Megawati calls for mutual respect<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri has called for mutual respect
\nand parity among member countries of the Asia-Europe forum.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the fifth Asia-Europe
\nMeeting (ASEM) here on Thursday, Megawati asserted that dictating
\nto each other would only lead to the failure of cooperation
\nbetween the countries.<\/p>\n
\"Our experience has taught us that it is essential to build
\nmutual understanding, refrain from the imposition of will and
\nrespect each other when we are determined to engage in
\ncooperation,\" Megawati told participants of the meeting.<\/p>\n
The President pointed out that there were differences of
\nopinions between Asia and Europe when it came to dealing with
\nvarious issues, which she said could be solved should both sides
\nalways be mindful and accept the differences.<\/p>\n
Her statement came against the backdrop of the growing
\nperception in Asia that Europe continues to judge several
\ncountries through their standards of human rights and
\ndemocratization.<\/p>\n
Despite most Asian countries needing financial support from
\nEurope, the pressure to emulate democratization in Europe in
\nexchange for aid is difficult to accept by Asian countries.<\/p>\n
In her opening remarks, Megawati said there should be a
\nsincere intention by both Asian and European sides when working
\ntogether.<\/p>\n
\"It is within the Asia-Europe partnership that I would like to
\nunderline that we need to be really sincere, honest and earnest
\nto accept and respect differences,\" she stressed.<\/p>\n
\"Each and every one of us is aware of the differences between
\nAsia and Europe, and in fact is also mindful of the diversity
\nexisting even among countries in Asia.\"<\/p>\n
She said that both continents had wasted time and energy to
\nmake the existing cooperation work, but the results had been
\ninadequate due to the ongoing debate on the differing approaches
\nin dealing with things.<\/p>\n
\"Admittedly, we have wasted much time without really
\naccomplishing substantive and concrete benefit to our people in
\nour joint efforts to carry out our vision into the 21st century,\"
\nMegawati said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-calls-for-mutual-respect-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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