UK'S Accession To TAC Enables Greater Cooperation With Asean

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah SINGAPORE, July 13 (Bernama) -- United Kingdom's (UK) accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) will pave the way for greater collaboration on joint economic and security interests with Asean in the months and years ahead, says UK Foreign Secretary William Hague. “I am delighted that the United Kingdom is acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. The UK is committed to strengthening its engagement with the countries of Asean. "The fast emerging economies of the region are playing a central role in fuelling global economic growth and prosperity and Asean members have a significant contribution to make to regional peace and security," he said when commenting on the UK’s accession to TAC with Asean. His statement was released here by the British High Commission in Singapore on Friday. Hague noted that the accession is an important step towards deeper mutual understanding between the UK and Asean. The European Union (EU) and the UK acceded to the TAC on Thursday. The EU's accession agreement to the TAC was signed at Phnom Penh's Peace Palace between Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the union for foreign affairs and security policy and the EU's vice president, and all Asean Foreign Ministers led by Cambodian deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, also chair of the Asean in 2012. The UK's accession deal was inked between the UK Ambassador to Cambodia Mark Gooding and all Asean Foreign Ministers. The agreements were signed as the Asean Foreign Ministers and their counterparts from dialogue countries gathered in Cambodia to attend the 45th Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting, the Post- Ministerial Conferences, the 19th Asean Regional Forum and the 2nd East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting, which began on Monday and will end Friday. The TAC serves as a key instrument in governing inter-state relations and contributing to peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region. With the TAC, there will be no use of force or threats in settling issues between state and state. The Asean groups Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. -- BERNAMA