RI set to argue E. Timor stance at Bangkok meet<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia says it is prepared to answer
\nquestions about its policy on East Timor if European leaders
\nraise the issue during a summit in Bangkok this week.<\/p>\n
However, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas warned
\nyesterday that raising the East Timor issue would only divert
\nattention away from the objectives of the inaugural Asia-Europe
\nsummit, which is to enhance cooperation between the two regions.<\/p>\n
He also expressed confidence that the matter would not be
\nraised in the summit, at least not in the conference proper.<\/p>\n
The minister was speaking to reporters shortly after
\naccompanying his Ukrainian counterpart Hennadly Udovonka to pay a
\ncourtesy call on President Soeharto at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto will be among the 10 Asian leaders who will
\nmeet with 15 European leaders in their first ever summit which
\nwill be held in the Thai capital on Friday and Saturday.<\/p>\n
Although the two camps have already agreed on the summit's
\nagenda, which covers economic and political cooperation, some
\nEuropean leaders are under pressure from their constituents to
\ndiscuss sensitive political issues such as human rights. Portugal
\nis believed to want to push the issue of East Timor, its former
\ncolony, at the forum.<\/p>\n
Asian countries have warned that the inclusion of \"irrelevant\"
\nand \"controversial\" issues could jeopardize the outcome of the
\nsummit.<\/p>\n
\"We are anticipating that possibility,\" Alatas said when asked
\nif the East Timor question would be raised at the Bangkok summit.
\n\"That means we're prepared to deal with it (if it comes up).\"<\/p>\n
He emphasized, however, that there are other forums more
\nappropriate to discuss the East Timor problem.<\/p>\n
\"If they insist on bringing the issue to the forum, which is
\nintended to expand economic relations and political cooperation
\nand discuss issues of common interests, then they will open the
\ndoors to irrelevant issues.<\/p>\n
\"And the meeting then won't achieve the desired result,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Alatas contended that most, if not all, the participating
\ncountries have agreed that this is the best course. \"They too
\nwant this summit to succeed.\"<\/p>\n
\"But who knows what's in the mind of the Portuguese prime
\nminister? We will see. Let's hope they will heed our firm appeal.
\nI don't think it (the East Timor issue) will be raised, but if it
\nis, then we will be prepared to deal with it.\"<\/p>\n
Portugal will be represented by Prime Minister Antonio
\nGuterres in Bangkok<\/p>\n
His spokesman, David Damiao, was quoted by Reuters as saying
\nthat Portugal intends to discuss the East Timor issue in Bangkok
\njust as it has raised it at every international meeting.<\/p>\n
\"Portugal cannot agree to a limit being put on its right to
\nspeak out,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Brussels, European Union foreign ministers on Monday agreed
\nto postpone a statement on its position on East Timor until after
\nthis week's summit in Bangkok.<\/p>\n
Portugal earlier urged its EU partners to adopt a position on
\nEast Timor before the summit to help offset domestic criticism
\nthat the issue was being swept under the carpet.<\/p>\n
Alatas said President Soeharto, who will leave for Bangkok
\ntomorrow, has lined up a series of bilateral meetings with some
\nEuropean leaders, but the Portuguese leader is not one of them.<\/p>\n
\"From our side, there is no such intention (for such a
\nmeeting). And from their side, we've not seen any intention,\" he
\nsaid when asked of a likely meeting between Soeharto and
\nGuterres. (emb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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