JP\/3\/DISC<\/p>\n
Japan-ASEAN summit in Tokyo first meeting outside the region<\/p>\n
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Indonesian
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri will co-chair the Japan-ASEAN
\n(The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) commemorative summit
\nin Tokyo on Dec. 11-12. Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Yutaka
\nIimura talked with The Jakarta Post's Kornelius Purba about the
\nsummit and about bilateral relations with Indonesia.<\/p>\n
What will be the substance of the next Japan-ASEAN
\ncommemorative summit?<\/p>\n
On Dec. 11 and 12 the summit will take place and it will be
\nco-chaired by President Megawati and Prime Minister Koizumi. This
\ncommemorative summit is going to be very important. It is a
\ncrowning event for the ASEAN - Japan Exchange Year 2003. The
\nsummit will be a historical occasion where all 10 ASEAN leaders
\nwill come together outside of the region for the first time.
\nJapan will announce its unwavering support for ASEAN and will
\npromote sincere and open partnership with ASEAN to act together
\nand advance together in the new era.<\/p>\n
As for concrete results we are planning to issue Japan-ASEAN
\nBasic Document. Japan and ASEAN will agree on a statement which
\nwill reaffirm the basic direction of future Japan-ASEAN
\ncooperation and give a broad guideline of the Japan-ASEAN
\nrelationship.<\/p>\n
And then they will sign the Japan-ASEAN Joint Action Plan and
\ncomprehensive economic partnership. In line with the Basic
\nDocument, the specific measures to be implemented in the near
\nfuture will be compiled.<\/p>\n
Then on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership, where efforts
\nwill be made to initiate formal negotiations with Thailand, the
\nPhilippines and Malaysia. As you know with ASEAN as a whole,
\nJapan is going to have comprehensive economic partnerships, which
\nincludes the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), investment and many
\nother economic areas. And bilaterally we already have such a
\ncooperation with Singapore.<\/p>\n
With Indonesia, when President Megawati went to Japan in June,
\ntogether with Prime Minister Koizumi they agreed to start
\npreliminary discussions on a comprehensive economic partnership.
\nSo with all original ASEAN members we now have either an
\nagreement, or are starting our talks toward an agreement.<\/p>\n
According to some Japanese press reports on the summit, Japan
\nwill eventually sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC)
\nwith ASEAN and Japan will propose the establishment of a kind of
\nEuropean Union for East Asia. How about that?<\/p>\n
With regard to TAC, we are now consulting with ASEAN members
\non our accession to the treaty.<\/p>\n
On the overall picture of what East Asia should look like in
\nthe future, should it be like the European Union or should we
\nlook like other regional groupings? I think we need to discuss
\nthat further. I don't know whether East Asia will be like the
\nEuropean Union.<\/p>\n
In the case of East Asia, economic cooperation will be the
\nmajor pillar for these efforts. Political cooperation, I think,
\nis very important to provide a good environment for economic
\ncooperation. But again whether ASEAN+3 (ASEAN, Japan, China and
\nSouth Korea) will have a common foreign policy in the future, we
\nwill just have to wait and see. With regard to a possible
\nmonetary union, as the EU now has, I think it is premature to
\ntalk about. But nevertheless there is an importance of having a
\nstrengthened monetary and financial cooperation.<\/p>\n
Next month the CGI (Consultative Group on Indonesia) will meet
\nto discuss next year's loan plans for Indonesia. Can you discuss
\nJapan's new commitments to help Indonesia?<\/p>\n
The next CGI meeting is going to be very important because
\nthis will be the last one under the IMF program. The main theme
\nof the next CGI meeting will be on the progress of Indonesia in
\nimplementing its own economic reform programs. Generally
\nspeaking, Japan appreciates the efforts of the Indonesian
\ngovernment to replace the IMF program. And we want to see
\nconcrete measures and a concrete time schedule (to implement the
\nreform program). Basically, there are two important elements:
\nFirst is fiscal sustainability. Second is economic growth, and
\nhow to achieve it is very important. In regard to fiscal
\nsustainability, there are several factors -- including
\ninvestment.<\/p>\n
Before the CGI meeting, together with the U.S. Ambassador I am
\nco-chairing a luncheon meeting. We will invite Cabinet ministers,
\nand people from the business sectors. Then there will be a pre-
\nCGI meeting. Basically, there will be four sessions:
\nInfrastructure, investment climate, security and a discussion on
\nthe working groups. There are several working groups that are
\ntrying to cooperate with the Indonesian government. There will be
\ndiscussions upon the outcome of the working groups. The
\ninvestment climate meeting will be the occasion for the launching
\nof working group on investment.<\/p>\n
Before the CGI meeting, hopefully, we will be able to announce
\nour (loan\/aid) commitment for next near. We will express our
\nreadiness to cooperate with the government of Indonesia. Our
\nintention is focused on investment-related infrastructure like
\npower plants, roads and the improvement of port facilities to
\nhelp the private sector be more effective.<\/p>\n
After its exit from the IMF program, Indonesia can no longer
\ngo to the Paris Club for debt-rescheduling. What can Japan do to
\nhelp reduce this country's budget deficit?<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government has been making very good efforts to
\ncope with the deficit. You have been, and you are, continuing to
\nissue the government bonds and reprofiling debts. I think overall
\nthe government is on the right track. Nevertheless, they have
\nsome external financial needs. For that purpose Japan and the ADB
\n(Asian Development Bank) will be ... willing to help.<\/p>\n
On the Aceh problem. Indonesia has strongly warned the co-
\nchairmen of the Tokyo Conference on Aceh including Japan, the
\nU.S. and the European Union, and told them not to interfere in
\nIndonesia's internal affairs. How do you react to that warning?<\/p>\n
Our position is very clear. The Aceh problem is the problem of
\nIndonesian government. We also support the territorial integrity
\nof Indonesia. So we do not support any attempts to change the
\ncurrent borders of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
After the Cabinet's decision to extend martial law we
\nexpressed our concerns about the intentions. And we also
\nexpressed our hope that access for international organizations
\nwould improve so that aid agencies can operate there. Those are
\nour basic concerns, and we have no intention of (interfering in
\nIndonesia's domestic affairs).<\/p>",
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