dialogue partners including Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, South Korea, the European Union, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.

 At the Asean Regional Forum, the region's foremost security gathering, North Korea plans to sign the group's non-aggression treaty promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes.

 The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation covers Asean members and some of the major powers.

 Asean analysts said the signing reflected Pyongyang's willingness to resolve the international dispute over its nuclear programme amicably.//dpa