Three more countries have expressed a desire to sign up to the 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), signed into force by the leaders of the original members of ASEAN as a regional code of conduct, according to a senior Thai official.
Usana Berananda, Director General of the ASEAN Department, said today (Thursday), during the weekly press conference at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that ASEAN members are now considering the possible accessions of Sweden, Algeria and Serbia to the treaty. The TAC is aimed at promoting friendship and cooperation through peaceful means and non-interference among the signatories.
Usana pointed out that, to qualify for accession, the candidate countries must have substantive relations with ASEAN broadly, as well as its members. In addition, they also have to serve the bloc’s overall objectives and interests.
Sweden would be the fourth Scandinavian country to sign the TAC, after Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands.
At the ASEAN ministerial meeting next week, at the ASEAN Secretariat, Saudi Arabia will join 50 other countries which signed the TAC. Since 1992, ASEAN has been reaching out to the international community to accede to this treaty, to raise the bloc’s profile and strengthen peace and security in the region.
Usana added that ASEAN will also issue a special statement to mark the 20th anniversary of China’s accession to the TAC at the ministerial meeting. The statement will demonstrate and reaffirm China’s commitment to the TAC’s principles and spirit. In 2003, China and India were the first major powers to accede the treaty.
