Bad weather delays ASEAN-U.S. dialog<\/p>\n
NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): The ASEAN-U.S. dialog scheduled to begin
\ntoday has been postponed due to blizzards in the United States
\nthat grounded the American delegation in Washington.<\/p>\n
Izhar Ibrahim, Director General for Political Affairs at the
\nMinistry of Foreign Affairs, told journalists here yesterday that
\nofficials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
\nhave decided to postpone the dialog to a more convenient date,
\npossibly in April.<\/p>\n
The 13th ASEAN-U.S. dialog was slated to be held in the posh
\nresort of Nusa Dua.<\/p>\n
The two-day meeting would have covered both economic and
\nsecurity issues such as the U.S. defense posture in the Asia
\nPacific, United Nations reform and the nuclear weapons free zone.<\/p>\n
The U.S. delegation was to be led by Assistant Secretary of
\nState for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Winston Lord, accompanied
\nby senior coordinator for APEC Affairs Sandra Kristoff.<\/p>\n
Had the delegation taken off, their late arrival would only
\nhave left one day to exchange views.<\/p>\n
"We feel it wouldn't have been enough because we consider this
\nto be an important forum for ASEAN and the U.S. We need time to
\ndiscuss everything seriously," Izhar explained.<\/p>\n
He added that Washington agreed with the postponement and the
\nneed for enough time to discuss the mutually important matters.<\/p>\n
Formed in 1967 ASEAN is comprised of Brunei, Indonesia,
\nMalaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Izhar revealed that ASEAN proposed the dialog be rescheduled
\nto shortly before the special Senior Officials Meeting in
\nIndonesia on April 8-10, which precedes the ASEAN Ministerial
\nMeeting to be held in Jakarta in July. (mds)<\/p>",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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