ASEAN and United States clash over aid programs<\/p>\n
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat<\/p>\n
BATAM, Riau (JP): A senior American official said yesterday
\nthat ASEAN member states should not expect an increase in aid and
\nthat trade and investment should be the main instrument of
\ngrowth.<\/p>\n
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific
\nAffairs Winston Lord maintained that while aid was important, it
\nshould not be the primary engine for development.<\/p>\n
\"We will continue to have some aid programs in Asia, but the
\nreal emphasis has got to be on trade and investment, bilateral
\ndealings, regional through APEC (Asia Pacific Economic
\nCooperation) and global efforts through the WTO (World Trade
\nOrganization),\" said Lord.<\/p>\n
\"I can't promise there'll be a lot of foreign aid in the
\nfuture, particularly for this region which on the whole is very
\ndynamic,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Lord headed a U.S. government delegation to attend a two-day
\ndialog with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
\ncounterparts.<\/p>\n
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
\nSingapore, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
The association holds regular meetings with its dialog
\npartners, such as the United States, to discuss political and
\neconomic issues of mutual concern. This year's dialog, the 13th,
\nwas originally scheduled for January but had to be postponed
\nbecause bad weather prevented the U.S. officials from leaving
\nAmerica.<\/p>\n
During yesterday's opening the chairman of the dialog, Izhar
\nIbrahim, expressed concern at the continued drop in aid programs
\nof the United States Agency for International Development
\n(USAID).<\/p>\n
\"I would like to reiterate the concern of ASEAN due to the
\ndiminishing USAID commitment towards ASEAN,\" said Izhar who is
\ndirector general for political affairs at the Indonesian foreign
\nministry.<\/p>\n
He said ASEAN understands that Washington is developing
\neconomic and commercial orientation in its relations with other
\ncountries, however he pointed out that the association will soon
\nbe admitting new members -- Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar -- who are
\nless economically developed than the present members.<\/p>\n
When asked by journalists, Lord acknowledged the challenges
\nfacing the new members but stressed again that aid should not be
\nthe sole barometer in determining America's commitment to the
\nregion.<\/p>\n
He added that the Clinton administration shares the concern
\nabout the United States' cutback in resources for international
\nactivity.<\/p>\n
\"We have managed, because of the importance of this region, to
\nhave much fewer reductions in this region than we have in other
\nregions of the world,\" Lord noted.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless the apparent rapid development of ASEAN itself
\nseems to be one of the primary factors precluding it as a major
\nrecipient of aid.<\/p>\n
\"Certainly aid funds for Asia are not as crucial as they are
\nto some other regions in the world given the dynamism and the
\neconomies out here,\" Lord said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-and-united-states-clash-over-aid-programs-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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