ONE DAY SEMINAR ON
“ASEAN COOPERATION: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS
IN THE CURRENT INTERNATIONAL SITUATION”
New York, June 3, 2003

TERMS OF REFERENCE

I. Introduction

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is recognized throughout the world as one of the most notable regional organizations in existence. Founded by five of the leading countries in Southeast Asia in 1967, its membership has increased to the number that the founding fathers wished to see: 10 Southeast Asian member states. Along with this enlargement, ASEAN has diversified and expanded its cooperation in various fields.

In the early stages, ASEAN functioned rigorously as a solid, well-regarded regional arrangement. Not only did it succeed in coping with contending differences among its members, it also promoted cohesion through visionary and concrete programs. As time went by, it further succeeded in promoting dialogue partnerships, as well as in security cooperation matters by engaging key countries outside the Association in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

Currently, some observers critically view ASEAN as a “sunset” regional organization and even describe it as in decline, drifting apart and ineffective. Additionally, domestic changes and the current international situations confront ASEAN with new challenges and prospects. Thus, it is timely to look back at its work and explore its future activities.

In this connection, Indonesia will serve as Chair of the ASEAN Standing Committee for one year, beginning in July 2003. Therefore, it is with this background that the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations in New York will organize “Seminar on ASEAN Cooperation: Challenges and Prospects in the Current International Situation”, on Tuesday, June 3, 2003, at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations, 325 East 38th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenue), New York - 10016.

II. Purpose of the Seminar

The meeting aims to explore the challenges faced by ASEAN, and identify prospects and opportunities to this regional organization. It also aims at providing input for the Indonesian Government when it assumes the Chairmanship of the ASEAN Standing Committee in July 2003.

III. Participants and Resource Persons

Participants will include representatives of ASEAN and ASEAN dialogue partners missions to the UN in New York and other interested and relevant invitees. Resource persons will include experts and practitioners from universities, governments and think-tank.

IV. Programme

Tuesday, June 3, 2003

08:00 – 09:00 Registration

09.00 – 09.30 Opening Session

· Opening Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Slamet Hidayat/Charge d’Affaires
· Keynote Speech by Dr. Amitav Acharya (IDSS, Singapore)

09.30 – 10:00 Coffee Break

10:00 – 11:30 First Session: “Critical Overview of ASEAN: Its Genesis and Achievement”

Presenters: Dr. Muthiah Alagappa (Director of  East-West Center, Washington);
Dr. Donald K. Crone (Politics and International Relations, Scripps College/The Claremont Colleges);

Commentators: Dr. Shaun Narine (Department of Political Science, St. Thomas University, Fredericton, NB, Canada);
Dr. Donald K. Emmerson (Asia/ Pacific Research Center , Stanford University);
Dr. David Denoon (Professor, Politics and Economics, New York University);

Chair/Moderator: Dr. Desra Percaya (Indonesian Mission)

Followed by Discussions

11:30 – 11.45 Coffee Break

11.45 – 12.45 Continuation of the First Session

12.45 – 14.15 Lunch
Venue: 7th Floor, Indonesian Mission, 235 East 38th Street

14.15 – 15.30 Second Session: “The Future of ASEAN: Responding to Current International Situations”

Presenters: Dr. Rizal Sukma (CSIS, Jakarta);
Dr. Zakaria Ahmad (Tun Abdul Razak, Ohio University)
Dr. Sheldon W. Simon (Arizona State University);

Commentators: Dr. Ann Marie Murphy (East Asian Institute, Columbia University, New York);
Mr. Ernest Z. Bower (President, US-ASEAN Business Council, Washington DC)

Chair: Mr. Yuri Thamrin (Indonesian Mission)

Followed by Discussions

15.30 – 15.45 Coffee Break

15.45 – 17.00 Continuation of the Second Session

17:00 - Closing Session

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