SINGAPORE : New ASEAN Twist

For the first time, foreign ministers of the six-nation Assn. of Southeast Asian Nations will formally discuss security cooperation Friday and Saturday at their annual meeting in Singapore. The topic has previously been considered so sensitive that it was not raised in this forum.

The ministers representing ASEAN members Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines will consider confidence-building measures such as a regional register to keep nations informed of their neighbors arms’ acquisitions.

After their meeting, the ministers plan three days of talks with Secretary of State Warren Christopher and the foreign ministers of Canada, the European Community, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.