Koizumi to raise Aceh and Myanmar issues<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali<\/p>\n
In a surprising diplomatic move, a delegation of senior
\nJapanese officials told their counterparts from the Association
\nof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Saturday that Japanese
\nPrime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will raise the Aceh problem,
\nalong with other issues such as the nuclear crisis in the Korean
\npeninsula, and Myanmar, when the prime minister meets with ASEAN
\nheads of government along with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao
\nand South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The plan was later confirmed by the Japanese government.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman
\nMarty Natalegawa said Indonesia was ready to brief other leaders
\nabout the latest situation in war-torn Aceh during the summit.<\/p>\n
"We have never shown any resistance to share the issue of Aceh
\nwith our ASEAN neighbors and other countries, to promote greater
\nunderstanding among our friends," Marty told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He added that even if the issue were not raised by any of the
\nparticipating countries during the leaders' summit, Indonesia
\nwould take the initiative to explain developments in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Indonesia cohosted the Tokyo conference on Aceh earlier this
\nyear along with the U.S., the European Union and the World Bank,
\nshortly before the government declared martial law in the
\nprovince. Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Yutaka
\nIimura said his government was ready to assist Indonesia in
\nresolving the Aceh problem and offered its assistance in
\nrebuilding and reconstruction there.<\/p>\n
Senior ASEAN officials met with their counterparts from
\nASEAN+3 dialog partners China, Japan and South Korea on Saturday,
\nwhere they ironed out draft agreements with China and Japan that
\nwill be issued on Wednesday when the 10 ASEAN leaders receive
\ntheir guests on Wednesday. They will also hold a separate meeting
\nwith the Indian delegation.<\/p>\n
With the Chinese delegation they discussed the joint
\ndeclaration from the meeting of the heads of state\/government of
\nthe members states of ASEAN and the People's Republic of China on
\na strategic partnership for peace and prosperity.<\/p>\n
Cooperation between China and ASEAN countries focuses on five
\npriority areas, including agriculture, information and
\ntelecommunications and human resources development.<\/p>\n
With India they negotiated a framework agreement on
\ncomprehensive economic cooperation between ASEAN and the Republic
\nof India. The topic of discussion with Japan was a framework for
\ncomprehensive economic partnership between ASEAN and Japan. With
\nSouth Korea they exchanged views about latest developments in the
\nnorth and south, including the nuclear crisis in the Korean
\npeninsula.<\/p>\n
ASEAN Secretary-General Ong Keng Yeong said the negotiations
\nwere proceeding smoothly. The 10 ASEAN foreign ministers will
\nmeet on Sunday for final discussions on draft agreements.
\nIndonesia's foreign ministry Director General for Asia, Pacific
\nand Africa Makarim Wibisono also noted that there were in
\npractice no more problems outstanding at the senior officials
\nmeeting.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/koizumi-to-raise-aceh-and-myanmar-issues-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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