ACROSS THE NATION Palace says Sabah standoff not a stumbling block to ASEAN integration
T
he Aquino administration doesn’t see the ongoing standoff in Lahad Datu in Sabah a hindrance for the realization of a single community by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by December 2015. The regional grouping agreed last in Malacanang on Tuesday. year during a summit in Cambodia to “Hindi po magiging sagabal ito [Sabah]. realize the ASEAN Community by 2015. Nakita natin at the highest level, nagPresident Benigno S. Aquino III and usap na si Prime Minister Najib at saka Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul ang Pangulong Aquino. Hindi namin ito Razak have been in touch with each other nakitang isang obstacle,” Lacierda told on the Sabah crisis and both are working reporters. to resolve the issue at the soonest Lacierda said the administration possible time, Presidential spokesman doesn’t believe the Sabah issue would Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing be an obstacle to the ASEAN’s goal of Wednesday, March 6, 2013
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