By Raju Gopalakrishnan

MANILA, July 28 (Reuters) - A charter for a 10-nation Southeast Asian bloc will not provide for sanctions against members such as Myanmar, but the group will find other ways of dealing with issues that undermine its standing.

Ong Keng Yong, secretary-general of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), said the first draft of the charter would be presented to regional foreign ministers at a meeting in Manila on Monday.

After some revisions it is likely to be adopted at a leaders' summit in November and then ratified by member-states by the end of 2008, he said.

"We believe we can get certain good results without having to threaten anyone with any sanctions," Ong told Reuters in an interview when asked if the document provided for punitive measures against wayward members such as Myanmar.

The United States and the European Union have long called on ASEAN to deal sternly with the former Burma and bring pressure on the junta there to end human rights abuses and a crackdown on the opposition.

But ASEAN, which has a tradition of non-interference in the internal affairs of member-states, has steered clear of taking firm action although some countries in the group are beginning to say that the Myanmar issue is affecting the bloc as a whole.

"There will be a fleshing out of issues that trouble ASEAN as an organisation," Ong said. "If ASEAN is undermined in any negative way, every one of us should pull together and deal with it."

An ASEAN charter is seen as a milestone for the bloc because it would create a rules-based community.

Until now it has operated without a constitution, choosing to rely on informal diplomacy and decision-making by consensus. But many leaders believe a charter is necessary to help the group speed up economic integration.

Ong said the charter would provide for contentious issues to be brought before heads of government for a quick decision on what do do.

"Speed will be there and I will say decisiveness, one way or another," he said.

"We think this charter should embody the uniqueness of Southeast Asia. We do things by persuasion, we do things by building strength and cohesiveness from our diversity."

RICE

ASEAN also holds its annual security forum in Manila next week and Ong said the absence of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would not affect the meeting.

Rice has said she needs to travel urgently to the Middle East and is sending John Negroponte, a deputy secretary of state, to represent her at the ASEAN Regional Forum.

Analysts say the decision reflects the low standing of Southeast Asia in the eyes of Washington and will rob regional leaders of the opportunity to confer with Rice in an informal setting.

Ong said: "We will miss her but Ambassador Negroponte is a substantial personality.

"I think we will miss Ms. Rice's wonderful piano recital, and maybe our gala night when we let our hair down will not be as colourful, but I am sure no one will think that the substantive discussions will be undermined.

"Even if the principals are not here, the working types are here and so we are not going to suffer a gap or a blow in our direction."

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