EC vice president to attend ASEAN talks<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): European Commission (EC) Vice President Manuel
\nMarin is due to arrive here on Monday to participate in the ASEAN
\nRegional Forum and the ASEAN post ministerial meeting.<\/p>\n
The European Commission representative in Jakarta said
\nyesterday that Marin will also hold bilateral talks with
\nIndonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and other
\ncabinet ministers.<\/p>\n
He may also meet with President Soeharto on July 26.<\/p>\n
The talks will cover a range of issues of mutual interest such
\nas economic and development cooperation, development of EC-
\nIndonesia relations and aspects of the ASEAN talks.<\/p>\n
The representative said Marin's visit is taking place at a
\n\"significant point\" in the relations between the EC and ASEAN
\nsince both have taken several initiatives to seek more dynamic
\nrelations toward the next century.<\/p>\n
In 1994, the EC launched a \"New Strategy for Asia\". This year,
\nit launched \"Europe-Asia Forum on Culture, Values and
\nTechnology\".<\/p>\n
Last March, ASEAN initiated the first Asia-Europe meeting in
\nBangkok. Twenty-two heads of states participated in the
\nconference.<\/p>\n
Marin sparked a debate earlier this week when he warned that
\nASEAN's insistence to establish links with the Myanmarese
\nmilitary junta could endanger EU-ASEAN relations.<\/p>\n
Alatas said Thursday that other countries and organizations
\nhad no right to dictate whether the association should or should
\nnot accept Myanmar in its midst.<\/p>\n
\"We in ASEAN have the right to decide who becomes a member and
\nwho will become an observer,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's secretary-general of foreign affairs, Ahmad Kamil
\nJaafar, said that Europe was being hypocritical on issues of
\nhuman rights. (pan)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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