*EPF510 10/27/00
State's Onek Says Rule of Law Key to Developing Democracies
(Rule of law essential for peaceful, prosperous region) (500)
By Kerri DiZoglio
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- "Establishing the rule of law in Asia will determine whether or not the United States and Asia realize their aspirations for a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Asian society," Joseph Onek, senior coordinator for the rule of law at the U.S. Department of State, said during an October 26 speech at "The Rule of Law in Asia: Trends and Policy Implications" conference hosted by the Woodrow Wilson Center's Asia Program.

The conference was part of the Rule of Law Project developed by the Mansfield Center for Pacific Affairs to increase international dialogue between scholars and practitioners in the United States and Asia on the rule of law and what it entails in Asia.

Without a strong judicial system that is transparent, fair, effective and void of corruption, it will be impossible for the United States to achieve its goals and objectives for the region, according to Onek. Onek added that ensuring human rights and democracy, economic prosperity and development, environmental protection, and effectual law enforcement in the region are not hegemonic goals; to the contrary, these goals would be more beneficial to the people of Asia than the United States.

Onek said the granting of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status for China and China's pending accession into the World Trade Organization (WTO) are first steps in establishing the rule of law in the region because WTO membership would subject China to the WTO dispute resolution mechanism and require transparency and due process in all trade matters.

While it is neither inevitable nor automatic that commercial compliance will carry over to broader social issues, Onek said he believes pressure to adhere to international norms will not be confined to the economic sphere.

"Increased adherence to the WTO and an increased emergence of the middle class will have great impacts on the development of the rule of law in a broader sense," Onek said.

Consequently, Onek said, it is a critical time for the United States and other countries to influence how the rule of law is implemented in Asia by providing assistance through rule of law programs in the region that will enhance local capacity to develop a strong legal regime.

Onek criticized efforts to withhold rule of law assistance from countries that do not meet norms of democracy or human rights. According to Onek, the rule of law is an essential first step to developing more democratic governments and open market economies and introducing new ideas to societies. Onek also pointed out that this type of assistance is difficult to abuse or divert since it is often given in the form of training and educational exchanges.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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