Foreign ministers from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are due to attend a meeting of the organization on Sunday in the Philippines capital Manila, pressing issues like terrorism and nuclear proliferation being on their agenda.

Diplomats from ten nations are also scheduled to discuss new manners of implementing decisions taken during meetings of the bloc and sanctions against non-complying members.

The creation of a human rights commission sparked controversy among ASEAN members, some countries opposing the agreement and delaying the establishment of a new charter.

“There is a universal declaration of human rights in the charter of the United Nations. It’s a universal desire that there must be a human rights commission, and I believe that ASEAN can do no less,” Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said.

This charter would mark four decades of existence for the organization and bring it closer to a form similar to the European Union or other organizations with definable rules accepted by all members. But this condition seems very hard to be accepted due to the tradition that forbids member nations to interfere in each other’s internal affairs.

Another pressing issue on the agenda is represented by nuclear proliferation, ASEAN nations pushing forward for the implementation of a treaty that would forbid the use of nuclear weapons in Southeast Asia.
A decade ago, a similar treaty was signed and the so-called South East Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone was created. Countries could use nuclear energy just for peaceful purposes like the energetic sector.

“There are countries in Asia that are resorting to nuclear power for energy, for peaceful purposes and that's okay, but we want to ensure that it remains so,” Romulo said.
”We want to ensure that whatever nuclear powers that ASEAN countries have, the countries do not allow the exportation of certain materials which could lead to development of nuclear power other than for peaceful purposes,” the diplomat added.

To ensure the implementation of such a treaty, ASEAN counts on support from nuclear developed countries like China, the United States, France, Russia and Britain, along with assistance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).