President of Taiwan not to attend APEC<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas on Friday
\ndashed all speculation concerning Taiwanese President Lee Teng-
\nhui's participation at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
\n(APEC) leaders meeting, by asserting that Taiwan will be
\nrepresented only by a senior official.<\/p>\n
"For the APEC leaders meeting, we will follow the exact format
\nas the Blake Island meeting...this means Taiwan and Hong Kong
\nwill only be represented by their minister of economy," Alatas
\nremarked.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters after meeting with Kazakhstan's foreign
\nminister, Alatas stressed that the Nov. 15 meeting in Bogor, West
\nJava, would also remain informal.<\/p>\n
APEC consists of the United States, Mexico, Japan, Hong Kong,
\nSouth Korea, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore,
\nBrunei, the Philippines, Canada, Australia, Papua New Guinea, New
\nZealand and Indonesia, which currently presides over the forum.<\/p>\n
Succumbing to Chinese pressure, Lee Teng-hui absented himself
\nfrom last year's inaugural APEC leaders meeting on Blake Island.<\/p>\n
However, as the Bogor meeting approaches, Taiwan has shown
\nstrong interest in attending. Rumors heightened last week when
\npresidential spokesperson, Raymond Tai, in Taipei claimed that
\nIndonesia had extended an invitation to Lee.<\/p>\n
The claim was quickly refuted by the Indonesian foreign
\nministry.<\/p>\n
Though Jakarta officially maintains a one China policy and has
\nno diplomatic ties with Taiwan, relations have blossomed.<\/p>\n
China, which claims sovereignty over the island of Taiwan, has
\nreportedly strongly warned against Lee's possible attendance.<\/p>\n
When queried if Taipei could pressure Jakarta into extending
\nan invitation in light of Taiwan's US$8.5 billion in investment
\nhere, Alatas flatly rebutted the suggestion.<\/p>\n
"Its not a question of being able to force us or not, its
\nabout us trying to host an APEC leaders meeting where all can
\nattend or not," he replied diplomatically.<\/p>\n
Kazakhstan<\/p>\n
Earlier in the morning, Alatas met his counterpart from
\nKazakhstan, Kanat Saudabayev, who arrived here on Thursday.<\/p>\n
"There are big opportunities for cooperation between our two
\ncountries, not only in the trade and economic field but also in
\nthe political one," Saudabayev said in his native Kazakh
\nlanguage.<\/p>\n
Elaborating further on the political aspects of bilateral
\ncooperation the visiting foreign minister said that both
\ncountries would benefit from the enhancement of stability in
\ntheir respective regions.<\/p>\n
Alatas concurred about the potential for bilateral political
\ncooperation between the countries.<\/p>\n
"Especially in the various regional and international forums
\nsuch as the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic
\nConference of which they will soon become a member," he said.<\/p>\n
The Republic of Kazakhstan broke away from the former Soviet
\nUnion and declared itself an independent state on Dec. 16, 1991.
\nWith a population of about 17 million, this small state in
\ncentral Asia is a major producer of metals and raw materials.<\/p>\n
Alatas also revealed that President Nazarbayev had originally
\nbeen slated to embark on a trip to Indonesia, but the trip had
\nto be postponed due to a schedule conflict.<\/p>\n
"A new time convenient to both sides is currently being
\ndiscussed. I hope the visit can still take place this year," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Before leaving Jakarta on Saturday, Saudabayev also met with
\nMinister of Trade Satrio Budiardjo Joedono, members of the
\nIndonesian Chamber of Commerce (Kadin) and businessman Hasyim
\nDjojohadikusumo. (mds)<\/p>",
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