Posted: 14 Aug 2010 09:35 PM PDT
15/08/2010
Achara Ashayagachat Bangkok Post
Achara Ashayagachat Bangkok Post
The United States is talking to international agencies and governments in the region in a bid to get its Mekong development programme off the ground.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Phuket in July last year about the US plans to expand its role in the lower Mekong region, comprising Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
Richard Cronin of the Washington-based Stimson Centre, who works on recommendations for the programme, said he was talking to agencies from the lower Mekong countries and their governments. ''We are still in the process of coordinating when and how to get money into the programme,'' said Mr Cronin, who advises on non-traditional security issues such as fisheries, food security and water boundaries in the region.
The US would step up support for education, health and climate change, said Mr Cronin.
He was speaking on the sidelines of his talk on ''Harnessing the Mekong: Human Security and Regional Stability'' at Chulalongkorn University last week.
He observed a meeting between the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and other agencies on development programmes in Vientiane two weeks ago.
He also met non-governmental organisations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City two weeks ago, and in Bangkok met the Foreign Ministry and World Bank.
''There are varying degrees of welcome. Most countries in Asean are happy to see more US involvement. That includes Thailand and Vietnam.
''But some countries are uncertain about implications of having US involvement in the the MRC,'' he said.
Mr Cronin said Washington could restore the geopolitical power balance needed to support new development in Southeast Asia.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Phuket in July last year about the US plans to expand its role in the lower Mekong region, comprising Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
Richard Cronin of the Washington-based Stimson Centre, who works on recommendations for the programme, said he was talking to agencies from the lower Mekong countries and their governments. ''We are still in the process of coordinating when and how to get money into the programme,'' said Mr Cronin, who advises on non-traditional security issues such as fisheries, food security and water boundaries in the region.
The US would step up support for education, health and climate change, said Mr Cronin.
He was speaking on the sidelines of his talk on ''Harnessing the Mekong: Human Security and Regional Stability'' at Chulalongkorn University last week.
He observed a meeting between the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and other agencies on development programmes in Vientiane two weeks ago.
He also met non-governmental organisations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City two weeks ago, and in Bangkok met the Foreign Ministry and World Bank.
''There are varying degrees of welcome. Most countries in Asean are happy to see more US involvement. That includes Thailand and Vietnam.
''But some countries are uncertain about implications of having US involvement in the the MRC,'' he said.
Mr Cronin said Washington could restore the geopolitical power balance needed to support new development in Southeast Asia.
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