Australia inks pact with Asean

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer (L) looks on as the Asean Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong (2nd L) receives the signed documents from Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar (R) on Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation at the 11th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

"I think even you could move beyond the puerile allegations of deputy sheriff," Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer snapped at a reporter when asked about the role often ascribed to Australia as a proxy for Washington in the region.

Downer was speaking at a news conference in the Malaysian capital moments before he signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, which calls for signatories not to interfere in each other's internal affairs.

The treaty was born within the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), which made signing the pact a condition for entry into next week's inaugural East Asian summit.

Australia hesitated to sign the treaty, saying it might conflict with its existing security arrangements with the United States, but reconsidered when it became clear that Canberra would not be invited to the summit without its signature.

"Being part of the East Asia summit, that's a quid pro quo we are happy to live with," Downer said, adding that Australia had received guarantees from Asean that its signature on the treaty would not disturb its existing treaty arrangements.