Indonesia joins ASEAN concern over Cambodia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia expressed concern yesterday over the
\ncrisis in Cambodia and is mulling over suggesting a special ASEAN
\nmeeting to discuss the issue.<\/p>\n
After meeting with President Soeharto at Merdeka Palace,
\nAmbassador-at-large Nana Sutresna said the President was deeply
\nconcerned and hoped that an amicable solution could be reached
\nsoon.<\/p>\n
"The situation in Cambodia should be resolved peacefully and
\nthe parties involved should restrain themselves," Nana quoted
\nSoeharto as saying.<\/p>\n
Nana was accompanying visiting Japanese vice-foreign minister
\nKazuo Ogura, who met Soeharto to convey a special message from
\nPrime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto on the Cambodian issue and last
\nmonth's G-7 Summit in Denver.<\/p>\n
"We hope that ASEAN will be able to make a positive
\ncontribution to the solution of Cambodia," Ogura said after the
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
On Sunday Hashimoto urged the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations (ASEAN) -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
\nSingapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- to take a leading role in
\nrelieving the Cambodian crisis.<\/p>\n
In February Soeharto visited Phnom Penh and expressed support
\nfor Cambodia's entry into ASEAN. Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are
\ndue to be admitted later this month.<\/p>\n
ASEAN, and in particular Indonesia, has an affinity to
\nCambodia due to its role in brokering the peace to the previous
\nwar there.<\/p>\n
In 1988, Jakarta hosted breakthrough talks between warring
\nfactions in Cambodia which finally led to the 1991 Paris peace
\nconference co-chaired by Indonesia and France.<\/p>\n
Foreign minister Ali Alatas said yesterday that despite its
\npast role, Indonesia could not go galloping in and try to resolve
\nthe situation without the consent of the warring factions in
\nCambodia.<\/p>\n
"What's happening now is a struggle between the two premiers,
\nand is entirely Cambodia's own internal affair. Cambodia is a
\nsovereign state, people's can't just go in whenever they want,"
\nhe said after a hearing at the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
"If both sides ask Indonesia then we would gladly help. But
\nthe reality is right now there is no such request," he added.<\/p>\n
"The only thing we can do is through ASEAN ... That is why I
\nam trying to contact the Malaysian foreign minister to suggest or
\nconsider an ASEAN foreign ministers meeting over the issue,"
\nAlatas revealed.<\/p>\n
AFP reported from Manila last night that senior officials from
\nthe ASEAN member countries would meet, probably in Kuala Lumpur,
\non Saturday.<\/p>\n
When asked about the status of the Indonesian Embassy there,
\nAlatas said there was presently no plan to evacuate the
\ndiplomats.<\/p>\n
"It's not that we don't think the situation is grave, but more
\nbecause we believe that an evacuation is not necessary. We'll see
\nhow it goes," he replied.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has a small embassy with a staff of fewer than 10
\ndiplomats headed by Ambassador Hamid Alhadad.<\/p>\n
On the question of Cambodia's impending membership of ASEAN,
\nAlatas remained firm: "Up to now the decision still stands."<\/p>\n
However he hinted that ASEAN could deliberate the question
\nfurther should conditions arise which might affect Cambodia's
\nability to join.<\/p>\n
Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon was quoted as
\nsaying in Manila yesterday that ASEAN senior officials would
\ngather to study the recent developments at a special meeting in
\nKuala Lumpur on Saturday.<\/p>\n
He confirmed that there was a proposal for an emergency
\nforeign ministers meeting but could not say whether it would be
\nheld at the same time.<\/p>\n
Saturday's meeting is "to determine whether the situation at
\nthat time, Saturday, in Cambodia would require a reversal of the
\nprevious position" to admit Cambodia into ASEAN," Siazon said.<\/p>\n
In Bangkok, Thai foreign minister Prachuab Chaiyasarn said
\nASEAN would wait and see till the formal ministerial meeting in
\nKuala Lumpur on July 24 and July 25 before making a decision.<\/p>\n
"ASEAN has about two weeks to discuss the situation between
\nnow and later this month," he said. "We will watch if things are
\nimproving or not, and if ASEAN is satisfied with the situation, I
\nthink nothing will change," Prachuab said. (06\/mds)<\/p>\n
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