Expert hails Soeharto's contribution to ASEAN<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An American political scientist has hailed
\nPresident Soeharto for unceasingly promoting the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and allowing it to grow into a
\npreeminent global organization.<\/p>\n
Frederick Z. Brown of John Hopkins University said yesterday
\nthat Soeharto's support for Indonesia's neighbors was a strong
\npillar of the region's stability. This stability, in turn, has
\nhelped the region develop into an economically vibrant area of
\ngrowth.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the Worldnet dialog beamed directly from
\nWashington to ASEAN capitals, Brown pointed to Soeharto's
\ncontinued backing of Thailand as a frontline state during the
\nVietnam war and of former Philippine President Cory Aquino.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is a founding member of ASEAN which now groups
\nBrunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
\nVietnam. The organization marks its 30th anniversary this year.<\/p>\n
Brown, who is associate director of the southeast Asian
\nprogram at the University's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced
\nInternational Studies, has much experience of the region having
\nserved as a U.S. foreign service officer in Thailand.<\/p>\n
Presenting an outlook of the second Clinton administration's
\nforeign policy toward southeast Asia, Brown said Washington's
\nconcerns over human rights would continue to be an element in
\nbilateral ties with all countries in the region, including
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
However, he argued that policies would not concentrate on
\nhuman rights.<\/p>\n
\"Human rights will be a prominent part of our policy vis-a-vis
\nIndonesia, but it's not going to overcome or take the place of
\ncommercial interests or of a very good political relationship
\nwith your government,\" he said.<\/p>\n
When asked by Asian panelists whether he thought the Clinton
\nadministration would pay less attention to southeast Asia in the
\nnext four years than in the last, Brown said that, due to the
\nregion's economic strength and stability, the U.S. no longer
\nneeded to give the region special attention.<\/p>\n
\"I do not think southeast Asia is going to occupy as important
\na place on the menu of foreign affairs of the United States as,
\nsay, the Middle Eastern peace process or the question of NATO
\nexpansion,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The region is doing very well on its own. You have the
\npreeminent regional consultative organization in the world. You
\nhave strong economies, you are addressing the problems of your
\nsocieties in one way or another. I wonder whether you really want
\nthe United States to pay more attention to southeast Asia.\"<\/p>\n
During yesterday's live telecast, Brown had generous words for
\nnewly appointed Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and
\nexpected her to excel in her new post.<\/p>\n
Brown said she would be \"forthright\" on matters such as human
\nrights. (mds)<\/p>",
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