SINGAPORE - Lisbon has effectively blocked a new treaty upgrading ties between the European Union and South east Asian nations over the problem of East Timor, foreign ministers from Indonesia and Portugal said yesterday.
Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Mr Ali Alatas, said Lisbon was holding up a new agreement between the 15 member EU and the seven member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
"[East Timor] was one of the issues used by Portugal to prevent a new generation agreement to be signed by the two sides and of course we deeply regret it," Mr Alatas told reporters after the 22 foreign ministers met yesterday. ASEAN groups Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The Portuguese Foreign Minister, Mr Jaime Gama, said Lisbon was not vetoing a new agreement but was insisting that political and human rights issues be included a stand ASEAN adamantly opposes.